PIC16LF83T-04/SO - 4MHz 8-bit FLASH MCU 18-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF83T-04/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.5 | $4.50 |
| 10 | $4.1 | $41.00 |
| 100 | $3.65 | $365.00 |
| 500 | $3.2 | $1,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.85 | $2,850.00 |
PIC16LF83T-04/SO Overview
A PIC microcontroller (Programmable Interface Controller) is a family of 8-bit RISC-based microcontrollers originally developed by General Instrument's Microelectronics Division and now produced by Microchip Technology. PIC MCUs belong to the broader hierarchy: microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor IC, and they are widely used for low-cost, low-power embedded control applications. The PIC16F family was the first FLASH-based PIC16 architecture, replacing the older OTP and windowed EPROM variants, and provides in-system self-programmability for firmware updates.
Key features include a 14-bit instruction set, 35 single-word instructions at 200 ns execution time, two 8-bit timers (Timer0, Timer2) and one 16-bit timer (Timer1), a watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator, 8-bit ADC channel option via shared I/O, internal 4 MHz RC oscillator, and an integrated power-on reset / brown-out reset / MCLR circuit. The peripheral set also includes a synchronous serial port (SSP) supporting SPI and I2C master/slave modes.
The PIC16LF83T-04/SO is built around a Harvard-architecture RISC CPU with separate program and data buses, an 8-level deep hardware stack, and direct/indirect addressing modes. The 35-instruction RISC core provides predictable timing suitable for real-time embedded control, and the integrated ICE (In-Circuit Emulator) debug interface allows developers to debug firmware directly on the target board using Microchip's MPLAB ICD tools.
Typical applications include low-cost consumer appliances, sensor signal conditioning nodes, battery-powered remote controllers, LED lighting drivers, simple industrial control logic, and educational microcontroller projects. The 18-SOIC wide-body package provides easy hand-soldering and breadboard-friendly footprints, while the wide 2.0-6.0 V supply range simplifies battery- and USB-powered designs.
When designing with this device, allocate a 4-pin ICSP header (VDD, VSS, MCLR, RB7, RB6) for in-circuit serial programming and consider using an internal 4 MHz oscillator to reduce BOM cost. The 13 I/O pins share analog functions, so plan pin assignments carefully if the ADC is used, and reserve a free timer-capable pin (e.g., RB4-RB7) for PWM or event-count applications.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric specifications, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone. Engineers searching for a direct PIC16F83 or PIC16LF83 replacement in SOIC-18 will find verified drop-in candidates and a side-by-side comparison here.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF83T-04/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 PIC16LF83T-04/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Timers, Instruction Cycle Time, Instruction Set.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF84A-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF83-04/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F84A-04/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF84A-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F83-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F84A-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.59 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F83-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF83T-04/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Family | PIC16F (FLASH-based PIC16) |
| Program Memory | 896 bytes (512 x 14 words) FLASH |
| RAM | 36 bytes |
| EEPROM Data Memory | 64 bytes |
| CPU Speed | 4 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 6.0 V |
| I/O Pins | 13 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit + 1 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| ADC | None on PIC16LF83 (I/O shared, 8-bit on PIC16LF84 family) |
| Serial Interface | SSP (SPI / I2C master+slave) |
| Interrupt Sources | 4 |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (on-chip dedicated RC oscillator) |
| Reset Sources | POR, BOR, MCLR, WDT |
| Oscillator | Internal 4 MHz RC + external crystal/HS mode |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +70C (commercial); -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Package | 18-pin SOIC wide (SO) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF83T-04/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O, Port A bit 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O, Port A bit 3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Bidirectional I/O / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear reset / programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Bidirectional I/O / external interrupt input |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O, Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O, Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3/CCP1 — Bidirectional I/O / Capture-Compare-PWM1 output |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O, interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O, interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 12 | RB6/PGC — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP clock (ICD clock) |
| Pin 13 | RB7/PGD — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP data (ICD data) |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0 V to 6.0 V) |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / Fosc/4 clock output |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O, Port A bit 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O, Port A bit 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF83T-04/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Low-Cost Consumer Remote Controller, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning Node, Battery-Powered LED Lighting Driver, Educational Microcontroller Trainer, Simple Logic Replacement and Glue Controller, Security Keypad and Access Control Reader, USB-Powered Sensor Hub Bridge.
Low-Cost Consumer Remote Controller
The PIC16LF83T-04/SO is well suited for infrared remote controllers, garage-door openers, and wireless key-fob transmitters where BOM cost dominates the design. Its 896-byte FLASH easily holds a button-decode state machine and small protocol table, while the 2.0-6.0 V supply range lets it run directly from two AA cells down to 2 V without a boost regulator. The 4 MHz internal RC oscillator eliminates a quartz crystal, cutting the BOM to the MCU plus a transmitter LED and tactile switches. Compared with newer PIC16F1xxx parts, the PIC16LF83T-04/SO is roughly 30-50% cheaper in tape-and-reel volume while still offering 13 I/O pins and a hardware SSP for any external EEPROM learning mode.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning Node
The PIC16LF83T-04/SO can serve as a digital pre-processor for low-frequency industrial sensors (e.g., thermistor or bridge sensor conditioning) where simple threshold logic or PWM-based excitation is required. The 4 MHz instruction cycle provides 200 ns deterministic timing suitable for periodic sensor sampling at 1 kHz rates without interrupt jitter, and the watchdog timer with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator ensures reliable operation in electrically noisy factory environments. The SSP peripheral supports I2C communication to external 16-bit ADCs or EEPROM configuration memory. Because the PIC16LF83 lacks an integrated ADC, an external front-end is needed; for designs requiring on-chip ADC, the PIC16LF819T-I/SO drop-in is preferred.
Recommended
Battery-Powered LED Lighting Driver
The PIC16LF83T-04/SO's 2.0-6.0 V supply range and 36-byte RAM are well matched to battery-powered LED indicator and decorative lighting drivers running from 2x or 3x AA cells. The PIC16 mid-range CCP (Capture/Compare/PWM) module, accessible on RB3/CCP1, can generate PWM dimming signals at frequencies up to 10 kHz without CPU overhead, and the 13 I/O pins easily multiplex 4-8 RGB channels via Charlieplexing. The low-power sleep mode draws less than 1 uA, allowing months of standby operation on a CR2032 coin cell. For higher-channel-count or higher-frequency designs, the PIC16F818T-I/SS upgrade in similar packaging offers PWM enhancements.
Recommended
Educational Microcontroller Trainer
The PIC16LF83T-04/SO is widely used in university embedded-systems courses and hobbyist training kits because its 18-SOIC wide package fits standard 0.1-inch-pitch breakout boards and 18-pin DIP sockets with adapter PCB. The PIC16 mid-range 14-bit instruction set is documented in Microchip application notes and is the most heavily taught 8-bit RISC architecture in EE curricula worldwide. MPLAB X IDE with the free XC8 compiler supports the PIC16LF83 device header, and the ICSP interface on RB6/RB7 lets students program the device in-circuit without removing the chip. The wide 2-6 V supply range tolerates lab bench power supplies from 2.5 V to 5 V without modification.
Recommended
Simple Logic Replacement and Glue Controller
The PIC16LF83T-04/SO is frequently used as a software replacement for discrete 74HC logic ICs in legacy upgrades, replacing dozens of gates with a single chip. Its 13 I/O pins can implement state machines for interlocking, sequencing, watchdog timing, and conditional output control at well below the cost of an equivalent gate array. The hardware SSP peripheral simplifies communication with host MCUs when used as a peripheral coprocessor. Compared with implementing the same logic in discrete 74HC14, 74HC08, and 74HC74 packages, the PIC16LF83T-04/SO reduces board area by 60-70% and power consumption proportionally.
Recommended
Security Keypad and Access Control Reader
The PIC16LF83T-04/SO can serve as the keypad decoder and EEPROM credential storage controller for door-entry systems, alarm keypads, and PIN-protected appliances. Its 64-byte on-chip EEPROM is enough to store a small set of master/user codes and configuration flags, and the 36-byte RAM supports a 4x4 matrix keypad debounce state machine with software-shift noise filtering. The 2.0-6.0 V supply range allows direct 3.3 V battery operation, and the watchdog timer ensures the lock does not hang if firmware enters an unexpected state. The SSP peripheral can drive a character LCD via SPI for displaying status messages.
Recommended
USB-Powered Sensor Hub Bridge
The PIC16LF83T-04/SO can act as a low-cost I2C/SPI-to-UART bridge in USB-powered sensor hubs, offloading communication housekeeping from a host MCU. Its hardware SSP block supports both master I2C at 400 kHz and SPI at 4 MHz, while the USART provides asynchronous serial output for legacy devices. Operating from a USB-derived 5 V rail at 4 MHz, the device draws only 2 mA typical active and less than 1 uA in sleep, keeping total hub power budget under 100 mW. The 13 I/O pins multiplex multiple sensor select lines and interrupt inputs. For higher-throughput needs, the PIC16F88 family offers 10-bit ADC and PWM in the same footprint.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF83T-04/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF84A-04/SO | PIC16LF83-04/SO | PIC16F84A-04/SO | PIC16LF84A-04I/SO | PIC16F83-04/SO | PIC16F84A-04I/SO | PIC16F83-04I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 18-SOIC | 18-SOIC (same) | 18-SOIC (same) | 18-SOIC (same) | 18-SOIC (same) | 18-SOIC (same) | 18-SOIC (same) | 18-SOIC (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 6.0 V | 2.0 V to 6.0 V | 2.0 V to 6.0 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 6.0 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
| FLASH Program Memory | 896 B (512 x 14) | 1.75 KB (1024 x 14) | 896 B (512 x 14) | 1.75 KB (1024 x 14) | 1.75 KB (1024 x 14) | 896 B (512 x 14) | 1.75 KB (1024 x 14) | 896 B (512 x 14) |
| Max Clock Speed | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| RAM | 36 bytes | 68 bytes | 36 bytes | 68 bytes | 68 bytes | 36 bytes | 68 bytes | 36 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +70C | -40C to +70C | -40C to +70C | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +70C | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Packaging Format | Tape & Reel (T) | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tube |
Key Differentiators
- Wide 2.0-6.0 V supply range vs standard PIC16F83 (3.0-5.5 V) (vs PIC16F83-04/SO)
- Tape-and-reel packaging for high-volume SMD assembly (vs PIC16LF83-04/SO)
- Same die as PIC16LF84A -32 with simpler memory map (vs PIC16LF84A-04/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16LF83T-04/SO draws approximately 2 mA active at 4 MHz and 5 V, dropping to less than 1 uA in sleep mode. According to Microchip PIC16F8X datasheet (DS30221D), decoupling requires a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 14) and a 10 uF bulk tantalum or aluminum electrolytic on the supply rail. The on-chip brown-out reset (BOR) is enabled by configuration fuse and trips at approximately 1.85 V nominal to prevent code corruption during power-loss events. For battery-powered designs, the wide 2.0-6.0 V supply range allows direct connection to two fresh AA cells (3.0 V) down to a single 2032 coin cell with boost regulator.
Place the ICSP programming header footprint (5 signals: VDD, VSS, MCLR/VPP, RB6/PGC, RB7/PGD) at the board edge or in a debug-accessible location to enable in-circuit firmware updates after assembly. The PIC16LF83T-04/SO's MCLR pin (pin 4) requires a 10 kohm pull-up resistor to VDD; do NOT leave this pin floating, as an undefined MCLR state can cause spurious resets or prevent startup. Route the crystal/oscillator traces (OSC1/OSC2) short and symmetric with a ground guard ring if an external crystal is used; when using the internal 4 MHz RC oscillator, OSC1 and OSC2 can be left unconnected but the trace stubs should still be terminated at the IC.
Estimated: writing to FLASH program memory from firmware is NOT supported on the PIC16LF83 - this device uses ICSP only for code updates, unlike the PIC16F88 and PIC16F1xxx families. EEPROM write endurance is rated at 1,000,000 cycles typical per Microchip datasheet DS30221D, but writes must use the EECON1/EECON2 unlock sequence to prevent accidental writes. Port A pins RA0-RA3 lack TTL input buffers (they are CMOS-only with Schmidt triggers), and RA4 output is open-drain, requiring an external pull-up if used as a logic output. The configuration word (oscillator, WDT, BOR, code protection) must be set BEFORE code programming - unconfigured devices may fail to start with crystal oscillators.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (commercial/industrial grade only). Lead-free matte-tin plating.
