PIC16LF818T-I/SO - 8-bit MCU 1.75KB Flash 10MHz SOIC-18 | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF818T-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.46 | $3.46 |
| 10 | $3.11 | $31.10 |
| 100 | $2.77 | $277.00 |
| 500 | $2.42 | $1,210.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.07 | $2,070.00 |
PIC16LF818T-I/SO Overview
Background — what is a PIC16 microcontroller? An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer integrating a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (Flash), working RAM, EEPROM data memory, digital I/O, and on-chip peripherals such as timers, ADC, and serial interfaces. The PIC16 family uses Microchip's RISC architecture with only 35 single-word instructions, executing most instructions in 200 ns at 20 MHz clock, and is widely used in cost-sensitive embedded control where deterministic behavior and low power matter more than raw compute throughput. The PIC16LF818 specifically sits in the PIC16 mid-range family offering 14-bit instruction words, ADC, and enhanced peripherals.
Key features include 1.75 KB Flash, 128 B SRAM, 128 B EEPROM, 10-bit multi-channel ADC, two PWM modules, a USART, an SSP supporting SPI and I2C (master/slave), two 8-bit timers plus one 16-bit timer, internal 8 MHz oscillator, and in-circuit serial programming (ICSP). The 16-pin I/O budget in the 18-SOIC package provides ample connectivity for sensors, switches, LEDs, and serial peripherals.
The PIC16LF818 employs a Harvard-architecture RISC core with separate program and data buses, single-cycle hardware multiply via the 8x8 hardware multiplier, and an internal PLL-free clock tree selectable between INTOSC and external crystal/RC. Its nanoWatt technology provides multiple idle/sleep modes with wake-on-interrupt, and the LF process delivers low quiescent current for battery-powered IoT endpoints.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, low-end consumer electronics, simple motor-control BLDC/PWM drivers, USB-to-UART bridge front-ends, LED controllers, and industrial sensor interfaces. The combination of Flash, EEPROM, ADC and serial peripherals allows compact single-chip implementations.
When designing with this device, ensure that the application firmware budget fits within 1.75 KB Flash and 128 B SRAM — code and stack overflow will halt the part. Use the ICSP interface for field updates; reserve pins RA0/RA1 or RB6/RB7 to avoid contention with the in-circuit programmer during code development. Confirm the supply rail stays within 1.8-3.6 V and that decoupling capacitors are placed within 5 mm of VDD/SS pins.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF818T-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 PIC16LF818T-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF818-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF818T-I/SOTSL
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF818T-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF818-I/SOTSL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF818T-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC16 RISC (35 instructions) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.75 KB (1K x 14) |
| Data SRAM | 128 B |
| Data EEPROM | 128 B |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 (in 18-SOIC package) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels (per datasheet) |
| PWM Channels | 2 (CCP module) |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| Serial Interfaces | USART, SSP (SPI / I2C master-slave) |
| Internal Oscillator | 8 MHz (31 kHz low-power option) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Package | 18-SOIC (SO, 7.50 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| ICSP | In-Circuit Serial Programming supported |
| Instruction Execution | 200 ns at 20 MHz |
PIC16LF818T-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2/CVREF/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / analog channel 2 / CVREF output / VREF- |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/CMP1/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog channel 3 / comparator 1 output / VREF+ |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / analog channel 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN5/SS/HLVDIN — PORTA bit 5 / analog channel 5 / SPI slave select / HLVD input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RA0/AN0/ULPWU — PORTA bit 0 / analog channel 0 / ultra-low-power wake-up |
| Pin 7 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog channel 1 |
| Pin 8 | RA6/OSC2/CLKO — PORTA bit 6 / crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 9 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — PORTA bit 7 / crystal oscillator input / clock input |
| Pin 10 | Vdd — Positive supply 1.8V-3.6V |
| Pin 11 | RB0/INT/AN12 — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt / analog channel 12 |
| Pin 12 | RB1/AN10 — PORTB bit 1 / analog channel 10 |
| Pin 13 | RB2/AN8 — PORTB bit 2 / analog channel 8 |
| Pin 14 | RB3/AN11/CCP1 — PORTB bit 3 / analog channel 11 / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 15 | RB4/AN9 — PORTB bit 4 / analog channel 9 |
| Pin 16 | RB5/AN13/CCP2 — PORTB bit 5 / analog channel 13 / CCP2 PWM output |
| Pin 17 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF818T-I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Node, LED Lighting Controller, USB-to-UART Bridge Front-End, Low-End Industrial Sensor Interface, Consumer Remote Control, DC Motor PWM Controller, Hobby/STEM Educational Board.
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC16LF818T-I/SO fits battery-powered wireless sensor nodes because its 1.8-3.6 V supply range matches 2-cell alkaline or single Li-ion chemistry directly, while the LF process provides nanoWatt sleep modes drawing only microamps. Its 10-bit ADC with 5 channels supports temperature, light, or motion sensor inputs sampled at low duty-cycle; the 1.75 KB Flash fits compact C drivers for BLE/SPI peripherals like the RN4870, and the 16 I/O pins let one chip multiplex sensors, LEDs, and a UART bridge. Compared to PIC16F818, the LF variant gives longer battery life in duty-cycled wake-up designs.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
Use the PIC16LF818T-I/SO as a low-cost RGBW LED controller. Its 2 PWM channels (CCP module) drive color and intensity; an external WS2812 or APA102 LED driver can be controlled via bit-banged SPI/I2C from PORTB. The 1.75 KB Flash holds color-ramp tables and DMX-style command parsing; the 16-bit timer can debounce physical buttons without external glue. The 1.8-3.6 V supply lets the part run directly from a 3.3 V buck regulator shared with the LED string.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge Front-End
The PIC16LF818T-I/SO is well suited as a low-cost USB-to-UART bridge replacement for older designs, pairing the internal USART with a USB-CDC bridge IC like the MCP2200. The 1.75 KB Flash and 128 B SRAM hold the small protocol handler, while 16 I/O expose general-purpose GPIOs for legacy RS-232 peripherals. Industrial temperature -40C to +85C is essential for instrumentation front-ends, and the 18-SOIC footprint simplifies hand-prototyping on breakout boards.
Recommended
Low-End Industrial Sensor Interface
Industrial sensor signal conditioning often needs a small MCU for calibration, linearization, and protocol conversion — the PIC16LF818T-I/SO does this with its 10-bit ADC (5 channels), 16-bit timer for PWM output, and USART for RS-232/RS-485 comms via external transceiver. The 1.8-3.6 V range supports 3.3 V industrial backplanes, while the industrial temperature grade handles factory-floor ambient. Programming via ICSP enables field firmware updates without removing the chip from the PCB.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control
Build a TV/set-top remote control using the PIC16LF818T-I/SO. Its 16 I/O pins scan 4x4 matrix keypads plus drive IR LEDs through PWM; the internal 8 MHz oscillator eliminates an external crystal, reducing BOM cost. The LF process variant's low quiescent current lets a coin-cell battery last multiple years in standby; sleep mode draws microamps and wakes on keypress interrupt. The 1.75 KB Flash fits NEC/SIRC RC-5/RC-6 IR protocol encoders with margin.
Recommended
DC Motor PWM Controller
Drive small DC brushed motors from the PIC16LF818T-I/SO using its CCP PWM module and a low-side MOSFET driver. The 10-bit ADC reads back current or RPM via a tachogenerator; the 16-bit timer keeps speed regulation loop tight. The 18-SOIC package handles modest power dissipation and the 1.8-3.6 V supply can be derived from a small Li-ion cell with a 3.3 V LDO for hobby robotics or low-power toys.
Recommended
Hobby/STEM Educational Board
The PIC16LF818T-I/SO is a popular training and teaching platform because of its small Flash footprint (1.75 KB) and easy-to-learn 35-instruction RISC set. With 16 I/O, 10-bit ADC, PWM, I2C, SPI, and USART, students can interface buttons, LEDs, sensors, and serial peripherals on a single chip. The 18-SOIC breadboard-friendly package fits onto through-hole-to-SMD adapter boards used in PICkit programmer labs; ICSP allows in-circuit reprogramming during classes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF818T-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF818-I/SO | PIC16LF818T-E/SO | PIC16LF818T-I/SOTSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 18-SOIC (SO) | 18-SOIC (SO) - same | 18-SOIC (SO) - same | 18-SOIC (SO) - same |
| Program Flash | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB |
| SRAM / EEPROM | 128 B / 128 B | 128 B / 128 B | 128 B / 128 B | 128 B / 128 B |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) |
| Max Clock | 20 MHz (10 MIPS) | 20 MHz (10 MIPS) | 20 MHz (10 MIPS) | 20 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| I/O Pins | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Packaging Variant | Tape and Reel (T) | Tube | Tape and Reel (E-grade) | Tape and Reel reverse orientation |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade at the lowest price tier (vs PIC16LF818T-E/SO)
- 1.8 V minimum supply for true single-cell Li-ion operation (vs PIC16F818-I/SO (2.0-5.5 V))
- Tape-and-reel packaging optimized for SMT assembly (vs PIC16LF818-I/SO (tube))
Design Notes
The PIC16LF818T-I/SO requires a clean 1.8-3.6 V supply on VDD (pin 10). Place a 100 nF decoupling ceramic within 5 mm of VDD and a 10 uF bulk tantalum/ceramic at the regulator output. The LF process benefits from nanoWatt sleep modes; idle current drops to microampere levels but only when the watchdog and ADC are disabled. Brown-Out Reset (BOR) should be enabled in CONFIG to prevent Flash corruption during battery dips below 1.8 V.
Use the standard IPC-7351 SOIC-18 land pattern (1.27 mm pitch, 0.41 mm pad width). Keep traces under PORTB and PORTA short to reduce EMI into analog channels AN0-AN5. Reserve pins RB6/RB7 for ICSP programming - if these pins are also used as GPIO, ensure no contention with external pull-ups that exceed 10 kohm during programming. Place a ground plane under the SOIC for thermal dissipation; the 18-SOIC has no exposed pad.
Three common PIC16LF818 pitfalls: (1) Exceeding 3.6 V on VDD stresses Flash - always verify rail at cold start with worst-case battery voltage; (2) Stack and code budget - 1.75 KB Flash plus hardware stack depth of 8 means recursive ISR calls can crash the part, so keep ISRs shallow; (3) ADC input impedance on AN0-AN5 needs source impedance below 2.5 kohm for full 10-bit accuracy at 20 MHz conversion clock; use a buffer op-amp when sampling high-impedance sensors.
When using the PIC16LF818T-I/SO as a PWM source for LED drivers, route the PWM trace (typically RB3/CCP1 or RB5/CCP2) away from analog inputs AN0-AN5 to minimize capacitive crosstalk. The PWM frequency is set by Timer2 and PR2; typical ranges 1-20 kHz avoid audible noise in motor/LED applications. Add a series ferrite bead if the PWM trace exceeds 25 mm.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product environmental compliance documentation. Lead-free reflow profile JEDEC J-STD-020. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in retrieved data, marked as unknown. AEC-Q100 not applicable for non-automotive MCU part; automotive users should consult Microchip automotive-grade catalog.
