PIC16LF726-E/SS - 8-bit 20MHz 14KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF726-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.82 | $3.82 |
| 10 | $3.43 | $34.30 |
| 100 | $2.93 | $293.00 |
| 500 | $2.51 | $1,255.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.2 | $2,200.00 |
PIC16LF726-E/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), non-volatile storage (EEPROM), and a range of peripherals (timers, communication interfaces, ADC) into one device. Within the embedded hierarchy, this part belongs to: PIC16F family -> PIC16 mid-range core -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> semiconductor IC. The "LF" prefix indicates the low-voltage, low-power variant; the "E" suffix indicates the extended (-40C to +125C) industrial temperature range; the "/SS" suffix indicates the 28-pin 0.209-inch (5.30mm) Shrink Small Outline Package.
Key features of this device include 14KB Flash program memory, 256 bytes EEPROM data, 768 bytes RAM, a 20MHz internal oscillator (selectable), 11 channels of 8-bit ADC with automatic acquisition, two Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) modules, AUSART, I2C and SPI peripherals, an 8-bit timer (TMR0), two 16-bit timers (TMR1/TMR2), a Watchdog Timer (WDT), Enhanced Power-On Reset (POR), Brown-Out Reset (BOR), and In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP). nanoWatt XLP technology typically delivers sleep currents in the tens of nanoamperes, making this device attractive for battery-powered IoT nodes.
The PIC16LF726-E/SS is well suited to battery-powered sensors, remote controls, low-power wireless sensor nodes, energy harvesting controllers, capacitive touch (mTouch) interfaces, consumer appliances, and low-end industrial controllers. The wide 1.8V-5.5V range simplifies designs that operate from single-cell Li-ion (3.7V nominal) or 2xAA alkaline cells.
When designing with this part, ensure ICSP programming header pins are accessible, calculate total power budget using PIC datasheet typical sleep current, and verify ADC input impedance vs sampling time for high-impedance sources. Compared to the non-LF PIC16F726 variant, the "LF" device extends low-voltage operation to 1.8V and improves sleep current; the -E grade adds the -40C to +125C industrial range over the standard -I grade. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the bare manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF726-E/SS — 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 PIC16LF726-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Timers, Package, Core, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF726-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F726-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F726-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.61 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF720-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF722-E/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1933-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF726-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC 8-bit mid-range (RISC) - 35 instructions |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 768 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 20 MHz |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz (selectable, software-tunable) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 (typical, depends on package) |
| ADC | 11-channel, 8-bit |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0), 2 x 16-bit (TMR1/TMR2) |
| CCP Modules | 2 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Communication | AUSART (UART), I2C, SPI |
| Watchdog Timer (WDT) | Yes |
| Brown-Out Reset (BOR) | Yes |
| In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) | Yes |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP (eXtreme Low Power) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (Extended, "E" grade) |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP / 0.209" (5.30 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free) |
PIC16LF726-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5/AN4/C2OUT/VPP — I/O / analog input / comparator output / ICSP VPP |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN3/T1G/OSC2/CLKOUT — I/O / analog input / Timer1 gate / oscillator output |
| Pin 3 | RA3/AN2/C1IN+/VREF+ — I/O / analog input / comparator input / voltage reference + |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN1/C1IN-/VREF-/CVREF — I/O / analog input / comparator input / voltage reference |
| Pin 5 | RA1/AN10/C1IN1-/ICSPCLK — I/O / analog input / comparator / ICSP clock |
| Pin 6 | RA0/AN11/C1IN0+/ICSPDAT — I/O / analog input / comparator / ICSP data |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Oscillator input / external clock / I/O |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Oscillator output / I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC0/SOSCO/SCLKI — I/O / secondary oscillator / SOSC input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/SOSCI — I/O / secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — I/O / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCL/CCP2 — I/O / I2C clock / CCP2 |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDA — I/O / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — I/O / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — I/O / AUSART TX / clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — I/O / AUSART RX / data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/AN12/INT — I/O / analog input / external interrupt |
| Pin 22 | RB1/AN8/C2IN+ — I/O / analog input / comparator input |
| Pin 23 | RB2/AN9 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 24 | RB3/AN7/C1OUT — I/O / analog input / comparator output |
| Pin 25 | RB4/AN6 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 26 | RB5/AN5 — I/O / analog input |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — I/O / ICSP clock (programming) |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — I/O / ICSP data (programming) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF726-E/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Capacitive Touch (mTouch) User Interfaces, Industrial Control and Sensor Interface, Consumer Appliance Control, Remote Control and Wireless HIDs, Energy Harvesting and Ultra-Low-Power Embedded, LED Lighting and Display Controllers.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF726-E/SS is well suited to battery-powered IoT sensor nodes thanks to its nanoWatt XLP technology which delivers sleep currents in the tens of nanoamperes, its wide 1.8V-5.5V operating range that supports direct connection to 2xAA alkaline or single-cell Li-ion batteries, and its 14KB Flash for protocol stacks like LoRaWAN, BLE beacons, or Zigbee. The 11-channel 8-bit ADC can read multiple sensors (temperature, humidity, light) in sequence without an external ADC chip, reducing BOM cost. Place the MCU in sleep between measurements, wake via Watchdog Timer or interrupt, transmit, and return to sleep - typical duty-cycled designs can run for 5-10 years on a single CR2032.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch (mTouch) User Interfaces
The PIC16LF726-E/SS supports Microchip's mTouch capacitive touch sensing through its CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit) peripheral and high-performance ADC, enabling touch buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors without dedicated touch ICs. The 14KB Flash holds the touch algorithm and filtering code; the 11 ADC channels can scan up to 11 touch electrodes with software multiplexing. Combined with nanoWatt XLP low sleep current, this MCU can wake on touch and run for months on a coin cell - ideal for remote controls, white-goods front panels, and consumer appliances.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Sensor Interface
The PIC16LF726-E/SS is suitable for industrial sensor interface modules where its extended -40C to +125C temperature range, robust BOR/POR supervision, and 5.5V-tolerant I/O handle plant-floor environments. Its AUSART, I2C, and SPI interfaces can talk to external ADCs, DACs, EEPROMs, sensors (temperature, pressure, flow), and industrial buses. The two CCP modules generate PWM for motor speed control or analog setpoints; the 11-channel ADC reads 4-20 mA loop signals through a sense resistor. Wide VDD supports direct 5V or 24V-derived rails with appropriate external regulation.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16LF726-E/SS is widely used in consumer appliances such as washing machines, microwave ovens, coffee makers, and air purifiers where it provides user interface (LED/buzzer/LCD drive), motor PWM control via CCP modules, temperature sensing via ADC, and communication to sensor boards via I2C/SPI. The 14KB Flash holds application logic plus a small bootloader for field firmware updates. The wide 1.8V-5.5V range simplifies power-supply design, supporting both 3.3V and 5V rails from simple linear regulators.
Recommended
Remote Control and Wireless HIDs
The PIC16LF726-E/SS fits remote controls and wireless HID devices because its nanoWatt XLP technology enables multi-year battery life, its AUSART/SPI interfaces connect directly to sub-GHz transceivers (CC1101, Si4463), and its ADC reads battery voltage for low-battery alerts. The 14KB Flash stores pairing codes, button maps, and RF protocol stacks; the 256-byte EEPROM stores user preferences that survive battery replacement. The extended -40C to +125C range handles outdoor key fobs and garage-door openers in all climates.
Recommended
Energy Harvesting and Ultra-Low-Power Embedded
The PIC16LF726-E/SS is suitable for energy-harvesting designs (solar, thermal, vibration) where its nanoWatt XLP sleep current is critical for extracting maximum energy from low-power sources. Sleep currents in the tens of nanoamperes mean the MCU draws less than the leakage of typical energy-harvesting transducers. The 1.8V minimum VDD allows operation directly from low-voltage harvesters without boost converters. The BOR/POR supervision handles brown-out conditions gracefully when harvestable energy is intermittent.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Display Controllers
The PIC16LF726-E/SS handles LED lighting and small-display controller duties with its two CCP modules generating PWM dimming signals for multiple LED channels, its AUSART/SPI interfaces driving LED driver ICs (TLC5941, WS2811), and its 11-channel ADC reading ambient light sensors for closed-loop brightness control. The 14KB Flash holds color-mixing algorithms and DMX/art-net style protocols for stage lighting. The wide VDD range supports direct connection to 12V or 24V LED rails through external regulators.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF726-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF726-I/SS | PIC16F726-E/SS | PIC16F726-I/SS | PIC16LF720-E/SS | PIC16LF722-E/SS | PIC16LF1933-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 3.5 KB | 7 KB | 8 KB |
| Data RAM | 768 bytes | 768 bytes | 768 bytes | 768 bytes | 128 bytes | 256 bytes | 512 bytes |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 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 |
| Temperature Grade | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) |
| Max Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 32 MHz |
| nanoWatt XLP | Yes | Yes | No (standard F variant) | No (standard F variant) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Wide 1.8V-5.5V operating range with nanoWatt XLP low sleep current (vs PIC16F726-I/SS)
- Extended -40C to +125C industrial temperature grade (vs PIC16LF726-I/SS)
- Larger 14KB Flash vs newer PIC16LF1933 family (vs PIC16LF1933-I/SS)
Design Notes
Decouple both VDD pins (7 and 20) with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of each pin, plus a bulk 1-10 uF tantalum/ceramic capacitor on the supply rail. The PIC16LF726-E/SS draws bursts of current during ADC conversion and Flash programming; insufficient decoupling causes erratic resets. nanoWatt XLP sleep current is in the tens of nA but rises sharply if any floating digital input is allowed - configure unused I/O as outputs low or inputs with weak pull-ups.
Route the ICSP pins (RB6/PGC = pin 27, RB7/PGD = pin 28, RA5/VPP = pin 1) to a programming header with traces kept short and away from high-frequency signals. Place a 0.1 uF cap on MCLR/RA5/VPP to suppress ESD-induced resets. The 28-SSOP has 0.65 mm pitch - use a fine-pitch PCB fabrication process; hand-soldering is possible but inspection under magnification is recommended for production.
Do not assume the internal 16 MHz oscillator is accurate enough for UART or USB applications - the factory calibration is typically +/- 2% over temperature, which exceeds the +/- 1.5% needed for reliable 9600 baud communication over industrial temp range. For UART/USB, use a crystal or external clock, or enable the Auto-Tune feature of the OSCTUNE register to lock against a precision reference. Also: when migrating from PIC16F726 to PIC16LF726-E/SS, verify BOR threshold settings - LF variants have lower minimum VDD thresholds.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not qualified - this is an industrial/consumer grade MCU; for automotive designs choose PIC16F726-E/SO with automotive qualification or add external AEC-Q100 qualification at the system level.
