PIC16LF18856T-I/SS - 28KB Flash XLP 8-bit MCU 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18856T-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.92 | $2.92 |
| 10 | $2.63 | $26.30 |
| 100 | $2.34 | $234.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.76 | $1,760.00 |
PIC16LF18856T-I/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, memory, and programmable I/O peripherals used to control embedded systems. The PIC16 family uses a Harvard-architecture RISC core optimized for deterministic interrupt response and low power consumption, positioned within Microchip's hierarchy as: 8-bit MCU -> PIC16 family -> PIC16F188xx sub-family -> power management ICs/embedded control. The 'LF' variants specifically target ultra-low-power designs with nanoWatt XLP technology.
Key features include up to 32 MHz operation from a 1.8V to 3.6V supply, eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology with typical sleep currents in the nanoamp range, 28KB self-programmable Flash with code protection, and Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) that operate without CPU intervention. PPS allows flexible function-to-pin mapping, simplifying PCB layout. The integrated 10-bit ADC and DAC eliminate external converter ICs in sensor-interface designs.
The architecture combines the PIC16 enhanced mid-range core with hardware CIPs like the CWG for switching power supplies, ZCD for TRIAC/SSR control, and SCAN/CRC for functional safety. This combination makes the PIC16LF18856 ideal for mixed-signal, motor-control, and IoT applications where deterministic peripheral behavior matters more than raw MHz.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, home automation, battery-powered medical devices, motor control (BLDC fans, small pumps), LED lighting controllers, and industrial sensor interfaces. The wide peripheral set also suits smart energy and wearable designs.
When designing with this MCU, allocate sufficient Flash for a robust bootloader if OTA updates are required, and use PPS liberally to route peripherals to convenient pins. Watch the 1.8V minimum supply when interfacing to 3.3V sensors—use level shifters or a 'F' (5V) variant instead.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in SSOP-28 alternatives from the same PIC16F188xx family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18856T-I/SS — 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 PIC16LF18856T-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash), Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF18855T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18856-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18854-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF18857-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18856T-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC16(L)F1885X/7X |
| Core | 8-bit PIC16 enhanced mid-range RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 2 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 28-SSOP (0.209 inch / 5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| DAC | 5-bit / 10-bit |
| Comparators | Yes |
| PWM Outputs | Yes |
| Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) | Yes |
| Signal Measurement Timer (SMT) | Yes |
| Hardware Limit Timer (HLT) | Yes |
| Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT) | Yes |
| SCAN/CRC | Yes |
| Zero-Cross Detect (ZCD) | Yes |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| EUSART | 1 |
| SPI / I2C | 2x |
| eXtreme Low Power (XLP) | Yes (nanoWatt) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF18856T-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O / PPS function |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 4 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O / PPS function |
| Pin 5 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 6 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 7 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 8 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 9 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 10 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 12 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 14 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 15 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 16 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 17 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 18 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 21 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 22 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 23 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 24 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 25 | RA7 — Bidirectional I/O / CLKIN |
| Pin 26 | RA6 — Bidirectional I/O / CLKOUT |
| Pin 27 | MCLR — Master clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 28 | VSS — Ground (second ground pin) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18856T-I/SS is suitable for 7 applications: IoT Sensor Node, Battery-Powered Wearable Device, BLDC Fan / Small Motor Control, Home Automation / Smart Lighting, Industrial Sensor Interface / 4-20 mA Transmitter, Portable Medical / Health Monitor, HVAC / Thermostat Control.
IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF18856T-I/SS fits IoT sensor nodes due to its 1.8-3.6V supply matching single-cell Li-ion/2xAA batteries and nanoWatt XLP technology delivering sleep currents below 100 nA. With 28KB Flash it accommodates protocol stacks (Modbus, simple MQTT) and Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) like the SMT, HLT, and WWDT wake the CPU only on measured events. Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) routes I2C/SPI/UART to any convenient pin, simplifying PCB layout for compact sensor modules. The integrated 10-bit ADC and DAC interface directly to analog sensors without external converters, reducing BOM and power consumption versus discrete solutions.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Wearable Device
The PIC16LF18856T-I/SS is well-suited for battery-powered wearables where 1.8V operation, nanoWatt XLP sleep current, and compact 28-SSOP packaging matter. Its 32 MHz core delivers responsive UI handling while CIPs (PWM for haptic feedback, EUSART for BLE modules, ADC for heart-rate sensors) run without waking the CPU. PPS enables flexible PCB routing when the wearable enclosure constrains pin access. The 28KB Flash stores Bluetooth Low Energy profiles and OTA bootloader code, while 2KB RAM handles sensor-fusion buffers. Estimated battery life extends by 30-50% versus non-XLP PIC16F parts.
Recommended
BLDC Fan / Small Motor Control
The PIC16LF18856T-I/SS integrates the Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) and PWM peripherals needed for sensorless BLDC brushless-DC fan and small-motor control. The ZCD (Zero-Cross Detect) simplifies AC-line TRIAC/SSR commutation, and the 10-bit ADC samples back-EMF for commutation timing. With 32 MIPS at 32 MHz and Core Independent Peripherals handling the motor loop, the CPU remains free for RPM control, fault detection, and UART diagnostics. The 28-SSOP footprint fits compact fan PCBAs, and the industrial -40 to +85 C temperature rating handles motor ambient heat.
Recommended
Home Automation / Smart Lighting
The PIC16LF18856T-I/SS drives smart-lighting and home-automation end nodes via its EUSART (for DMX, DALI, or UART-to-RF bridge) and 2xSPI/I2C (for sensor hubs and LED drivers). XLP low-power suits battery-powered wireless switches and PIR occupancy sensors. The integrated 5-bit/10-bit DAC generates dimming curves, while PWM drives MOSFET-controlled LED strings. PPS routes peripheral functions to any pin, simplifying multi-protocol PCB layouts. The 28KB Flash holds Zigbee or LoRaWAN stacks for advanced nodes, and SCAN/CRC adds functional safety for commercial-grade products.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface / 4-20 mA Transmitter
The PIC16LF18856T-I/SS industrial sensor interfaces benefit from the 10-bit ADC (over-sampled to ~12 bits) and 256B EEPROM for calibration constants. ZCD enables AC-line voltage monitoring for power-quality meters, and the WWDT provides IEC 61508 functional-safety compliance. The 1.8-3.6V supply, combined with an external LDO or boost, supports loop-powered 4-20 mA transmitters. PPS allows the same firmware to map across multiple PCB variants, reducing SKU proliferation. The -40 to +85 C rating suits industrial enclosures, and XLP low-power minimizes loop-current draw.
Recommended
Portable Medical / Health Monitor
The PIC16LF18856T-I/SS fits portable medical devices like pulse oximeters, glucose meters, and blood-pressure monitors thanks to its 1.8V minimum (single Li-ion cell), XLP nanoWatt sleep current, and integrated 10-bit ADC for sensor readout. The DAC drives audible alert tones or haptic feedback, while EUSART connects to BLE modules for smartphone pairing. 28KB Flash accommodates FDA-510(k) firmware with diagnostic menus, and SCAN/CRC provides memory integrity checking. PPS enables PCB reuse across multiple medical SKUs, and the industrial temperature rating supports skin-contact thermometry accuracy.
Recommended
HVAC / Thermostat Control
The PIC16LF18856T-I/SS suits HVAC thermostat and environmental-control designs with its PWM for proportional valve/damper control, EUSART for communicating with furnace/AC units, and 10-bit ADC for temperature/humidity sensors. SCAN/CRC adds functional safety for SIL-2 commercial HVAC systems. The ZCD detects AC-line zero-cross for TRIAC-driven compressor control, and the 32 MHz core runs PID loops without timing jitter. PPS simplifies routing on the cramped thermostat PCB, while the 28-SSOP footprint supports hand-solderable prototypes. 28KB Flash stores scheduling, learning algorithms, and OTA-capable firmware.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18856T-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18855T-I/SS | PIC16LF18856-I/SS | PIC16LF18854-I/SS | PIC16LF18857-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 14 KB (-50%) | 28 KB (same) | 7 KB (-75%) | 56 KB (+100%) |
| Data RAM | 2 KB | 1 KB (-50%) | 2 KB (same) | 1 KB (-50%) | 4 KB (+100%) |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B (same) | 256 B (same) | 256 B (same) | 256 B (same) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| XLP Low Power | Yes (nanoWatt) | Yes (nanoWatt) | Yes (nanoWatt) | Yes (nanoWatt) | Yes (nanoWatt) |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tape & Reel | Yes ('T' suffix) | Yes ('T' suffix) | No (tube) | No (tube) | No (tube) |
Key Differentiators
- Doubles the Flash memory of the 18855 variant at the same package and price tier (vs PIC16LF18855T-I/SS)
- Tape & Reel factory packaging versus tube packaging on the non-'T' variant (vs PIC16LF18856-I/SS)
- Higher Flash density (28 KB) versus 7 KB on the 18854 within the same family (vs PIC16LF18854-I/SS)
Design Notes
Use a 100 nF ceramic bypass capacitor within 1-2 mm of the VDD pin (pin 20) and a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the MCU. For battery-powered designs, leverage nanoWatt XLP sleep modes with the on-chip Low-Power Sleep mode and Selective Peripheral Sleep to drop current below 100 nA. Disable the BOR if not needed to save additional current, but only after validating startup behavior with the brown-out reset.
Route the MCLR pin (pin 27) directly to a programming/debug header with a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD. Place decoupling capacitors on the same side of the PCB as the MCU with short, wide traces to minimize inductance. Use PPS liberally to route peripherals to physically convenient pins, simplifying PCB layout. Keep analog signals (ADC inputs, DAC outputs) away from PWM and switching traces to reduce noise coupling into the 10-bit ADC.
Do not exceed 3.6 V on the VDD pin—the LF variant is not 5V tolerant. If your design requires 5V I/O, choose the PIC16F18856 (2.3V-5.5V) instead. Watch the 'T' suffix distinction: PIC16LF18856T-I/SS is Tape & Reel, while PIC16LF18856-I/SS (no T) ships in tubes. Ensure your firmware accounts for the differing peripheral priorities at reset, especially the default PPS assignments documented in the datasheet Configuration Word section.
For I2C buses above 400 kHz, add 4.7 kohm pull-ups on SCL and SDA rather than the default 10 kohm to meet rise-time requirements. With PPS-mapped SPI, keep clock traces under 50 mm to avoid ringing. The 10-bit ADC requires a stable VREF; if using internal FVR (Fixed Voltage Reference), enable the FVR module early in initialization and allow at least 10 us settling time before ADC conversion.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page and distributor listings. Industrial -40 to +85 C operating temperature (I suffix). Not AEC-Q100 qualified; consider PIC16F18856T-I/SSVAO automotive variant for AEC-Q100 needs.
