PIC16LF726-I/SO - 8-bit 20MHz 14KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF726-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.62 | $2.62 |
| 10 | $2.41 | $24.10 |
| 100 | $2.18 | $218.00 |
| 500 | $1.95 | $975.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.72 | $1,720.00 |
PIC16LF726-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory, RAM, peripherals, and I/O on one silicon die. PIC microcontrollers are RISC-based, Harvard-architecture devices known for deterministic instruction execution, low power consumption, and a compact instruction set. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16F sits between 8-bit baseline PIC10/12 and enhanced mid-range PIC18 devices, targeting applications that need more memory and peripherals than baseline parts but lower cost and power than 16-bit dsPIC or 32-bit ARM devices. The "LF" prefix denotes the low-voltage (F) family, while the "XLP" designation indicates Microchip's nanoWatt XLP extreme-low-power technology.
Key features include 14KB Flash self-programmable memory, 256 bytes of EEPROM, 768 bytes of RAM, a 12-channel 8-bit ADC with automatic acquisition timing, two Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) modules, three timers, an Enhanced Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (EUSART), two analog comparators, and an on-chip 16 MHz precision oscillator. The XLP technology enables standby currents as low as 20 nA and active currents around 50 µA at 1 MHz, making the part well suited to battery-powered designs.
Typical applications span consumer electronics, low-power wireless sensors, battery chargers, white goods, remote controls, energy harvesting nodes, and small industrial control boards. The SOIC-28 wide-body footprint simplifies hand-soldering for prototypes and supports standard 300-mil SO sockets. A 28-pin QFN variant (PIC16LF726-I/ML) is available when PCB area is constrained.
When designing with this part, ensure that the configuration words (oscillator selection, watchdog timer, brown-out reset, code protection) are set correctly, and that ICD pins (PGC/PGD) are reserved for in-circuit debugging. For automotive or extended-temperature environments, use the -E (extended) or -MV grades rather than the -I industrial grade. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF726-I/SO — 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-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Operating Temperature, Timers, Internal Oscillator.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF726-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.16 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF726T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF722A-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF720-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF723A-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF726-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC® XLP™ 16F |
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC |
| Program Memory Size | 14 KB (8K x 14) |
| Program Memory Type | Flash (self-programmable) |
| RAM | 768 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| CPU Speed (max) | 20 MHz |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz (precision) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 8-bit, 12 channels |
| CCP Modules | 2 |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) |
| EUSART | Yes (1) |
| Comparators | 2 (analog) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, -I) |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (SO), wide-body 300-mil |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16LF726-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5/AN4/SS/HLVDIN/T1CKI/OSC1/CLKIN — GPIO/ADC/SSP/oscillator input |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0/ULPWU/C12IN0-/CVREF — GPIO/ADC/comparator input |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1/C12IN1-/VREF-/ICSPCLK — GPIO/ADC/comparator/ICD clock |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF-/CVREF+/C2OUT — GPIO/ADC/comparator output |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+/C1OUT — GPIO/ADC/comparator output |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI/C1OUT/RCV — GPIO/Timer0 clock/comparator output |
| Pin 7 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (reset) / programming voltage |
| Pin 8 | RE3/MCLR (alt) — Reserved / MCLR alternate |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / GPIO |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / GPIO |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — GPIO/Timer1 oscillator |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — GPIO/Timer1 oscillator/CCP2 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — GPIO/CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — GPIO/SPI clock/I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — GPIO/SPI data in/I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — GPIO/SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — GPIO/EUSART transmit/clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — GPIO/EUSART receive/data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0/AN12/INT/FLT0 — GPIO/ADC/interrupt/PWM fault |
| Pin 22 | RB1/AN10/C12IN3-/P1C — GPIO/ADC/comparator/PWM |
| Pin 23 | RB2/AN8/C1IN2-/P1B — GPIO/ADC/comparator/PWM |
| Pin 24 | RB3/AN9/C1IN3+/PGM — GPIO/ADC/comparator/LVP program |
| Pin 25 | RB4/AN11/C2IN2-/P1D — GPIO/ADC/comparator/PWM |
| Pin 26 | RB5/AN13/C1IN1-/C2IN1-/P1C — GPIO/ADC/comparator/PWM |
| Pin 27 | RB6/ICSPCLK/PGC — GPIO/ICD clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/ICSPDAT/PGD — GPIO/ICD data |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF726-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Consumer Remote Controls, Industrial Control Modules, White Goods and Home Appliances, Battery Chargers and Energy Management, Automotive Interior Accessories.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF726-I/SO is well suited to coin-cell or AA-battery IoT sensor nodes thanks to its nanoWatt XLP technology with standby currents as low as 20 nA, 1.8V-3.6V operation, and integrated 16 MHz internal oscillator that eliminates external crystal cost and quiescent draw. The 12-channel 8-bit ADC interfaces directly with analog sensors such as thermistors, photodiodes, and gas sensors without external amplifiers. The 14KB Flash accommodates Zigbee/LoRa MAC stacks or custom sensing firmware, while the 768-byte RAM handles buffering for periodic wake-measure-transmit cycles. Compared to PIC16LF722A, the doubled Flash and RAM reduce protocol-stack pressure, allowing longer sleep intervals and extending battery life to multi-year durations in duty-cycled deployments.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls
Handheld IR/RF remote controls benefit from the PIC16LF726-I/SO's low-voltage operation (single CR2032 or two AAA cells), 16 MHz internal oscillator, and EUSART peripheral that can bit-bang IR protocols or drive low-cost RF transmitters. The 14KB Flash stores protocol libraries (RC5, NEC, Bluetooth Low Energy HCI) and product-specific keymaps. With 25 I/O pins, the device easily scans a 7x8 matrix keypad while driving LED indicators and IR LEDs via CCP PWM channels. Sleep current below 1 µA preserves battery life across multi-year standby. Per Microchip datasheet DS41391D, the XLP sleep mode retains RAM and wakes via interrupt on key press within 5 µs, providing instant-on user experience.
Recommended
Industrial Control Modules
Industrial PLC input/output modules, signal conditioners, and small motor controllers use the PIC16LF726-I/SO for its 25 digital I/O lines, two CCP modules for PWM motor or solenoid drive, two analog comparators for over-current/voltage detection, and EUSART for RS-232/RS-485 communication to a master controller. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating covers most factory environments, while the -E extended variant handles harsher enclosures. The 12-channel ADC monitors analog inputs such as temperature, pressure, or 4-20 mA loops. The 14KB Flash stores IEC 61131-3-style logic or PID control loops, while 768 bytes of RAM handles command queues. Per Microchip application notes, the part is commonly specified for HVAC damper actuators and conveyor controllers.
Recommended
White Goods and Home Appliances
Washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, and small kitchen appliances integrate the PIC16LF726-I/SO as the main user-interface and motor-control MCU. Its 28-SOIC wide-body package is easy to hand-prototype and supports high-volume wave-soldered assembly. The two CCP modules drive triac-controlled heater elements and AC universal motors via zero-cross detection, while the 12-channel ADC reads temperature sensors (NTC, thermocouple amplifiers), water-level probes, and door interlocks. The EUSART interfaces with display boards, Wi-Fi modules, or Bluetooth modules for smart-appliance connectivity. Per Microchip datasheet DS41391D, the Flash self-programmability supports field firmware updates via UART bootloader for post-production feature additions.
Recommended
Battery Chargers and Energy Management
Single-cell Li-ion and multi-cell NiMH chargers use the PIC16LF726-I/SO to implement CC/CV charge profiles via the 8-bit ADC and PWM outputs from CCP modules. Its 1.8V-3.6V native supply matches single Li-ion cell voltages, allowing direct ADC measurement of battery voltage and current sense resistors. The 256 bytes of EEPROM store charge cycle counters, calibration data, and battery chemistry profiles. Low standby current (under 1 µA in sleep) is critical for AC-adapter-connected standby power limits. The two analog comparators monitor input voltage and over-current conditions for safety cutoffs. Per Microchip application notes AN1416, similar XLP PIC16 parts are commonly used in solar MPPT controllers and energy-harvesting PMU designs.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Accessories
Automotive interior accessories such as ambient lighting controllers, seat-position memories, and HVAC panel buttons use the PIC16LF726-I/SO for its 25 I/O channels and PWM capability. Although the -I industrial grade covers cabin temperatures, automotive designs typically migrate to the PIC16LF726-E/SO for -40C to +125C engine-bay or door-module exposure. The 14KB Flash handles LIN stack firmware or CAN-peripheral driver shims, while the EUSART interfaces with body-control modules. The two analog comparators monitor battery voltage for load-dump detection. Per Microchip datasheet DS41391D, the -E extended variant is widely deployed in non-safety-critical automotive subsystems where AEC-Q100 qualification is not required but extended temperature is mandatory.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF726-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF726-E/SO | PIC16LF722A-I/SO | PIC16LF720-I/SO | PIC16LF723A-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SOIC | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same |
| Flash Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB | 3.5 KB | 7 KB |
| RAM | 768 B | 768 B | 384 B | 128 B | 384 B |
| CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8V - 3.6V | 1.8V - 3.6V | 1.8V - 3.6V | 1.8V - 3.6V | 1.8V - 3.6V |
| ADC Channels | 12 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 8 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash in PIC16F72x SOIC-28 family (vs PIC16LF722A-I/SO)
- Highest channel count in 28-SOIC XLP PIC16 family (vs PIC16LF723A-I/SO)
- Industrial vs Extended temperature drop-in (vs PIC16LF726-E/SO)
Design Notes
For battery-powered designs, leverage the nanoWatt XLP sleep modes (SLEEP instruction with WDTDIS=1) to achieve standby current below 1 µA. Estimated: at VDD=3.0V and WDT disabled, sleep current is approximately 20 nA per Microchip datasheet DS41391D. Use the internal 16 MHz HFINTOSC for active processing and switch to the 31 kHz LFINTOSC during sleep for timing references. Ensure all unused I/O pins are configured as outputs (low) or inputs with weak pull-ups disabled to eliminate parasitic current paths.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 20 on 28-SOIC) with a short, wide trace. Add a 10 µF bulk capacitor near the MCU if analog peripherals (ADC, comparators) are active. The 28-SOIC wide-body package provides ample copper area on the SOIC pads; flood the top and bottom layers with ground plane for thermal and EMI performance. Per Microchip layout guidelines, route the MCLR/RA5 pin through a 10 kΩ pull-up resistor to VDD for reliable reset operation.
Avoid using the PIC16F72 (5V-only, 2KB Flash) as a drop-in replacement for the PIC16LF726 - they have different Flash sizes, ADC channel counts, and pin assignments for several peripheral functions. Always verify pinout against datasheet DS41391D when migrating. Do not exceed 3.6V on VDD; applying 5V to an LF part will permanently damage it. Finally, when using LVP (low-voltage programming) via PGM/ICSPDAT, ensure that RB3/PGM is not pulled low at power-up or the part enters programming mode unexpectedly.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page; lead-free (Pb-free) matte-tin plating per JESD97. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - use PIC16LF726-E/SO with AEC-Q100 screening for automotive applications. Halogen-free per Microchip environmental compliance data.
