PIC16LF18876-I/ML - 8-Bit 32MHz XLP MCU 28KB Flash 44-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18876-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.42 | $3.42 |
| 10 | $3.07 | $30.70 |
| 100 | $2.62 | $262.00 |
| 500 | $2.21 | $1,105.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.92 | $1,920.00 |
PIC16LF18876-I/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (RAM), and a rich set of peripherals (ADCs, timers, communication interfaces) onto one IC. Within the broader taxonomy, an MCU falls under microcontrollers -> integrated circuits -> semiconductors. PIC microcontrollers from Microchip use a modified Harvard RISC architecture with a 14-bit instruction word; the PIC16F18876 specifically targets general-purpose low-power embedded applications where small footprint, low active and sleep current, and on-chip analog peripherals reduce external component count and BOM cost.
Key features of the PIC16LF18876 include a 10-bit ADC with up to 43 channels, a 5-bit DAC, multiple comparators, Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) modules, Zero-Cross Detect (ZCD), and Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) for flexible signal routing. Communication peripherals include EUSART and two SPI/I2C interfaces. Core-independent peripherals such as CRC/SCAN, Hardware Limit Timer (HLT), and Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT) offload tasks from the CPU, enabling low-power standby operation. The XLP technology achieves nanoWatt sleep currents suitable for battery-powered applications.
The PIC16LF18876 uses a 14-bit modified Harvard RISC architecture with a hardware stack for fast interrupt response. PPS allows remapping of digital peripheral inputs and outputs to most I/O pins, simplifying PCB layout and enabling late-stage pin assignment changes. The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) and debugging via standard Microchip tools (PICkit, ICD), reducing development time and supporting field firmware updates.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, low-power wireless sensor hubs, battery-operated industrial sensors, consumer remote controls, portable medical monitoring accessories, smart home devices, and general-purpose embedded control where extended battery life is required. The wide peripheral integration often eliminates the need for companion analog or logic chips.
Design consideration: when migrating firmware from older PIC16F1xxx devices, verify register definitions against the PIC16F18876 header file because PPS remapping must be configured during initialization. Place a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD pin and connect the QFN exposed pad (EP) to a solid ground plane for thermal dissipation.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, parametrically validated drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not collected on any single manufacturer or distributor product page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18876-I/ML — 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 PIC16LF18876-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, I/O Pins, Program Memory (Flash), Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF18876-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18877-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF18875-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18876-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18876-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC16 (PIC16F188xx series) |
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC, modified Harvard |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14) |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 43 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| Comparators | Multiple on-chip |
| PWM / CCP | Yes (CCP + CWG) |
| Communication | EUSART, 2x SPI, 2x I2C |
| I/O Pins | Up to 36 (varies by package) |
| Package | 44-pin QFN (8x8 mm) with EP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| XLP Low Power | Yes (nanoWatt technology) |
| ICSP / Debug | Yes (PICkit, ICD compatible) |
| RoHS | Compliant |
PIC16LF18876-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — GPIO / analog input / PPS |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RC5 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RC4 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RC3 — GPIO / analog input / SCL |
| Pin 7 | RC2 — GPIO / analog input / SDA |
| Pin 8 | RC1 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 9 | RC0 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 10 | RA2 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | RA1 — GPIO / analog input / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 14 | RA0 — GPIO / analog input / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 15 | RB7 — GPIO |
| Pin 16 | RB6 — GPIO |
| Pin 17 | RB5 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 18 | RB4 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 19 | RB3 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 20 | RB2 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 21 | RB1 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 22 | RB0 — GPIO / analog input / programming |
| Pin 23 | RD7 — GPIO |
| Pin 24 | RD6 — GPIO |
| Pin 25 | RD5 — GPIO |
| Pin 26 | RD4 — GPIO |
| Pin 27 | RD3 — GPIO |
| Pin 28 | RD2 — GPIO |
| Pin 29 | RD1 — GPIO |
| Pin 30 | RD0 — GPIO |
| Pin 31 | RE3 — GPIO |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 33 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 34 | RF7 — GPIO |
| Pin 35 | RF6 — GPIO |
| Pin 36 | RF5 — GPIO |
| Pin 37 | RF4 — GPIO |
| Pin 38 | RF3 — GPIO |
| Pin 39 | RF2 — GPIO |
| Pin 40 | RF1 — GPIO |
| Pin 41 | RF0 — GPIO |
| Pin 42 | RE2 — GPIO |
| Pin 43 | RE1 — GPIO |
| Pin 44 | RE0 — GPIO |
| Pin 45 | EP — Exposed thermal pad - connect to ground plane |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18876-I/ML is suitable for 7 applications: IoT Sensor Nodes, Battery-Powered Wearable Devices, Industrial Sensor Transmitters, Smart Home Hubs and Edge Devices, Portable Medical Monitoring Accessories, Consumer Remote Controls and HIDs, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety).
IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF18876-I/ML is well-suited for wireless IoT sensor nodes operating from coin-cell or 2xAA batteries where XLP nanoWatt sleep currents extend battery life to multiple years. Its 1.8V-3.6V operation directly accepts fresh Li-MnO2 coin cells (3.0V nominal) without an LDO, and the 32MHz core at 16 MIPS easily handles sensor acquisition and protocol framing for sub-GHz radios. With 28KB Flash it accommodates LoRaWAN or Zigbee stack libraries plus application code. Place the MCU between the battery and the radio module, using PPS to remap EUSART to convenient PCB routes and gating the radio with a MOSFET driven from a GPIO.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Wearable Devices
Wearable fitness and health wearables benefit from the PIC16LF18876-I/ML's nanoWatt XLP technology, which reduces active current and provides deep-sleep modes below 100 nA, dramatically extending battery runtime on small Li-Po cells. The 10-bit ADC with up to 43 channels interfaces directly with PPG photodiodes, temperature sensors, and IMUs without external amplification, while the 5-bit DAC drives haptic feedback actuators. Its 2KB RAM comfortably buffers BLE packet payloads and gesture recognition state machines. Mount on a flex PCB with proper ground stitching to maintain EMI compliance.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitters
Industrial 4-20mA loop-powered sensor transmitters require a wide supply tolerance and low quiescent current to stay within the 3.6mA loop budget; the PIC16LF18876-I/ML supports 1.8V-3.6V from a regulated loop-derived rail and consumes only a few mA in active mode. The 10-bit ADC with 43 channels reads multiple bridge sensors, RTDs, or thermocouples via onboard op-amps, while hardware Limit Timer (HLT) and CRC/SCAN offload diagnostics from the CPU for IEC 61508 SIL-friendly architectures. Place the MCU close to the sensor input stage and route analog ground separately from digital ground to maintain 16-bit noise-free resolution.
Recommended
Smart Home Hubs and Edge Devices
Smart-home edge controllers and remote sensors benefit from the PIC16LF18876-I/ML's combination of EUSART plus dual SPI/I2C interfaces, enabling simultaneous connections to radios, sensors, and EEPROM without software bit-banging. PPS allows late-stage pin reassignment when the PCB layout changes, shortening design cycles. The 28KB Flash accommodates Matter-over-Thread application code plus a secure bootloader, while CRC/SCAN hardware validates firmware integrity on every boot. Place decoupling capacitors on every VDD/VSS pair and expose the QFN EP to a 4x4 via array on the inner ground plane for 1W+ dissipation headroom.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Accessories
Portable medical accessories such as spirometers, pulse oximeter dongles, and glucose meter interfaces require deterministic real-time response and IEC 60730 class B safety compliance - capabilities the PIC16LF18876-I/ML supports through its built-in Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT) and CRC/SCAN peripherals. The 32MHz core delivers 16 MIPS, sufficient for ADC oversampling at 50 ksps while computing SpO2 algorithms. Hardware limit timer (HLT) handles safety interlocks independently of firmware, reducing fault response latency. Power the MCU from a 3V Li coin cell and use the 5-bit DAC for buzzer feedback.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls and HIDs
Infrared and BLE remote controls, gaming mice, and other human-interface devices benefit from the PIC16LF18876-I/ML's low active current and sub-microamp deep sleep, extending battery life in always-on applications to several years. The CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) drives IR LEDs with precise 38kHz carrier timing, while the 10-bit ADC reads rotary encoders, touch sliders, and analog joysticks. PPS remaps peripheral functions to optimize PCB routing for compact product enclosures. Place the IR LED driver transistor within 10mm of the IC to minimize EMI, and use a 100nF ceramic on each VDD pin.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
Non-safety automotive body controllers such as seat heaters, ambient lighting, and accessory modules benefit from the PIC16LF18876's industrial temperature grade and robust peripheral set. The 32MHz core and CWG support LED dimming with 16-bit PWM resolution via the MCCP module, while the EUSART and CAN-friendly software stacks handle LIN bus communication. Note: the LF variant is not AEC-Q100 qualified - for safety-relevant automotive applications select PIC16F18876-E/ML extended temperature grade or a Q1-qualified equivalent.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18876-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18876-E/ML | PIC16LF18877-I/ML | PIC16LF18875-I/ML | PIC16F18876-I/ML | PIC16LF18876T-I/MV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8) | 44-QFN (8x8) - same | 44-QFN (8x8) - same | 44-QFN (8x8) - same | 44-QFN (8x8) - same | 40-UQFN (5x5) - different |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB | 56 KB | 8 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB |
| RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 4 KB | 1 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB |
| 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 | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Pin Count | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 40 |
Key Differentiators
- NanoWatt XLP technology extends battery life (vs PIC16F18876-I/ML)
- Core-independent peripherals reduce CPU overhead (vs PIC16F18855-I/ML)
- Wide operating voltage eliminates external LDO (vs ATmega328P-AU)
Design Notes
Estimated: when migrating from PIC16F to PIC16LF on a 5V system, add a 3.3V LDO such as MCP1700 between the 5V rail and VDD. The LF part's absolute maximum VDD is 4.0V, so the LDO headroom must be respected under all transient conditions. Place a 10uF bulk + 100nF ceramic decoupling pair within 5mm of each VDD/VSS pin pair. NanoWatt sleep current is specified with all peripherals disabled - enable only the peripherals actually required by the wake-up source.
Estimated: the QFN-44 exposed thermal pad (EP) must be soldered to a contiguous ground plane with at least a 4x4 via array to the inner ground layer for thermal dissipation. Per Microchip AN1613, missing the EP connection reduces the part's allowable power dissipation by 40-50% and increases junction-to-ambient thermal resistance from approximately 30 C/W to over 50 C/W. Route all analog inputs away from switching signals and keep AGND and DGND connected at a single star point near the IC.
Common pitfalls: (1) forgetting to configure PPS before using peripherals - all digital I/O functions require explicit pin mapping after reset; (2) exceeding 4.0V absolute maximum VDD on LF parts during ICSP programming spikes - use a current-limited programmer; (3) leaving unused I/O pins floating - configure as outputs or inputs with internal weak pull-ups to prevent shoot-through current; (4) using 3.3V UART levels with 5V peers without level shifters. Reference Microchip TB3013 for PPS configuration best practices and DS40001874 for electrical characteristics.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page and Newark listing (52Y7606). Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive safety-relevant applications use PIC16F18876-E/ML or Q1-qualified equivalent. Lead-free reflow profile per JEDEC J-STD-020.
