PIC16LF724-E/ML - 8-bit 20MHz MCU 7KB Flash QFN-44 | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF724-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.45 | $3.45 |
| 10 | $3.1 | $31.00 |
| 100 | $2.74 | $274.00 |
| 500 | $2.42 | $1,210.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.18 | $2,180.00 |
PIC16LF724-E/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that combines a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), peripherals, and I/O on one silicon die. The PIC16 family uses a 14-bit instruction word with a RISC-style Harvard architecture, and the 'LF' prefix denotes the low-voltage variant qualified for 1.8V minimum VDD. Microcontrollers sit within the broader category of embedded processors -> microcontrollers -> 8-bit MCUs -> low-power MCUs, and are the workhorse controllers in nearly every battery-powered consumer, industrial, and automotive node.
Key features of the PIC16LF724 include 7KB Flash, 256 bytes RAM, 36 I/O pins, 14-channel 8-bit ADC, two comparators, a 16-bit timer, and an mTouch capacitive-touch sensor module. The nanoWatt XLP technology delivers typical sleep currents below 1 uA and active currents around 50 uA at 1 MHz, making the part well suited to energy-harvesting or multi-year-battery products.
The architecture uses a 14-bit wide instruction path with a hardware multiplier and a 2-stage pipeline, providing deterministic throughput at 16 MHz (LF variant). On-chip peripherals include the Master Synchronous Serial Port (MSSP) for SPI/I2C, an Enhanced Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (EUSART), and PWM/capture modules supporting motor and LED control.
Typical applications include consumer remote controls, white goods front panels with capacitive touch, IoT sensor nodes, HVAC thermostat controls, battery chargers with LED indicators, and small appliance control boards. Designers value the LF724 for its combination of low power, on-board touch sensing, and Microchip's free MPLAB X IDE toolchain.
When designing with the PIC16LF724, allocate the exposed pad (EP) as a thermal/ground pad with at least 6 thermal vias to a continuous ground plane. Verify that your VDD rise time is below the in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) specification to guarantee Flash programming reliability across -40C to +125C.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives from Microchip's PIC16LF72x family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF724-E/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 PIC16LF724-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Communication, Package, Timers, Program Memory (Flash), Internal Oscillator.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF723T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF723A-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF722-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF722A-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F724-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF724-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Family | PIC16F/LF72x |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz (LF variant) |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 8-bit, 14-channel |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Timers | 16-bit and 8-bit |
| Communication | MSSP (SPI/I2C), EUSART |
| Touch Peripheral | mTouch capacitive touch |
| Low-Power Tech | nanoWatt XLP |
| Package | 44-pin QFN (8x8 mm) with EP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E grade) |
| RoHS | Compliant (lead-free) |
PIC16LF724-E/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — I/O / ADC0 / mTouch |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — I/O / ADC1 / mTouch |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — I/O / ADC2 / mTouch |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3 — I/O / ADC3 / mTouch |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — I/O / ADC4 / mTouch |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5 — I/O / ADC5 / mTouch |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2 — I/O / oscillator output |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1 — I/O / oscillator input |
| Pin 9 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | RB0/INT — I/O / external interrupt |
| Pin 12 | RB1 — I/O / mTouch |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — I/O / mTouch |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — I/O / mTouch |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — I/O / mTouch |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — I/O / mTouch |
| Pin 17 | RB6/PGC — I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/PGD — I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — I/O |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — I/O |
| Pin 21 | RC2 — I/O |
| Pin 22 | RC3 — I/O |
| Pin 23 | RC4 — I/O |
| Pin 24 | RC5 — I/O |
| Pin 25 | RC6 — I/O |
| Pin 26 | RC7 — I/O |
| Pin 27 | RD0 — I/O |
| Pin 28 | RD1 — I/O |
| Pin 29 | RD2 — I/O |
| Pin 30 | RD3 — I/O |
| Pin 31 | RD4 — I/O |
| Pin 32 | RD5 — I/O |
| Pin 33 | RD6 — I/O |
| Pin 34 | RD7 — I/O |
| Pin 35 | RE0 — I/O |
| Pin 36 | RE1 — I/O |
| Pin 37 | RE2 — I/O |
| Pin 38 | RE3 — I/O |
| Pin 39 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 40 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 41 | RF0 — I/O |
| Pin 42 | RF1 — I/O |
| Pin 43 | RF2 — I/O |
| Pin 44 | RF3 — I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF724-E/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Consumer Remote Control, Capacitive Touch Front Panel (White Goods), IoT Sensor Node / Wireless Endpoint, HVAC Thermostat Controller, Small Appliance Motor/Valve Control, LED Lighting Controller with Touch Dimming.
Battery-Powered Consumer Remote Control
The PIC16LF724-E/ML's nanoWatt XLP sleep current below 1 uA and active current around 50 uA at 1 MHz allow multi-year battery life in handheld remote controls. Its 14-channel 8-bit ADC reads battery voltage and IR-LED current, while MSSP/EUSART handle IR transmission. With 7 KB Flash, it stores button-mapping tables and debounce logic without external EEPROM, and the QFN-44 (8x8 mm) fits compact remote PCBs.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Front Panel (White Goods)
The integrated mTouch peripheral lets the PIC16LF724-E/ML detect touch on a glass or plastic overlay without external touch ICs. With 36 I/O, designers allocate pins to multiple touch buttons plus LED indicators driven by PWM outputs. Wake-on-touch from sleep mode consumes under 1 uA, enabling always-on touch panels on battery or USB-powered appliances. The QFN-44 (8x8 mm) supports slim bezel designs.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Node / Wireless Endpoint
The PIC16LF724-E/ML pairs low-power operation with MSSP (SPI/I2C) to interface with sensors and an external radio module such as LoRa or Sub-GHz transceiver. Sleep current below 1 uA between transmissions preserves battery life across years of operation. The 1.8V minimum VDD supports direct connection to single-cell Li-ion or 2x AA chemistries, eliminating boost regulators in the smallest sensor nodes.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat Controller
The PIC16LF724-E/ML controls HVAC relay outputs via PWM, reads thermistor temperature through its 14-channel ADC, and drives an LCD or LED display. Industrial -40C to +125C temperature grade supports equipment-room installations. nanoWatt XLP keeps standby consumption low for line-powered thermostats meeting ENERGY STAR requirements; the QFN-44 footprint is industry standard for wall-thermostat PCBs.
Recommended
Small Appliance Motor/Valve Control
Induction-cooktop keypads, washing-machine water valves, and dishwasher pumps use the PIC16LF724-E/ML to drive triac/MOSFET outputs via PWM/capture modules. The 16-bit timer captures tachometer feedback from motors, while comparators detect zero-cross for triac phase-angle dimming. mTouch replaces mechanical buttons with sealed glass panels, ideal for kitchen appliances where spill resistance is critical.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller with Touch Dimming
The PIC16LF724-E/ML's PWM modules drive multi-channel LED strings with smooth dimming, while mTouch pads replace mechanical dimmers for sealed-glass fixtures. The 14-channel ADC reads ambient light sensors for automatic brightness control, and the EUSART supports DMX/RDM or DALI bridge designs. nanoWatt XLP sleep current allows battery-backed emergency-lighting variants to operate for years on a single cell.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF724-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF723T-I/ML | PIC16LF723A-I/ML | PIC16LF722-E/ML | PIC16LF722A-E/ML | PIC16F724-E/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core / Architecture | PIC16 8-bit RISC | PIC16 8-bit RISC | PIC16 8-bit RISC | PIC16 8-bit RISC | PIC16 8-bit RISC | PIC16 8-bit RISC |
| Program Flash | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB |
| Max CPU Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| VDD Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt |
| Touch Peripheral | mTouch | mTouch | mTouch | mTouch | mTouch | mTouch |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) |
Key Differentiators
- Widest low-voltage VDD range in PIC16F72x family (vs PIC16F724-E/ML)
- Full nanoWatt XLP technology (vs PIC16F724-E/ML)
- Drop-in pin compatibility with PIC16LF723/722 family (vs PIC16LF18855-E/ML)
- Industrial -40C to +125C temperature grade in 'E' variant (vs PIC16LF723-I/ML)
- mTouch capacitive touch integrated (vs PIC16LF18855-E/ML)
Design Notes
Estimated: the QFN-44 (8x8 mm) package with exposed pad has a typical theta_JA of approximately 28-32 C/W on a 4-layer 1-oz PCB with 6-9 thermal vias. With an active core current of 5 mA at 20 MHz and 3.3V, dissipation is 16.5 mW and the junction rises <1C above ambient - thermal management is rarely an issue at PIC16 power levels. The exposed pad must still be soldered to the ground plane for electrical ground reference.
Place 100 nF decoupling capacitors as close as possible to every VDD/VDDCORE pin, plus a single 4.7-10 uF bulk capacitor on the main VDD rail. Use a star-ground topology with the QFN-44 exposed pad as the central ground anchor. Place a ferrite bead between the ICSP VPP line and the main VDD rail to prevent programming voltage noise from disturbing analog ADC measurements.
For mTouch capacitive sensing, surround each touch pad with a hatched ground plane keeping a 3-5 mm clearance, route the touch sensor trace with no nearby switching signals, and avoid crossing touch traces with high-di/dt power lines. Route the analog ADC reference (VDD/VSS) separately from noisy digital lines; a small RC filter on VREF+ (1 ohm + 100 nF) can improve ADC noise floor by 1-2 LSBs.
Do not program the PIC16LF724 below 1.8V VDD or above 5.5V - the brown-out detector (BOR) will hold the part in reset or Flash programming may fail. The ICSP programming pins RB6/PGC and RB7/PGD must not be pulled low or driven high externally during reset; if not using ICSP, leave them as inputs. Failure to ground the QFN-44 exposed pad will cause erratic behavior and out-of-spec ADC readings.
Estimated: nanoWatt XLP sleep current on PIC16LF724 is typically 0.5-1.0 uA at 3.3V with BOR disabled and WDT off. With BOR enabled and a 32 kHz secondary oscillator running, sleep current rises to ~3 uA. For multi-year battery life, switch off unused peripherals, disable the ADC and comparators before entering sleep, and use wake-on-interrupt or wake-on-touch to exit sleep rather than polling.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free QFN-44 package per Microchip 'ML' suffix convention. AEC-Q100 not qualified - choose PIC16F724-E/ML automotive equivalents for AEC-Q100 applications.
