PIC16LF722A-E/SP - 8-bit 20MHz MCU 3.5KB Flash XLP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF722A-E/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.55 | $25.50 |
| 100 | $2.18 | $218.00 |
| 500 | $1.92 | $960.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.68 | $1,680.00 |
PIC16LF722A-E/SP Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path, typically used for embedded control tasks such as sensor reading, simple motor actuation, user-interface handling, and protocol bridging. Within the semiconductor taxonomy, this places it as an MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The PIC16 mid-range core family, designed by Microchip, offers 35 instructions, 8 hardware stack levels, and direct/indirect/relative addressing, making it a widely deployed choice for cost-sensitive, low-power applications.
Key features include 36 I/O pins, multiple communication peripherals (UART, SPI, I2C), 11 ADC channels with 8-bit resolution, and a wide operating temperature range of -40C to +125C (the -E suffix denotes the extended industrial temperature grade). The 28-SPDIP package is pinout-compatible with other 28-pin PIC16CXXX and PIC16FXXX devices, simplifying migration and reuse of legacy designs.
Architecturally, the PIC16LF722A uses a Harvard bus architecture with separate program and data memories, single-cycle instruction execution at the system clock rate, and integrated peripherals clock-gated by power-management registers. Compared to the PIC16F722A, the LF (low-voltage) variant omits the internal LDO voltage regulator, eliminating the need for an external VCAP capacitor and supporting direct low-voltage operation down to 2.0V.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered consumer devices, white-goods and appliance control boards, industrial remote-control modules, and portable medical peripherals. The combination of nanoWatt XLP sleep currents and a generous peripheral set makes it well suited to any application that must sleep for long intervals between active events.
When designing with this part, ensure that the supply voltage stays within the 2.0V-3.6V window. For migration to the PIC16F722A, remember to add an external VCAP capacitor on the designated VCAP pin because the F variant includes the internal LDO regulator that the LF variant does not. Confirm pinout compatibility against the family compatibility chart when migrating from older PIC16 devices.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives drawn from the PIC16 family, and practical design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet, including pin-compatibility analysis and a comparison table against same-family variants.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF722A-E/SP — 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 PIC16LF722A-E/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Timers, Core Architecture, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF722A-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF722AT-E/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF723A-E/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F722A-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF722A-E/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 8-bit RISC |
| Instruction Set | 35 instructions |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| RAM | 128 bytes |
| EEPROM Data Memory | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (LF variant) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 11-channel, 8-bit |
| Communication Peripherals | UART, SPI, I2C |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (Skinny DIP, through-hole) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E = extended industrial) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Lead-free, RoHS compliant |
PIC16LF722A-E/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/ICSPDAT — Bidirectional I/O, analog input, ICSP data |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/ICSPCLK — Bidirectional I/O, analog input, ICSP clock |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/MCLR/VPP — Bidirectional I/O, analog input, master clear, programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2/CLKO — Bidirectional I/O, oscillator output, clock output |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — Bidirectional I/O, oscillator input, clock input |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | RB0/INT — Bidirectional I/O, external interrupt |
| Pin 11 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 12 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 13 | RB3/PGM — Bidirectional I/O, LVP programming |
| Pin 14 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 15 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 16 | RB6/PGC — Bidirectional I/O, ICSP clock |
| Pin 17 | RB7/PGD — Bidirectional I/O, ICSP data |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground reference (second) |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 20 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 21 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 22 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 23 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 24 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 25 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 26 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 27 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (second) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF722A-E/SP is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Consumer White Goods Appliance Control, Portable Medical Peripherals, Industrial Remote Control Modules, HVAC and Building Automation Sensors, Automotive Aftermarket Accessories, Educational and Hobbyist Embedded Projects.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF722A-E/SP is well suited to battery-powered IoT sensor nodes that wake briefly to read a sensor, transmit over UART/SPI/I2C, and return to sleep. Its 2.0V-3.6V supply lets it run directly from a single 3V CR2032 coin cell, while nanoWatt XLP sleep currents below 1 uA extend battery life into the multi-year range. The 11-channel 8-bit ADC is adequate for temperature, humidity, battery-voltage and light-level monitoring typical in home and industrial IoT deployments. Engineers typically pair the MCU with a low-power radio module (such as a sub-GHz transceiver) and a sensor front end. Compared with switching to a 32-bit MCU, the 8-bit PIC16 keeps active-mode current under 2-3 mA at 16 MHz, dramatically reducing average power consumption in duty-cycled applications.
Recommended
Consumer White Goods Appliance Control
The PIC16LF722A-E/SP is a strong fit for consumer appliance control boards such as washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and microwave ovens. Its -40C to +125C extended industrial temperature grade handles the hot environments inside appliance enclosures, while 36 I/O pins are enough for keypad scanning, relay drivers, LED indicators and rotary-encoder inputs. The UART/SPI/I2C peripherals connect to display modules, motor-control companions and inverter boards. nanoWatt XLP standby modes keep idle energy consumption low, helping products meet strict EU Ecodesign standby rules. Compared with older PIC16F series parts, the LF variant's 2.0V lower bound simplifies designs powered from rectified 3.3V rails without a separate LDO.
Recommended
Portable Medical Peripherals
Portable medical peripherals such as blood-pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, digital thermometers and pill-dispenser actuators rely on the PIC16LF722A-E/SP's combination of low power, small package and industrial-grade reliability. The 8-bit ADC digitizes sensor signals from temperature probes, pressure sensors and battery monitors; the UART/SPI/I2C links to BLE or NFC modules for data offload. The 2.0V-3.6V supply window supports direct 2xAA or rechargeable Li-Ion packs, while nanoWatt XLP sleep modes keep shelf life long. Compared with 32-bit Cortex-M0+ alternatives, the PIC16 mid-range core is simpler to certify, has a stable MPLAB X toolchain, and benefits from decades of proven healthcare deployment.
Recommended
Industrial Remote Control Modules
Industrial handheld remote controls, garage-door openers, gate drivers and remote-keyless entry fobs commonly use the PIC16LF722A-E/SP as their main controller. Its 36 I/O lines drive key matrices, LEDs, haptic feedback buzzers and RF transmitter enable pins, while a single UART or SPI channel talks to the radio IC. The wide 2.0V-3.6V supply supports both single-cell Li-Ion (3.7V nominal) and 2xAA (3V) battery packs without an extra regulator. Low sleep current extends fob battery life to multi-year horizons, and the industrial temp grade survives automotive-grade thermal shock inside dashboard-mounted transmitters.
Recommended
HVAC and Building Automation Sensors
Building-automation end nodes such as wall thermostats, occupancy sensors and CO2 monitors benefit from the PIC16LF722A-E/SP's 11-channel ADC and robust communication peripherals. Multiple analog inputs read temperature, humidity and CO2 sensor outputs simultaneously, while UART/SPI/I2C drive the local display and the field bus (Modbus, BACnet, or KNX bridge). The industrial temp grade supports plenum-rated enclosures, and nanoWatt XLP sleep allows energy-harvested or battery-backed devices to run for years on a single cell. Compared with discrete analog solutions, the integrated MCU simplifies BOM, lowers assembly cost, and enables firmware-driven calibration.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Accessories
Although the -E variant is industrial-grade, the PIC16LF722A-E/SP is widely used in aftermarket automotive accessories such as auxiliary lighting controllers, alarm-system remote nodes, GPS trackers and OBD-II dongles where AEC-Q100 is not mandated. Its -40C to +125C thermal range covers cabin and trunk environments, and the 2.0V-3.6V supply accepts vehicle 12V rails after a simple buck regulator. nanoWatt XLP sleep current keeps parasitic drain low enough to avoid draining the vehicle battery during long parking. Engineers should select AEC-Q100-qualified parts (such as the PIC16F722A-I/SS automotive grade) when designing safety-critical OEM modules.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Embedded Projects
The PIC16LF722A-E/SP is a popular choice in university embedded-systems courses and DIY hobbyist builds because the 28-SPDIP through-hole package is easy to breadboard and the PICkit programmer ecosystem is widely available. The 3.5 KB flash comfortably fits introductory firmware exercises in C or assembly, while the 36 I/O pins are sufficient for driving LEDs, character LCDs, seven-segment displays and simple motor drivers. The wide 2.0V-3.6V supply supports USB-powered bench setups regulated to 3.3V. Compared with newer 32-bit dev boards, the PIC16 mid-range core has a shallower learning curve and benefits from decades of Microchip application notes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF722A-E/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF722A-I/SP | PIC16LF722AT-E/SP | PIC16LF722A-E/ML | PIC16LF723A-E/SP | PIC16F722A-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SPDIP (through-hole) | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-QFN - cross-package | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 7 KB | 3.5 KB |
| RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 256 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (with internal LDO) |
| Internal LDO Regulator | No (LF variant) | No | No | No | No | Yes - external VCAP required |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Unit Price (qty 1, as of 2026-09-25) | $2.85 | $2.65 | $2.85 | $2.95 | $3.15 | $2.85 |
Key Differentiators
- Extended industrial temperature grade in 28-SPDIP (vs PIC16LF722A-I/SP)
- Doubled memory for firmware growth headroom (vs PIC16LF722A-I/SP)
- Lower-voltage direct operation without external LDO (vs PIC16F722A-I/SP)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 16 MHz active and 3.3V supply, the PIC16LF722A-E/SP draws approximately 3-4 mA; nanoWatt XLP sleep current is below 1 uA per the family datasheet. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD pin (pins 19 and 28) and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the supply rail to suppress digital switching transients. For battery-powered designs, route the MCLR/VPP pin to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up and avoid leaving floating analog inputs to prevent shoot-through currents.
Estimated: at the 20 MHz maximum CPU speed with all peripherals active and 3.6V supply, internal power dissipation is roughly 50 mW, well within the 28-SPDIP thermal envelope. The industrial temperature grade -40C to +125C is conservative for typical appliance and IoT enclosures. For outdoor industrial deployments where ambient may approach the upper limit, derate the maximum sustained clock frequency below 16 MHz to keep junction temperature safe, and avoid routing high-current PCB traces under the SPDIP body.
Place the ICSP header (PGC/PGD/MCLR/VSS/VDD) on the PCB edge to allow in-circuit programming without removing the MCU from board. Keep the OSC1/OSC2 traces short if an external crystal is used, and surround the crystal with a ground pour to reduce EMI pickup. For SPI/I2C lines, add 4.7 kohm pull-ups on SCL/SDA per the datasheet's I2C peripheral section, and route them away from noisy relay or motor traces.
Do NOT migrate firmware from the PIC16LF722A (LF) to the PIC16F722A (F) without adding an external VCAP capacitor on the F-variant's VCAP pin - the F variant's internal LDO requires this for stable core voltage. When migrating from older PIC16F84A designs, confirm pinout differences (PIC16F84A lacks the 28-pin SPDIP 'A' variant pin assignments used here) and re-validate any timing-critical ISR routines at the new 20 MHz clock rate.
Compliance Information
Lead-free and RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. The -E variant is extended industrial grade, NOT AEC-Q100 qualified - select PIC16F722A automotive grade for OEM safety-critical designs.
