PIC16LF18855-E/SO - 8-Bit MCU, 14KB Flash, 32MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18855-E/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.95 | $2.95 |
| 10 | $2.55 | $25.50 |
| 100 | $2.1 | $210.00 |
| 500 | $1.78 | $890.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.52 | $1,520.00 |
PIC16LF18855-E/SO Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller is a RISC-based CMOS processing unit that combines a CPU, Flash program memory, RAM, EEPROM, and configurable peripherals into a single IC, providing embedded control for consumer, industrial, and IoT products. The PIC16LF18855 sits in the hierarchy: 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC. Its nanoWatt XLP technology extends sleep current below typical coin-cell drain rates, making the LF variant ideal for always-on sensor nodes. The 'E' suffix indicates an Extended operating temperature grade (-40C to +125C), and the 'SO' suffix denotes the 28-SOIC 7.50mm gull-wing surface-mount package.
Key differentiating features include 14KB self-programmable Flash with device ID protection, hardware CLC for glue-logic replacement, 10-bit ADC with Computation (ADC2) automating averaging/threshold detection, and four 16-bit PWMs with complementary outputs and dead-band control. Compared to legacy PIC16F193x parts, the PIC16LF18855 doubles peripheral integration while keeping the same 28-pin footprint, easing migration. The LF process node provides lower active current (~3 mA at 8 MHz) and deeper sleep modes than the F counterpart.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes (coin-cell telemetry, BLE beacons), home appliances and white goods (user-interface controllers with capacitive touch via CVD), automotive body electronics (interior lighting, seat controllers - though the E grade is industrial rather than AEC-Q100), and consumer handhelds (toys, remote controls, fitness bands). The wide temperature range supports outdoor industrial installations.
Design considerations: place a 100nF decoupling capacitor within 2mm of VDD, a 10uF bulk capacitor at the IC supply, and follow Microchip's recommended MCLR pull-up of 10k to VDD. For ICD3/PICkit4 debugging, reserve the ICSP pins (PGEC/PGED) and ensure no series resistor above 470 ohm on the data line. As of 2026-09-24, LCSC lists the part from $0.49 in stock for prototyping.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the PIC16LF1885x family, and practical design notes drawn from Microchip's datasheet family - information not bundled on any single distributor page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18855-E/SO — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PIC16LF18855-E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF18855-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.24 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18855T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF18854-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.63 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18855-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18854-E/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1938-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18855-E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC16LF1885x (PIC XLP) |
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB |
| Data RAM | 1 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E grade, Extended) |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit (ADC2 with Computation) |
| PWM | 4 x 16-bit with Complementary Outputs |
| Communication | 2x I2C/SPI, 1x UART/USART, 1x LIN ID |
| CIP Peripherals | CLC, CWG, NCO, DSM, ECCP |
| Package | 28-SOIC (7.50mm body width, gull-wing) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Low-Power Mode | nanoWatt XLP (deep sleep) |
| ICSP Debug | Yes (PGEC/PGED) |
PIC16LF18855-E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input, or digital input-only RE3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O; AN0 analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O; AN1 analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O; AN2 analog input |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O; AN3 analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O; AN4 analog input |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O; AN5 analog input |
| Pin 8 | RA6 — Bidirectional I/O; AN6 analog input |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — Bidirectional I/O; AN7 analog input |
| Pin 10 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O; AN8 analog input |
| Pin 11 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O; AN9 analog input |
| Pin 12 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O; AN10 analog input |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O; AN11 analog input |
| Pin 14 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O; AN12 analog input |
| Pin 15 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O; AN13 analog input |
| Pin 16 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O; AN14 analog input |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O; AN15 analog input |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 20 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O; INT0 external interrupt |
| Pin 21 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O; AN16 analog input |
| Pin 22 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O; AN17 analog input |
| Pin 23 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O; AN18 analog input |
| Pin 24 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O; AN19 analog input |
| Pin 25 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O; AN20 analog input |
| Pin 26 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O; ICSP clock (PGEC) |
| Pin 27 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O; ICSP data (PGED) |
| Pin 28 | VSS — Ground reference (secondary) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18855-E/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Coin-Cell IoT Sensor Node, Home Appliance User Interface Controller, Consumer Remote Control / Handheld, Automotive Interior Body Electronics, Industrial Sensor Transmitter, Battery-Powered Wearable Fitness Band, Toy and Educational Electronic Module.
Coin-Cell IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF18855-E/SO is purpose-built for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes thanks to its 1.8V-3.6V VDD range that runs directly from a single CR2032 or two AA alkaline cells, and its nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep mode that drops quiescent current into the sub-microamp range. With 14 KB Flash, the part comfortably fits a Bluetooth Low Energy or LoRa protocol stack alongside sensor fusion firmware. Its ADC2 with computation automates averaging across low-rate temperature or motion sensors, freeing the 8-bit core to remain in sleep most of the time. The 28-SOIC package fits 25 mm x 10 mm sensor-node PCBs. Compared to a 32-bit Cortex-M0+ alternative, the PIC16LF18855 consumes roughly one-third the sleep current and is significantly cheaper.
Recommended
Home Appliance User Interface Controller
In washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens, the PIC16LF18855-E/SO serves as the primary UI controller driving LED indicators, capacitive touch buttons via the CVD peripheral, and a 7-segment or TFT display. The 4x 16-bit PWMs with complementary outputs control motor drivers, buzzer volume, and backlight dimming without burdening the core. Its extended -40C to +125C temperature range handles steamy kitchen environments, while 25 I/O lines support multiple keypads and rotary encoders. Compared to a discrete logic implementation, the CIP peripherals (CLC, CWG) replace external gates, cutting BOM cost. The 28-SOIC package has gull-wing leads that survive hand-soldering during appliance repair.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control / Handheld
TV remotes, garage-door openers, and wireless presenter clickers benefit from the PIC16LF18855-E/SO's low active current at 3.0V (about 3 mA at 8 MHz) and XLP sleep below 50 nA, enabling multi-year battery life on two AAA cells. Its 32 MHz internal oscillator eliminates external crystals, and 14 KB Flash stores IR or RF protocol timing tables with margin. The 16-bit PWM generates precise 38 kHz IR carrier frequencies for consumer-electronics protocols like RC5, NEC, and SIRC. Compared to a dedicated IR-remote IC, this PIC adds flexibility to support multiple protocols and bidirectional feedback via UART. The 28-SOIC handles hand-soldered prototype builds.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Body Electronics
Interior LED lighting, seat-position controllers, and window-control modules use the PIC16LF18855-E/SO for distributed body-electronics nodes. Its LIN ID hardware block simplifies slave-node LIN bus implementations, a key automotive interior protocol. The -40C to +125C extended temperature grade survives cabin thermal stress up to 70C ambient plus self-heating. 4x 16-bit PWMs drive LED strings with smooth dimming via dithering and CWG generates complementary MOSFET gate signals with dead-band control, ideal for seat-motor half-bridges. Compared to a dedicated LIN SBC, the PIC16LF18855 integrates logic and power-stage control in one chip, reducing PCB area. Note: this is the E (Extended) grade; AEC-Q100 versions would be the PIC16F18855-E/SO with -Q1 suffix.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter
Industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered transmitters, RTD conditioners, and strain-gauge amplifiers rely on the PIC16LF18855-E/SO for signal conditioning, linearization, and HART or IO-Link protocol handling. Its 10-bit ADC2 with computation automates digital filtering and threshold detection on slow sensor signals, and 14 KB Flash stores calibration tables and unit-conversion math. The 32 MHz core executes HART modem routines in real time while keeping idle current low. Compared to analog-only signal chains, this approach delivers 0.1 percent linearity after calibration. The 28-SOIC package supports both through-hole adapter and surface-mount layouts for retrofit applications.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Wearable Fitness Band
Fitness bands, smartwatches for kids, and medical alert pendants use the PIC16LF18855-E/SO as a low-power co-processor for motion processing, heart-rate sampling, and BLE link management. The CLC and NCO peripherals generate precise timing signals for optical heart-rate LEDs without CPU intervention, drawing microamp-scale currents. The 1.8V minimum VDD operation pairs with coin-cell or Li-ion USB-rechargeable cells. 14 KB Flash accommodates BLE profile state machines and pedometer algorithms. Compared to a 32-bit BLE SoC, this PIC handles housekeeping tasks and wakes the radio SoC only when needed, saving power. The 28-SOIC and 28-QFN variants cover both prototype and miniaturized production.
Recommended
Toy and Educational Electronic Module
Educational STEM toys, programmable robot kits, and hobbyist electronic modules leverage the PIC16LF18855-E/SO as a programmable brain with rich peripherals at low cost. The 32 MHz core drives NeoPixel LED strips via DMA-like PWM updates, and the CLC peripheral implements state-machine logic in hardware for responsive game mechanics. With 25 I/O pins, the MCU can drive motors, read buttons, and interface multiple sensors simultaneously. The wide operating voltage accommodates both 2x AA alkaline packs and USB-powered designs. Compared to an Arduino Uno's ATmega328P, this PIC consumes less sleep current and offers more PWM channels, fitting wearable or battery-powered projects. The 28-SOIC is beginner-friendly for hand-soldering.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18855-E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18855-I/SO | PIC16LF18855T-I/SO | PIC16LF18854-I/SO | PIC16F18855-E/SO | PIC16LF1938-E/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SOIC (7.50mm) | 28-SOIC (7.50mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50mm) - same |
| Flash Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB (-50%) | 14 KB | 28 KB (+100%) |
| Data RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B (-50%) | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V - 3.6 V | 1.8 V - 3.6 V | 1.8 V - 3.6 V | 1.8 V - 3.6 V | 2.3 V - 5.5 V (wider) | 1.8 V - 3.6 V |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) |
| ADC | 10-bit with ADC2 (Computation) | 10-bit with ADC2 | 10-bit with ADC2 | 10-bit with ADC2 | 10-bit with ADC2 | 10-bit (legacy, no ADC2) |
| CLC / CIP Peripherals | Yes (CLC, CWG, NCO, DSM, ECCP) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (legacy peripherals only) |
| Unit Price (qty 100) | ~$2.10 | ~$2.05 | ~$2.00 | ~$1.80 | ~$2.20 | ~$3.40 |
Key Differentiators
- Higher Flash density within the same 28-SOIC footprint (vs PIC16LF18854-I/SO)
- Wider extended temperature range for harsh environments (vs PIC16LF18855-I/SO)
- Lower minimum supply voltage for coin-cell battery designs (vs PIC16F18855-E/SO)
- Modern CIP peripherals versus legacy PIC16F193x designs (vs PIC16LF1938-E/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of the VDD pin (pin 19) and VSS pin (pin 18) to suppress switching transients from the internal 32 MHz oscillator. Add a 10 uF bulk capacitor at the IC supply rail entry point for low-frequency decoupling during sleep-to-active transitions. For battery applications, verify VDD never falls below 1.8 V under load, including transient droop from radio modules co-located on the PCB. The PIC16LF18855 has BOR (Brown-Out Reset) configurable via CONFIG2 - enable BOR with a 2.5 V threshold for 3.3 V rails to guarantee reset before firmware corruption.
Reserve the ICSP pins (RB6/PGEC = pin 26, RB7/PGED = pin 27) for in-circuit programming and debugging. Avoid series resistors above 470 ohm on the PGED data line, or PICkit4/ICD4 debugging may fail. Add a 10 kohm pull-up on MCLR (pin 1) to VDD for reliable reset during power-up. For 28-SOIC 7.50 mm gull-wing packages, use a 1.27 mm pitch footprint with at least 5 mm x 10 mm copper pour under the package for thermal dissipation when running at full 32 MHz. Keep crystal traces (if used) short and guarded with ground.
Do not connect any signal to pin 1 (MCLR/RE3) without considering that RE3 is input-only and lacks weak pull-up - use an external pull-up of 10 kohm to VDD on MCLR regardless of how the firmware configures the pin. The LF variant's 1.8 V minimum VDD does NOT mean the F variant firmware is binary-compatible - LF and F silicon differ in CONFIG bits and BOR settings; recompile your MPLAB X project for the correct target silicon. Pin 28 on the 28-SOIC is a secondary VSS in some layouts; treat both VSS pins (18 and 28) as grounds.
When using the 10-bit ADC2 with computation, separate analog VDD/VSS planes from digital VDD/VSS planes, joining them at a single point under the IC. Place ADC input traces away from PWM outputs to avoid digital switching coupling into analog readings. The CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) outputs should route to gate-driver ICs with short, matched-length traces to prevent timing skew. For UART at high baud rates (e.g. 115200 over 32 MHz), verify baud-rate error stays below +/- 2 percent via SPBRG calculator in MPLAB Code Configurator.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product environmental compliance data. The 'E' suffix indicates Extended temperature grade (-40C to +125C) but is NOT equivalent to AEC-Q100 automotive qualification; for AEC-Q100 qualified parts use PIC16F18855-E/SO-Q1 or PIC16F18855T-E/SO-Q1 variants. Lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip's standard lead-frame and molding compound.
