PIC16LF721-I/P - 8-bit MCU 7KB Flash 16MHz | Microchip | DIP-20
MPN: PIC16LF721-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.82 | $1.82 |
| 10 | $1.64 | $16.40 |
| 100 | $1.45 | $145.00 |
| 500 | $1.28 | $640.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.12 | $1,120.00 |
PIC16LF721-I/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), working memory (RAM), and peripheral interfaces (ADC, timers, communication ports) into one IC. The PIC16LF721 belongs to the enhanced mid-range PIC16 family, which sits in Microchip's taxonomy between baseline PIC10/12 devices and the high-performance PIC18/PIC24 families. The 'LF' prefix designates the low-voltage/low-power F-series variant optimized for battery-powered and energy-harvesting applications where extended battery life is a primary design constraint.
Key features of the PIC16LF721-I/P include 18 digital I/O pins, an integrated 8-bit ADC with 8 input channels, multiple timer modules, an EUSART, and an MSSP peripheral for SPI/I2C communication. The device also incorporates nanoWatt XLP technology for ultra-low-power sleep modes, making it suitable for applications that spend most of their operational time in standby. The wide operating voltage range (1.8V to 3.6V) enables direct connection to single-cell Li-ion or two-cell alkaline battery chemistries.
Architecturally, the PIC16LF721 uses a Harvard RISC core with a 14-bit instruction word, providing deterministic instruction timing that simplifies real-time control loops. The 16 MHz maximum oscillator yields 62.5 ns instruction cycles, sufficient for modest sensor sampling and protocol-handling tasks. The integrated 8-bit ADC provides adequate resolution for many sensor measurements including temperature, light, battery voltage, and simple analog signal conditioning without requiring an external converter IC.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, home automation controllers, simple IoT edge devices, consumer electronics user interfaces, low-power remote controls, and industrial monitoring modules. The through-hole DIP-20 package makes the PIC16LF721-I/P particularly popular for prototyping, hobby projects, breadboard-based development, and educational environments where hand-soldering and easy IC replacement are valued over the miniaturization of surface-mount packages.
When designing with this device, plan the power budget around the LF variant's low-power strengths: leverage the nanoWatt XLP sleep modes (sub-uA standby current) and select a clock source that matches the throughput requirement. Engineers migrating from older PIC16F7xx designs will find the PIC16LF721-I/P a near drop-in replacement with the added benefit of lower voltage operation and improved ADC performance.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, application notes, and design considerations drawn from manufacturer documentation, providing information gain beyond a standalone datasheet review.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF721-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 PIC16LF721-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, ADC, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF720-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.71 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F721-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF720-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF721-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 (8-bit RISC, enhanced mid-range) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 16 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| ADC | 8-bit, 8 channels |
| Communication Peripherals | EUSART, MSSP (SPI/I2C) |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2 |
| Package | PDIP-20 (DIP-20, through-hole) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Instruction Set | 14-bit PIC16 enhanced mid-range |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 (not applicable for through-hole) |
PIC16LF721-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input channel 3 / ADC voltage reference positive |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input channel 4 |
| Pin 3 | RA5/AN5/SS — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input channel 5 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 4 | RA6/OSC2 — Bidirectional I/O / Oscillator output (crystal mode) |
| Pin 5 | RA7/OSC1 — Bidirectional I/O / Oscillator input (crystal mode) |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 8 | RB0/AN12/INT — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 12 / External interrupt |
| Pin 9 | RB1/AN10 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 10 |
| Pin 10 | RB2/AN8 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 8 |
| Pin 11 | RB3/AN9 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 9 |
| Pin 12 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 13 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 14 | RB6/ICSPCLK — Bidirectional I/O / In-Circuit Serial Programming clock |
| Pin 15 | RB7/ICSPDAT — Bidirectional I/O / In-Circuit Serial Programming data |
| Pin 16 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 18 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 19 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 20 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF721-I/P is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Home Automation Controller, Consumer Electronics User Interface, Industrial Monitoring Module, Educational and Prototyping Platform, Low-Power Remote Control.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF721-I/P fits IoT edge sensor nodes because its 1.8V-3.6V operating range matches single-cell Li-ion (3.0-4.2V with LDO) and 2x AA alkaline (2.0-3.2V) battery chemistries, while its nanoWatt XLP sleep current draws under 1 uA in deep sleep. The 7 KB Flash and 256-byte RAM are sufficient for simple sensor read-and-transmit firmware, including periodic temperature, humidity, or motion sampling via the 8-channel 8-bit ADC. Designers typically pair the MCU with a sub-GHz radio module (e.g., MRF24J40 or RN2483) and rely on the LF721's low-power modes to extend battery life to 5-10 years on a 2000 mAh cell.
Recommended
Home Automation Controller
For home automation hubs and wall controllers, the PIC16LF721-I/P provides 18 digital I/O pins sufficient to drive multiple relays, buttons, LEDs, and a small character LCD. Its EUSART and MSSP peripherals enable connection to wireless modules (Wi-Fi, Zigbee, LoRa) or wired RS-485 buses for whole-home integration. The 16 MHz CPU clock handles simple command parsing and sensor polling without requiring a more expensive ARM Cortex-M0 part. Engineers benefit from the through-hole PDIP-20 package, which simplifies hand-assembly for low-volume smart-home products and repair-friendly installation.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics User Interface
The PIC16LF721-I/P is a strong fit for consumer product user-interface modules such as remote controls, appliance front panels, and small appliance controllers. The 8-bit ADC reads potentiometers or touch-sensing electrodes, while the timer peripherals generate PWM signals for LED dimming or buzzer tones. The 1.8V-3.6V range supports direct 2x AA battery operation without voltage regulation, reducing BOM cost. The 7 KB Flash accommodates UI state machines, debounce logic, and low-power wake-on-button interrupt handling.
Recommended
Industrial Monitoring Module
In industrial sensor-transmitter modules, the PIC16LF721-I/P runs Modbus RTU slave firmware over the integrated EUSART, monitoring 4-20 mA loops or 0-10V analog signals via its 8-bit ADC. The industrial -40C to +85C operating temperature range allows deployment in factory automation cabinets and remote telemetry units. The wide 1.8V-3.6V supply range simplifies power design when powered from 24V industrial buses through a small buck regulator. With 18 I/O, the MCU can also drive status LEDs, control relays, and read digital inputs.
Recommended
Educational and Prototyping Platform
The PIC16LF721-I/P in PDIP-20 is widely used in university embedded systems courses and maker projects because its through-hole package fits standard breadboards and stripboards, allowing hand-soldering and easy IC replacement. The 7 KB Flash accommodates introductory C programs covering GPIO, ADC, timers, UART, and I2C, while the Microchip MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler provides a free toolchain. Students benefit from the LF721's extensive datasheet, application notes, and reference designs that simplify the learning curve for first-time microcontroller users.
Recommended
Low-Power Remote Control
Garage door openers, key fobs, and remote-control transmitters leverage the PIC16LF721-I/P's nanoWatt XLP technology to achieve multi-year battery life on a single CR2032 coin cell. The MCU wakes from sleep on a button interrupt, transmits a coded RF signal via a paired transmitter module (e.g., MICRF112), then returns to sub-uA sleep mode. The 1.8V minimum supply lets the design operate down to the cell's end-of-life voltage, maximizing usable capacity. The compact 20-pin PDIP form factor is small enough for handheld enclosures while remaining easy to assemble.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF721-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF720-I/P | PIC16F721-I/P | PIC16LF720-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | PDIP-20 | PDIP-20 - same | PDIP-20 - same | SOIC-20 - surface mount variant |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB |
| Data RAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| ADC | 8-bit, 8 channels | 8-bit, fewer channels | 8-bit, 8 channels | 8-bit, fewer channels |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP | Standard (no XLP) | nanoWatt XLP |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest minimum voltage in PIC16F721 family (vs PIC16F721-I/P)
- NanoWatt XLP ultra-low-power technology (vs PIC16F721-I/P)
- Industrial temperature grade -40C to +85C (vs PIC16LF720-I/P)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 16 MHz active mode and 3.3V VDD, the PIC16LF721 draws approximately 2-3 mA; in sleep mode (XLP) it falls below 1 uA. For battery-powered designs, duty-cycle the active mode aggressively. Use the LF721's secondary oscillator (31 kHz) for timekeeping in sleep and switch to 16 MHz only during active processing to maximize battery life. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 7), with a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the supply rail.
For the PDIP-20 through-hole package, allocate 0.1-inch (2.54 mm) row spacing on the PCB with standard 0.6 mm drill holes. Keep crystal traces (OSC1/OSC2) short and surrounded by ground pour to minimize EMI. Place the ICSP programming header (RB6/RB7/VDD/VSS/MCLR) on the board edge for convenient in-circuit programming access during prototyping. The MCLR pin requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for normal operation.
Do not apply voltage above 3.6V on VDD - this is the LF variant's maximum rating. Configure the brown-out reset (BOR) to the appropriate threshold for your supply. When migrating firmware from PIC16F721 to PIC16LF721, verify ADC reference voltage behavior at low VDD because internal bandgap stability varies. The LF721's MSSP module requires correct TRIS bit configuration for I2C/SPI master or slave mode, otherwise the peripheral will not drive the SDA/SCK lines.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C). Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications consult Microchip's PIC16F1xxx automotive portfolio.
