PIC16LF648A-I/P - 8-Bit 20MHz 7KB Flash MCU 18-PDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF648A-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.79 | $2.79 |
| 10 | $2.55 | $25.50 |
| 100 | $2.21 | $221.00 |
| 500 | $1.95 | $975.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.74 | $1,740.00 |
PIC16LF648A-I/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), and integrated peripherals on one silicon die. Within the broader taxonomy, PIC16LF648A belongs to the 8-bit microcontroller category, which sits under microcontrollers, integrated circuits, and semiconductors. The "LF" prefix designates the low-voltage, low-power variant of the PIC16F648A family, employing Microchip's nanoWatt technology to minimize active and sleep-mode current consumption - a critical attribute for battery-powered and energy-harvesting applications.
The device features nanoWatt low-power technology, an internal 4MHz oscillator with software calibration, in-circuit serial programming (ICSP), and a programmable brown-out reset. The nanoWatt architecture provides multiple sleep modes with current as low as 100nA typical, watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator, and interrupt-driven wakeup from sleep on port change - all critical for ultra-low-power embedded designs.
Architecturally, the PIC16LF648A uses a Harvard RISC core with a 14-bit instruction word, single-cycle instruction execution (except branches), and a hardware multiplier-free ALU optimized for compact code density. The 35-instruction set enables deterministic interrupt latency of 4 cycles, while the 8-level deep hardware stack simplifies nested subroutine handling in C or assembly projects.
Typical applications include consumer electronics remote controls, battery-powered sensor nodes, automotive interior accessories, industrial control panels, and low-cost hobbyist/maker platforms (Arduino-PIC hybrids). Designers select this part when they need an inexpensive, easy-to-program MCU with sufficient analog and digital peripherals for simple-to-moderate complexity tasks.
When designing with this part, ensure decoupling capacitors (100nF + 10uF) are placed within 5mm of VDD, and that the MCLR pin is pulled up through a 10kohm resistor. For low-power designs, leverage the secondary oscillator with a 32.768kHz crystal and use the WDT wakeup source for periodic sampling.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF648A-I/P — 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 PIC16LF648A-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Analog Comparators, Core Architecture, Internal Oscillator, EEPROM Data Memory.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesPIC16LF648A-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 (8-bit Harvard RISC) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 256 bytes |
| EEPROM Data Memory | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 |
| Package | 18-pin PDIP (through-hole) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Internal Oscillator | 4 MHz (factory calibrated, +/-1%) |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2 |
| Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) | 1 module |
| UART/USART | 1 (Enhanced USART) |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| Programmable Voltage Reference | Yes |
| ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) | Yes |
| Brown-Out Reset (BOR) | Yes (programmable) |
| Watchdog Timer (WDT) | Yes (with on-chip RC oscillator) |
| nanoWatt Low-Power Technology | Yes |
| Instruction Set | 35 instructions, 14-bit wide |
| Lead-Free / RoHS Status | Lead-free, RoHS compliant |
PIC16LF648A-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2/VREF-/CVREF — GPIO RA2 / Analog input 2 / VREF- / Comparator VREF output |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF+/C1OUT — GPIO RA3 / Analog input 3 / VREF+ / Comparator 1 output |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI/C2OUT — GPIO RA4 / Timer0 clock input / Comparator 2 output (open-drain) |
| Pin 4 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (reset) input / Programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — GPIO RB0 / External interrupt input |
| Pin 7 | RB1/RX/DT — GPIO RB1 / EUSART RX / EUSART data |
| Pin 8 | RB2/TX/CK — GPIO RB2 / EUSART TX / EUSART clock |
| Pin 9 | RB3/CCP1 — GPIO RB3 / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 10 | RB4/PGM — GPIO RB4 / Low-voltage ICSP programming input |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — GPIO RB5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6/T1OSC1/PGC — GPIO RB6 / Timer1 oscillator input / ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB7/T1OSC2/PGD — GPIO RB7 / Timer1 oscillator output / ICSP data |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 15 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — GPIO RA6 / Oscillator output / Clock output |
| Pin 16 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — GPIO RA7 / Oscillator input / Clock input |
| Pin 17 | RA0/AN0 — GPIO RA0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1/AN1 — GPIO RA1 / Analog input 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF648A-I/P is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Consumer Remote Controls, Industrial Control Panels, Automotive Interior Accessories, Hobbyist and Educational Platforms, White Goods and Appliance Control, Motor Control and PWM Drivers.
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF648A-I/P is a strong fit for battery-powered wireless sensor nodes where its 2.0V minimum VDD enables direct 2xAA alkaline operation without boost conversion, and its nanoWatt technology drops sleep current to ~100nA. With 7KB Flash and 256B RAM, it comfortably runs Contiki-style or proprietary 802.15.4 stack fragments paired with an external radio like the MRF24J40 or CC1101, while the USART handles the SPI-based radio interface. Combined with the internal 4MHz oscillator (eliminating crystal BOM), a complete sensor node can run months to years on a single CR2032 or 2xAA pack.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls
For IR/RF remote controls, the PIC16LF648A-I/P offers the right balance of Flash (7KB) for protocol stacks like RC5/RC6/SIRC/NEC, 16 I/O pins for keypad matrix and LED indicators, and USART/CCP for IR modulation or RF transmitter drive. The nanoWatt sleep currents (microampere range) extend battery life to years with typical CR2032 cells, while ICSP allows field firmware updates during production. The internal 4MHz oscillator removes the external crystal, shrinking the PCB and BOM.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panels
Industrial control panel designs benefit from the PIC16LF648A-I/P's wide 2.0-5.5V supply tolerance, -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating, and 256B EEPROM for non-volatile parameter storage (setpoints, calibration constants). Its USART interfaces with RS-232/RS-485 transceivers for Modbus RTU or proprietary protocols, while the two analog comparators and programmable voltage reference enable threshold detection without an external ADC. The 18-pin PDIP package is also well-suited to through-hole industrial boards where mechanical robustness is valued over SMT miniaturization.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Accessories
The PIC16LF648A-I/P is well-suited to non-safety automotive interior accessories such as ambient lighting controllers, seat-position memory switches, and trim-level configurators, where its 18-pin PDIP eases prototyping and serviceability. The two analog comparators handle voltage monitoring of vehicle rails (12V nominal, 8-16V transients), while the USART interfaces with body-control modules. Designers should still pair the LF variant with external TVS protection on VDD; for AEC-Q100-qualified PIC16 designs in automotive, the PIC16F648A-I/P in automotive-grade packaging is recommended instead.
Recommended
Hobbyist and Educational Platforms
The PIC16LF648A-I/P is a popular target for hobbyist and educational use because of its low cost (~$2-3 in single-piece quantities), easy ICSP programming via Microchip PICkit 3/4, and rich tutorial ecosystem around the PIC16F648A family. Its 7KB Flash, USART, and CCP module let beginners progress from blinking LEDs to UART-controlled robotics, while the 18-pin PDIP is breadboard-friendly. The nanoWatt technology is also a teaching case for low-power embedded design.
Recommended
White Goods and Appliance Control
In white goods such as coffee makers, rice cookers, and small kitchen appliances, the PIC16LF648A-I/P provides 16 I/O pins for keypad input, LED/LCD segment indicators, relay drive, and triac interface. The 2.0-5.5V VDD range lets the same design run from 3.3V or 5V rails, while the two analog comparators monitor temperature sensors (NTC) for over-temperature shutdown. EEPROM supports storing user preferences (brew strength, timer settings), and the -40C to +85C industrial temperature range covers all consumer appliance environments.
Recommended
Motor Control and PWM Drivers
The PIC16LF648A-I/P's Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module, two analog comparators, and 20MHz clock speed make it suitable for small brushed-DC motor control, servo positioning, and LED dimming applications. The CCP module generates PWM at up to 10-bit resolution, the comparators handle back-EMF sensing or current-limit detection, and the USART communicates with higher-level controllers (e.g., a Raspberry Pi). With its 18-pin PDIP, this part fits compact motor-driver daughter boards and stepper-motor breakout modules.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF648A-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F648A-I/P | PIC16LF628A-I/P | PIC16LF627A-I/P | PIC16F628-04I/P | PIC16F627-04I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | PDIP-18 (through-hole) | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB | 7 KB (same) | 3.5 KB (-50%) | 1.75 KB (-75%) | 3.5 KB (-50%) | 1.75 KB (-75%) |
| RAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes (same) | 224 bytes (-12.5%) | 224 bytes (-12.5%) | 224 bytes (-12.5%) | 224 bytes (-12.5%) |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes (same) | 128 bytes (-50%) | 128 bytes (-50%) | 128 bytes (-50%) | 128 bytes (-50%) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz (same) | 20 MHz (same) | 20 MHz (same) | 4 MHz (-80%) | 4 MHz (-80%) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0V to 5.5V (LF) | 3.0V to 5.5V (F) | 2.0V to 5.5V (LF) | 2.0V to 5.5V (LF) | 3.0V to 5.5V (F) | 3.0V to 5.5V (F) |
| I/O Pins | 16 | 16 (same) | 16 (same) | 16 (same) | 16 (same) | 16 (same) |
| USART | 1 (Enhanced USART) | 1 (Enhanced USART) | 1 (USART) | 1 (USART) | 1 (USART) | 1 (USART) |
| CCP Modules | 1 | 1 (same) | 1 (same) | 1 (same) | 1 (same) | 1 (same) |
| Internal Oscillator | 4 MHz calibrated | 4 MHz calibrated (same) | 4 MHz calibrated (same) | 4 MHz calibrated (same) | 4 MHz uncalibrated (lower accuracy) | 4 MHz uncalibrated (lower accuracy) |
Key Differentiators
- Wider VDD range enables 2xAA battery direct operation (vs PIC16F648A-I/P)
- Double the Flash and EEPROM of the next-tier variant (vs PIC16LF628A-I/P)
- 4x the Flash memory of the smallest variant (vs PIC16LF627A-I/P)
- Higher CPU speed than legacy 04-designated variants (vs PIC16F628-04I/P)
Design Notes
Place a 100nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible (within 5mm) to the VDD pin (pin 14), and add a bulk 10uF capacitor near the supply input. According to the manufacturer datasheet, the LF variant's nanoWatt sleep modes drop current to ~100nA typical, but VDD ripple during sleep-wake transitions can cause spurious resets if decoupling is inadequate. Use a low-ESR ceramic (X7R) for the 100nF cap to maintain performance across the -40C to +85C industrial range.
The MCLR pin (RA5/MCLR/VPP, pin 4) must be pulled up to VDD through a 10kohm resistor for normal operation, and a 100nF cap to ground is recommended to filter noise. Per the Microchip datasheet, leaving MCLR floating can cause intermittent resets or failed programming. For ICSP, the PGC (RB6, pin 12) and PGD (RB7, pin 13) lines must be accessible - do not put series resistors exceeding 100 ohm on these pins or programming may fail.
For crystal-accurate designs using the external oscillator (RA6/OSC2 and RA7/OSC1, pins 15-16), keep the crystal load capacitors within 5mm of the oscillator pins, and place a guard ground ring around the oscillator traces to prevent coupling digital noise into the clock signal. According to the manufacturer datasheet, the secondary oscillator (RB6/RB7) for low-power 32.768kHz timing requires similar care and benefits from placing the crystal at right angles to the primary oscillator to minimize crosstalk.
Compliance Information
Per Microchip product page, the -I/P variant is lead-free and RoHS compliant. Industrial temperature range -40C to +85C. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for AEC-Q100 automotive applications, use PIC16F648A-I/P in automotive-grade packaging or a PIC16F1xxx automotive variant.
