PIC16LF819-I/SO - 8-Bit PIC MCU, 3.5KB Flash, 16 I/O | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF819-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.66 | $4.66 |
| 10 | $4.3 | $43.00 |
| 100 | $3.74 | $374.00 |
| 500 | $3.18 | $1,590.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.8 | $2,800.00 |
PIC16LF819-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller is a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) processor that executes one instruction per clock cycle (except branches), enabling deterministic timing and high code density. The PIC16F/LF family sits in Microchip's mid-range 8-bit portfolio, bridging the gap between baseline 8-pin PIC10/12 devices and the higher-performance PIC18 family. The PIC16LF819 shares its instruction set and peripheral set with the PIC16F818 and PIC16F87, enabling upward code compatibility across the family and a clear migration path to devices with more memory or more pins.
Key features include five channels of 10-bit analog-to-digital conversion, a synchronous serial port configurable for SPI or I2C, an asynchronous serial port for RS-232-style links, two capture/compare/PWM modules, and ICD (In-Circuit Debugger) support via the dedicated ICSP interface. The nanoWatt power-managed architecture provides multiple idle and sleep modes plus a watchdog timer and brown-out reset, allowing aggressive current budgets in battery-driven sensor and instrumentation designs.
Typical applications include portable instrumentation, data acquisition front-ends, environmental and process sensor conditioning, low-power remote controls, and consumer white goods where 16 I/O and 3.5 KB of code space are sufficient. The wide VDD range makes it equally at home on a 3 V coin-cell rail or a regulated 5 V industrial supply. The industrial temperature grade supports outdoor enclosures, HVAC controls, and metering equipment.
A practical design consideration: because the device has no on-chip debug beyond ICD, budget board area for the ICSP header (5-pin or RJ-11) and use series resistors on PGC/PGD if those pins must also serve as general I/O after development. Always tie MCLR through a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD to prevent spurious resets during power-up; a 100 nF decoupling capacitor must sit within 5 mm of the VDD pin.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family and same-package alternatives, and practical design notes that are not aggregated on a single manufacturer page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF819-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 PIC16LF819-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, ADC, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF819-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.26 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF819-I/MLTSL
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F819-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F818-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF818-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF88-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF819-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit PIC microcontroller (MCU) |
| Family | PIC16F/LF (mid-range 8-bit) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 256 bytes |
| EEPROM Data Memory | 256 bytes |
| CPU Speed | 10 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Digital I/O Pins | 16 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| CCP/PWM Modules | 2 |
| Internal Oscillator | 8 MHz (factory calibrated) |
| Serial Interfaces | 1 x SSP (SPI/I2C), 1 x AUSART (RS-232) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, '-I') |
| Package | 18-pin SOIC (SO), wide-body, 7.5 mm body width |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free) |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| Debug Support | ICSP/ICD |
| Brown-out Reset | Yes |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
PIC16LF819-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O RA0 / analog input AN0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O RA1 / analog input AN1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O RA2 / analog input AN2 |
| Pin 4 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear (reset) / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Digital I/O RB0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Digital I/O RB1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Digital I/O RB2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3/PGM — Digital I/O RB3 / LVP programming |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Digital I/O RB4 |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Digital I/O RB5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O RB6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O RB7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKO — Crystal/oscillator output / I/O |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKI — Crystal/oscillator input |
| Pin 17 | RA7/OSC1 — Digital I/O RA7 / alt oscillator input |
| Pin 18 | RA6/OSC2 — Digital I/O RA6 / alt oscillator output |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF819-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Portable Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Industrial Process Monitor (16-bit Sensor Conditioning), Low-Cost HVAC Control Board, Consumer White Goods User Interface, Educational Microcontroller Trainer, Automotive Interior Lighting Controller.
Portable Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC16LF819-I/SO fits portable sensor nodes because of its 2.0 V to 5.5 V VDD range and nanoWatt sleep current under 1.5 uA at 25C, which lets it run for years from a 3 V coin cell when waking only to sample. The 10-bit 5-channel ADC reads thermistor, photodiode, or strain-gauge signals directly without an external amplifier, while the 16-bit timer drives wake-on-comparison cycles. The 256-byte EEPROM logs hourly readings without external FRAM, and the 3.5 KB flash holds state-machine plus calibration code. Compared with a PIC16F819, the LF variant uniquely supports depleted-cell operation down to 2.0 V - critical for primary lithium chemistries that sag to 2.4 V end-of-life. Designers should bias unused I/O as outputs low to minimise shoot-through in sleep mode.
Recommended
Industrial Process Monitor (16-bit Sensor Conditioning)
The PIC16LF819-I/SO suits industrial process monitors that must operate across -40C to +85C (industrial -I grade) and on 24 V loop power regulated down to 5 V or 3.3 V rails. Its 10 MIPS throughput allows multiplexed reads from multiple 4-20 mA loops via the ADC, and the two CCP/PWM modules can drive isolated 4-20 mA or 0-10 V output stages for valve control. The synchronous serial port talks to external SPI FRAM for non-volatile logging, while the AUSART provides RS-485 connectivity to a PLC or HMI panel. The 18-pin SOIC package is reflow-solderable on a 4-layer industrial PCB, and the brown-out reset plus watchdog timer keep the node alive through brown-outs on long sensor cables.
Recommended
Low-Cost HVAC Control Board
The PIC16LF819-I/SO is well matched to HVAC control boards that need deterministic 10 MIPS throughput to scan keypads, drive 7-segment or character LCDs, and switch relays or TRIAC drivers through opto-isolated outputs. Its 16 I/O pins handle matrix keypads plus three or four relay outputs, while the 10-bit ADC reads NTC thermistors for supply-air and return-air temperature with 0.5C resolution. The wide 2.0 V to 5.5 V VDD range allows direct operation from a rectified 5 V regulator on the HVAC line. The -40C to +85C industrial grade tolerates attic and outdoor-cabinet installation, and ICSP debug lets engineers iterate on thermostat firmware using only a 5-pin header, no JTAG required.
Recommended
Consumer White Goods User Interface
The PIC16LF819-I/SO powers user-interface panels in washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens where 16 I/O, 3.5 KB of code, and a sub-$3 unit price are key. Its CCP/PWM channels drive LED backlight brightness with hardware fade, while the AUSART links to a main appliance MCU for status reporting. The nanoWatt idle mode drops below 50 uA at 5 V when the appliance is in standby, helping meet Energy Star standby budgets. The 18-pin SOIC is small enough to fit behind a 7-segment or character LCD module, and the industrial -I grade survives the heat and humidity of a kitchen environment without thermal derating.
Recommended
Educational Microcontroller Trainer
The PIC16LF819-I/SO is widely used in university and hobbyist trainers because of its 35 single-word instruction set, ICD debugging, and free MPLAB X IDE + XC8 toolchain from Microchip. The 18-pin SOIC is breadboard-friendly with a SOIC-to-DIP adapter, and the part tolerates the 3.3 V to 5 V supply range found on common development boards. 3.5 KB of flash holds a real-time operating demo, an interrupt-driven timer exercise, and a UART echo in a single project - making it a richer teaching platform than PIC12C5xx devices with only 0.75 KB of code space. The -I grade means the same part works in lab and field demonstrations across seasons.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Lighting Controller
The PIC16LF819-I/SO drives interior LED controllers and ambient lighting strips where deterministic PWM is required and the part must tolerate automotive temperature swings. Its two CCP/PWM modules generate hardware PWM at 10-bit resolution, smooth enough for daylight-to-nightlight fades without flicker. The AUSART channel interfaces to a CAN gateway chip for body-control network messages, and the 10-bit ADC monitors supply voltage for load-dump protection up to 5.5 V regulated. The 18-pin SOIC is small enough to fit behind a dome-light housing, and brown-out reset plus watchdog timer handle crank-celldown events typical on automotive buses. Designers should add external TVS diodes on VDD since the LF819 itself has no load-dump rating.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF819-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF819-I/P | PIC16F819-I/SO | PIC16F818-I/SO | PIC16LF818-I/SO | PIC16LF88-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 18-pin SOIC (SO) | 18-pin PDIP (P) | 18-pin SOIC (SO) | 18-pin SOIC (SO) | 18-pin SOIC (SO) | 18-pin SOIC (SO) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 7.2 KB |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 128 B | 128 B | 368 B |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 128 B | 128 B | 256 B |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| CPU Speed | 10 MHz / 10 MIPS | 10 MHz / 10 MIPS | 10 MHz / 10 MIPS | 10 MHz / 10 MIPS | 10 MHz / 10 MIPS | 20 MHz / 5 MIPS |
| nanoWatt Low-Power Modes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Wide 2.0 V to 5.5 V VDD range with full nanoWatt support (vs PIC16F819-I/SO)
- 3.5 KB flash - 2x more program memory than PIC16F/LF818 (vs PIC16F818-I/SO)
- Pin-compatible upgrade to PIC16LF88 for higher-end designs (vs PIC16LF88-I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 14) and a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the same rail. The nanoWatt sleep current is specified with all I/O configured as outputs low and the WDT disabled; configure unused pins as outputs rather than inputs to avoid floating-input shoot-through current. For primary-battery operation at end-of-life near 2.0 V, the brown-out reset should be set to BOREN=ON with BORV=00 (2.0 V threshold) per datasheet 30620A.
Route the ICSP signals PGC (RB6) and PGD (RB7) with short traces and avoid crossing them with switching signals; place a 100 ohm series resistor on each if RB6/RB7 must also drive LEDs or switches in the final design. Keep the crystal traces (OSC1/OSC2) short and symmetric, with the load capacitors within 3 mm of the MCU pins. Place MCLR (pin 4) directly under a 5-pin ICSP header with a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF to ground to filter ESD.
Do not leave MCLR floating - the part will reset intermittently. Always honour the flash endurance spec (100K erase/write cycles typical, 1M for EEPROM) when designing logging firmware. The 10-bit ADC requires the acquisition time be calculated based on source impedance; for 10 kohm or higher source impedance add a 1 nF hold capacitor or use a slower conversion. ICD pins RB6/RB7 must be set as digital I/O in firmware or the debugger cannot connect.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page; 'LF' prefix denotes lead-free. Industrial -I grade -40C to +85C, not AEC-Q100 qualified. For AEC-Q100 automotive use consider PIC16F819-I/SO equivalent or migrate to PIC16F1938-E/SO with automotive qualification.
