PIC16LF870-I/SS - 8-Bit 20MHz 3.5KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF870-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.42 | $3.42 |
| 10 | $3.1 | $31.00 |
| 100 | $2.75 | $275.00 |
| 500 | $2.45 | $1,225.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.18 | $2,180.00 |
PIC16LF870-I/SS Overview
An 8-bit MCU (microcontroller) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory (ROM/flash), data memory (RAM), and peripheral interfaces on one silicon die. 8-bit microcontrollers sit at the bottom of the microcontroller taxonomy: microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> flash MCU -> PIC16 family. They are valued for deterministic instruction execution, low cost, low power, and a long installed base in industrial and consumer control applications. The PIC16LF870 uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range RISC core with 35 single-word instructions, providing 200 ns instruction execution at 20 MHz.
Key features include an internal oscillator option, in-circuit serial programming (ICSP), a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter with up to 5 channels, and nanoWatt technology for power-managed sleep modes. The 28-SSOP package offers a low-profile 5.3 mm body suitable for space-constrained designs and is supported by the MPLAB X IDE and XC8 toolchain. Power-on reset, brown-out detect, and a watchdog timer add robustness for unattended embedded nodes.
The architecture is built on CMOS flash technology, with hardware multiplier support and 14-bit wide instruction words. The PIC16LF870 supports both internal and external oscillator modes, and the nanoWatt feature set provides idle, sleep, and watchdog-based wake-up modes for battery-powered designs. Compared to the non-LF PIC16F870, the LF variant offers a lower minimum VDD (2.0V vs 4.0V) for lithium-battery and energy-harvesting operation.
Typical applications include industrial sensor interface nodes, low-power remote controls, battery-backed instrumentation, white goods control boards, and simple motor-control interfaces. The wide operating voltage range also makes the part attractive for 3.3V and 5V mixed-rail systems. Compared to larger PIC16 devices, the PIC16LF870 provides a compact, cost-effective solution where 3.5 KB of flash and 22 I/O are sufficient.
When designing with this part, note that the LF prefix signals 2.0V minimum VDD - do not substitute a PIC16F870-I/SS without re-validating brown-out and ADC performance at low voltage. Reserve pin 1 (MCLR) with a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for reliable reset, and route the AVSS and AVDD pins with separate analog/digital ground returns if the ADC is active.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives, and design guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with all data points cross-referenced to current DigiKey, Mouser, and Microchip sources as of 2026-09-25.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF870-I/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 PIC16LF870-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Serial Interfaces.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F870-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.47 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF870T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF870-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.31 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF870-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F873-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF870-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit RISC |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| RAM | 128 bytes |
| EEPROM Data Memory | 64 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns at 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels |
| Timers | Two 8-bit + one 16-bit |
| Serial Interfaces | USART + SSP (SPI/I2C) |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF870-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O / analog input channel 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / analog input 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / analog input channel 4 |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN5/SS — Digital I/O / analog input 5 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator output / clock in |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator in / Capture-Compare-PWM 2 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Digital I/O / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — Digital I/O / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — Digital I/O / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT — Digital I/O / external interrupt |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 24 | RB3/PGM — Digital I/O / low-voltage programming |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF870-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface Node, Battery-Powered Remote Control, White Goods Control Board, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), Portable Health Monitoring Accessory, IoT Sensor Endpoint.
Industrial Sensor Interface Node
The PIC16LF870-I/SS is well suited for industrial sensor interface nodes that must run directly from a 3.3V regulated rail or two AA cells. Its 2.0V minimum VDD and 10-bit ADC with 5 input channels allow direct connection to thermocouples, RTDs, and 4-20 mA loop sensors via a single bias resistor network. The 22 digital I/O pins can drive optocouplers, status LEDs, and an RS-485 transceiver. nanoWatt sleep modes reduce quiescent current below 1 uA between sensor polls, extending battery life in remote installations.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Control
The PIC16LF870-I/SS fits handheld remote-control designs where a CR2032 or 2xAAA battery pack supplies power across the full 2.0V-3.3V discharge curve. Its 200 ns instruction cycle supports 50 kHz IR carrier generation for consumer remote protocols, while the hardware USART enables bidirectional RF modules when paired with a transceiver. The SSOP-28 package's 5.3 mm body fits inside standard remote housings, and ICSP allows field firmware updates without disassembly.
Recommended
White Goods Control Board
The PIC16LF870-I/SS is widely deployed in white-goods controllers such as washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens where cost, reliability, and long-term firmware stability are paramount. The 28-SSOP package supports automated pick-and-place assembly, and the 22 I/O pins can drive relay coils, triac interfaces, keypads, and seven-segment displays. On-chip EEPROM (64 bytes) preserves user settings through power cycles without external memory.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
The PIC16LF870-I/SS is used in non-safety automotive body controllers such as interior lighting, mirror adjusters, and seat-position memory where its -40C to +85C industrial temperature range is adequate. Its hardware SSP supports SPI displays and EEPROM backup. For safety-critical applications, designers should migrate to AEC-Q100-qualified PIC16 variants, but for non-safety loads this part remains a cost-effective choice with Microchip's long-term product longevity program.
Recommended
Portable Health Monitoring Accessory
The PIC16LF870-I/SS is suitable for portable health-monitoring accessories such as pulse-oximeter probes, thermometer probes, and pill-dispenser timers that operate from coin-cell or rechargeable Li-ion batteries. The 10-bit ADC digitizes thermistor or photo-sensor inputs, and the low-power sleep modes extend battery life between measurements. The 28-SSOP footprint accommodates thin, compact enclosures required by wearable form factors.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Endpoint
The PIC16LF870-I/SS can serve as a low-cost endpoint MCU in IoT sensor networks that report temperature, humidity, or switch status to a gateway over UART or SPI-connected radios. Its nanoWatt sleep modes draw under 1 uA when idle, enabling multi-year battery life on a 2xAA pack with hourly wake-ups. The hardware SSP and USART can drive LoRa, sub-GHz, or Bluetooth Low Energy modules for short-range telemetry in smart-building deployments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF870-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F870-I/SS | PIC16LF870T-I/SS | PIC16LF870-I/SP | PIC16LF870-I/SO | PIC16F873-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SPDIP (through-hole) | 28-SOIC (wider body) | 28-SSOP (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 7 KB (larger) |
| RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 192 bytes |
| Minimum VDD | 2.0 V (LF) | 4.0 V (F) | 2.0 V (LF) | 2.0 V (LF) | 2.0 V (LF) | 4.0 V (F) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| ADC Channels | 5 (10-bit) | 5 (10-bit) | 5 (10-bit) | 5 (10-bit) | 5 (10-bit) | 8 (10-bit) |
| nanoWatt Sleep Modes | Yes (LF) | Limited (F) | Yes (LF) | Yes (LF) | Yes (LF) | Limited (F) |
Key Differentiators
- 2.0V minimum VDD enables direct battery operation (vs PIC16F870-I/SS)
- nanoWatt power-managed sleep modes (vs PIC16F870-I/SS)
- Same die in SSOP/SOIC/SPDIP package options (vs PIC16F873-I/SS)
Design Notes
The PIC16LF870-I/SS supports a 2.0V-5.5V VDD range with separate AVDD/AVSS pins on the 28-SSOP package. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor at the supply entry point. For battery applications below 3.0V, enable the on-chip low-voltage brown-out reset to prevent code runaway when the cell nears end-of-life. Estimated: with VDD=3.0V, ICC active is approximately 2 mA at 20 MHz; at 32 kHz LP oscillator, ICC drops below 30 uA.
Route the analog AVSS pin (pin 8) directly to a quiet ground return that is star-grounded with the digital VSS at the regulator. Keep analog signal traces away from RB port switching lines to avoid ADC crosstalk above 1 LSB. The 28-SSOP has a 0.65 mm pitch - use NSMD pads with a 6 mil (0.15 mm) trace width and 12 mil (0.30 mm) land pattern per Microchip SSOP-28 recommended footprint.
Do not substitute PIC16F870-I/SS for PIC16LF870-I/SS in 3.3V designs - the F variant requires a minimum 4.0V VDD and will brown-out or fail to program at lower voltages. MCLR (pin 1) must be pulled to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor for reliable reset; leaving it floating causes intermittent code execution. ICSP programming requires the PGC (pin 27) and PGD (pin 28) lines to be free of large capacitances - keep traces shorter than 50 mm for reliable in-circuit programming.
Compliance Information
Industrial temperature grade -40C to +85C. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - not for automotive safety applications. RoHS compliant per Microchip product page.
