PIC16LF18857-E/SS - 32MHz 8-bit MCU, 56KB Flash, 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18857-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.82 | $1.82 |
| 10 | $1.8 | $18.00 |
| 100 | $1.78 | $178.00 |
| 500 | $1.78 | $890.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.78 | $1,780.00 |
| 2,500 | $1.73 | $4,325.00 |
PIC16LF18857-E/SS Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller (MCU) is a small, low-power computer-on-a-chip built around a Harvard RISC core, executing one instruction per clock cycle. The PIC16 family sits in the middle of Microchip's 8-bit portfolio, balancing cost, peripherals, and code density; the LF sub-family extends that hierarchy into the XLP (eXtreme Low Power) tier for battery-powered applications. A 32MHz PIC16F/LF188xx MCU bridges the gap between baseline PIC10/PIC12 parts and the higher-pin-count PIC18/dsPIC families, making it a workhorse for sensor interfacing, motor control loops, and human-machine interfaces.
Key features include 32MHz internal oscillator, 1.8V-3.6V wide VDD range, 256B data EEPROM, 4KB RAM, and Microchip's Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) which lets engineers remap digital peripherals to any I/O pin - greatly easing PCB routing. The 10-bit ADC2 with averaging, oversampling, and hardware accumulation simplifies sensor signal conditioning, while the integrated EUSART plus two SPI/I2C blocks support multiple communication buses simultaneously.
The PIC16LF18857 is fabricated on CMOS technology with on-chip debug and In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP), supported by the MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler. With 32KB Flash for application code (the device advertises 56KB total Flash but only 32K x 14 words are user-addressable) and 4KB RAM for data buffers, it can host real-time operating systems, USB stacks via the serial interface, or firmware update bootloaders in the upper memory region.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered industrial sensors, low-power motor control, LED lighting controllers, and consumer electronics interfaces. The XLP nanoWatt features (idle/doze/sleep modes) and 1.8V minimum supply suit coin-cell and energy-harvesting designs.
When designing with this MCU, allocate sufficient Flash for bootloader + application partitions and budget I/O pins carefully because PPS flexibility trades against pin count - engineers should plan pin assignments in MPLAB Pin Manager before routing. The E suffix denotes the -40C to +125C extended industrial temperature grade, qualifying the part for outdoor, automotive-cockpit, and factory-floor deployments.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives from the PIC16LF188xx family, and practical design notes for the 28-SSOP package, augmenting the manufacturer datasheet with engineering-oriented comparison data.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18857-E/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 PIC16LF18857-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory (Flash), Operating Temperature, ADC, Communication.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF18857-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18856-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18855-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18854-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF18856-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18857-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC16 LF 8-bit MCU |
| Core | PIC16 (8-bit Harvard RISC) |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 56 KB (32K x 14 words user-accessible) |
| Data SRAM | 4 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E grade) |
| I/O Pins | Up to 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit ADC2 with computation |
| Communication | 1x EUSART, 2x SPI, 2x I2C |
| Timers | 11 (8-/16-bit mixed) |
| PWM Channels | 2 |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Package | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP, MPLAB X IDE, XC8 compiler |
PIC16LF18857-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — I/O port A bit 5 / ADC channel |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — I/O port A bit 4 |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — I/O port A bit 3 / MCLR (input only) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — I/O port A bit 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — I/O port A bit 1 / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — I/O port A bit 0 / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — I/O port A bit 7 |
| Pin 9 | RA6 — I/O port A bit 6 |
| Pin 10 | RC0 — I/O port C bit 0 |
| Pin 11 | RC1 — I/O port C bit 1 |
| Pin 12 | RC2 — I/O port C bit 2 |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — I/O port C bit 3 / SCL |
| Pin 14 | RC4 — I/O port C bit 4 / SDA |
| Pin 15 | RC5 — I/O port C bit 5 |
| Pin 16 | RC6 — I/O port C bit 6 / TX |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — I/O port C bit 7 / RX |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground reference (second) |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 20 | RB0 — I/O port B bit 0 |
| Pin 21 | RB1 — I/O port B bit 1 |
| Pin 22 | RB2 — I/O port B bit 2 |
| Pin 23 | RB3 — I/O port B bit 3 |
| Pin 24 | RB4 — I/O port B bit 4 |
| Pin 25 | RB5 — I/O port B bit 5 |
| Pin 26 | RB6 — I/O port B bit 6 / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 27 | RB7 — I/O port B bit 7 / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (second) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18857-E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Low-Power Motor Control (BLDC / Stepper), LED Lighting Controllers, Consumer Electronics HMI Interfaces, Automotive Non-Safety Body Electronics.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF18857-E/SS is ideally suited to wireless sensor node applications where 56KB Flash accommodates BLE/WiFi co-processor command handling, sensor-fusion algorithms, and OTA bootloader code. Its 1.8V-3.6V VDD range lets it run directly from 2xAA alkaline cells or single-cell Li-ion/LiFePO4 batteries without a boost converter, while the 256B EEPROM stores calibration constants across power cycles. XLP nanoWatt sleep modes with nanoamp-range current let the MCU spend most of its life dormant, waking on interrupt for periodic measurements. The 10-bit ADC2 with hardware averaging oversamples low-frequency sensor signals for noise rejection, and the 28-SSOP footprint leaves PCB space for a discrete radio module.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16LF18857-E/SS handles multi-channel analog front-end processing in industrial sensor modules thanks to its 10-bit ADC2 with computation, up to 25 I/O, and PPS-enabled flexible pin mapping. EUSART plus dual SPI/I2C buses let it bridge Modbus RTU (RS-485), local displays, and digital sensors simultaneously without bus contention. The -40C to +125C extended temperature grade (E suffix) qualifies it for outdoor enclosures, factory floors, and unheated cabinets. The 4KB SRAM buffers raw ADC sample streams for moving-average or FIR filtering before forwarding, and 56KB Flash stores linearization tables for thermocouples, RTDs, and load cells. The 32MHz CPU executes these DSP-like routines within microseconds per sample.
Recommended
Low-Power Motor Control (BLDC / Stepper)
The PIC16LF18857-E/SS drives small brushed DC, stepper, or sensorless BLDC motors through its 2 PWM channels, 11 timers, and 32MHz CPU bandwidth that closes velocity/torque loops within tens of microseconds. The PIC16LF18857-E/SS's 1.8V minimum VDD is unusual for motor drivers and lets a single-cell Li-ion directly power both MCU and low-voltage gate drivers, simplifying battery-powered robotic and prosthetic designs. The 10-bit ADC2 samples back-EMF, current-sense amplifiers, and potentiometer feedback with hardware-triggered synchronization to PWM edges, eliminating software jitter. With 4KB SRAM, the MCU holds trajectory tables and PID state for multi-axis coordination. The 28-SSOP package is footprint-compatible with the PIC16LF18855/18856 for cost-engineered motor variants.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC16LF18857-E/SS serves as the control brain in addressable RGBW LED strips, architectural lighting fixtures, and horticulture lamps where its 2 PWM channels plus PPS enable software-PWM expansion across 25 I/O pins. The 32MHz CPU generates bit-banged WS2812/SK6812 protocols or DMX512 frames via SPI/DMA-like techniques while managing color-temperature algorithms and dimming curves. With 56KB Flash, designers can include OTA firmware update, daylight-harvesting logic, and BLE phone-app control stacks without external memory. The 1.8V-3.6V VDD accepts direct Li-ion supply and the XLP sleep modes drop quiescent current into the nanoamp range when lights are off, meeting stringent standby-power regulations. The -E temperature grade ensures reliable operation inside enclosed luminaire housings that can exceed 70C ambient.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics HMI Interfaces
The PIC16LF18857-E/SS implements touch-button, rotary-encoder, and small graphical-display interfaces in home appliances, audio gear, and personal-care devices. Its 11 timers debounce mechanical switches and run capacitive-touch sensing via the ADC2 with computation, eliminating dedicated touch ICs and reducing BOM cost. The 25 I/O pins with PPS drive segment LCDs, character LCDs, or small OLED displays via SPI while still leaving pins for user feedback LEDs and buzzer PWM. With 4KB SRAM, the MCU holds multi-language menu strings and audio sample indexes; 56KB Flash contains full UI firmware plus bootloaders for field updates. The 1.8V minimum VDD suits coin-cell or single-cell Li designs common in remote controls and portable devices.
Recommended
Automotive Non-Safety Body Electronics
The PIC16LF18857-E/SS handles non-safety body-electronics modules such as interior lighting controllers, seat-position memory, mirror adjustment, and accessory multiplexers where its -40C to +125C extended temperature grade is essential. The PIC16LF18857-E/SS is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified; for safety-critical or powertrain applications, use PIC16F18857-E/SS-Q1 or dsPIC33 variants. The 56KB Flash accommodates CAN/LIN protocol stacks via EUSART and SPI, 4KB RAM holds diagnostic buffers, and the 32MHz CPU processes multiple message frames within their scheduled slots. PPS flexibility simplifies PCB routing in tightly-packed body modules, and the 28-SSOP footprint is the same as PIC16F188x7 siblings for migration paths within the family.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18857-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18857-I/SS | PIC16LF18856-I/SS | PIC16LF18855-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm body) | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Flash Memory | 56 KB | 56 KB | 48 KB | 32 KB |
| SRAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating 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 |
| Temperature Grade | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) |
| Peripherals (EUSART/SPI/I2C) | 1 / 2 / 2 | 1 / 2 / 2 | 1 / 2 / 2 | 1 / 2 / 2 |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in the PIC16LF188xx 28-SSOP family (vs PIC16LF18856-I/SS)
- Extended industrial temperature grade (vs PIC16LF18857-I/SS)
- 1.8V minimum VDD for direct coin-cell or Li-ion operation (vs PIC16F18857-I/SS)
Design Notes
The PIC16LF18857-E/SS operates from 1.8V to 3.6V with on-chip LDO generating internal 1.8V core logic. Decouple VDD with a 100nF ceramic capacitor placed within 3mm of the VDD pin pair, plus a bulk 10uF capacitor near the supply source. For battery-powered designs, route the VDD pins together and avoid high-current switching tracks beneath the MCU. The XLP Sleep mode draws nanoampere-range current with RTCC active - enable this mode whenever the firmware can tolerate event-driven wake-ups to maximize coin-cell battery life.
The 28-SSOP package has a 0.65mm pin pitch - use 0.4mm-wide traces with 0.2mm clearance entering the pads and consider a ground plane beneath the device for EMI suppression. Keep ICSP lines (RB6/ICSPCLK and RB7/ICSPDAT) routed with short stubs to dedicated test pads so the MPLAB Snap or ICD can program/debug without removing the chip. PPS lets you remap digital peripherals to any I/O pin, so defer final pin assignments until the schematic is complete to optimize PCB routing density.
Do not confuse the 56KB Flash total with user-accessible code size - only 32K x 14 words (56KB) are addressable but a portion is reserved for the configuration words and device ID. Use MPLAB X memory reports to confirm your application fits below the bootloader partition before committing. Avoid driving the MCLR pin low during normal operation as this triggers reset; if a manual reset button is needed, debounce it through RC with a 10k pull-up. Ensure the device is unlocked before flash erase operations to prevent debug-access lockouts.
When using the 10-bit ADC2 with computation, place an anti-aliasing RC filter (typically 1k and 100nF) on each analog input and avoid routing digital signals (PWM, SPI clock) parallel to analog traces. The ADC2 hardware oversampler can boost effective resolution to 12-14 bits if the source impedance is below 10kohm and the sampling rate is below 10kHz - this trades speed for precision in sensor applications. Use the dedicated VDD/VSS pin pairs (pin 7+18 for VSS, pin 19+28 for VDD) to ensure low-impedance analog and digital returns.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. NOT AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive safety-critical designs use PIC16F18857-E/SS-Q1. LF designation denotes extended low-voltage (1.8V) operation.
