PIC16LF873A-I/SP - 8-Bit PIC MCU, 7KB Flash, 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF873A-I/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.2 | $8.20 |
| 10 | $7.55 | $75.50 |
| 100 | $6.92 | $692.00 |
| 500 | $6.3 | $3,150.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.78 | $5,780.00 |
PIC16LF873A-I/SP Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a processor core, non-volatile program memory, volatile data memory, and configurable peripheral interfaces. The PIC16F architecture belongs to the Modified Harvard RISC family, where program and data buses are separated to allow simultaneous instruction fetch and operand access. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, an 8-bit MCU sits below 32-bit ARM Cortex-M devices in processing power but offers lower cost, simpler toolchains, and deterministic interrupt latency suitable for hard real-time control loops. PIC MCUs target embedded control applications where cost, low power, and ease of programming outweigh raw computational throughput.
Key features of the PIC16LF873A-I/SP include five 10-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) channels with conversion rates up to 100 ksps, two 10-bit Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) modules, a USART with addressable asynchronous/synchronous mode, a Master Synchronous Serial Port (MSSP) supporting SPI and I2C (master and slave), two analog comparators, and 22 general-purpose digital I/O pins organized across three ports (PORTA, PORTB, PORTC). The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) via two pins, allowing firmware updates without removing the part from the board.
The architecture is built around a 14-bit instruction word, an 8-level deep hardware stack, and 35 single-cycle instructions. Brown-out Reset (BOR), Power-on Reset (POR), and a Watchdog Timer (WDT) with on-chip RC oscillator provide robustness for unattended industrial deployments. The SSP module handles I2C up to 400 kHz and SPI up to 10 MHz, while the USART supports RS-232/RS-485 links up to 5 Mbps. With 100,000 erase/write cycle endurance on Flash and EEPROM, the part is suitable for field-deployed systems requiring occasional firmware updates.
Typical applications include industrial sensor conditioning, low-power remote sensor nodes, home appliance control panels, HVAC thermostat interfaces, motor control signal conditioning, and battery-powered instrumentation. The wide operating voltage range allows direct connection to single-cell lithium (3.6V nominal), two-cell alkaline (3.0V nominal), or regulated 5V rails.
When designing with this MCU, ensure that the ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK pins are isolated from any heavy capacitive loads to avoid programming failures, and reserve a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin. The MCLR reset pin should be pulled up through a 10 kohm resistor to VDD and decoupled with a 100 nF capacitor in noisy environments.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives, and practical design considerations not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers shorten the evaluation cycle and reduce sourcing risk.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF873A-I/SP — 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 PIC16LF873A-I/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, ADC, Mounting Type, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F873A-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF876A-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F873A-04I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF873-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF873A-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF873A-I/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC (14-bit instruction word) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels, up to 100 ksps |
| PWM Modules | 2 x 10-bit |
| USART | 1 (addressable, RS-232/RS-485) |
| SPI / I2C (MSSP) | 1 (SPI master/slave + I2C master/slave) |
| Comparators | 2 analog |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (with on-chip RC oscillator) |
| Brown-out Reset / POR | Yes |
| In-Circuit Programming | ICSP via 2 pins |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (Skinny Plastic DIP), 7.62 mm row spacing |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF873A-I/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (Reset) input / programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI/C1OUT — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input / Comparator 1 output |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS/C2OUT — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input 4 / SPI Slave Select / Comparator 2 output |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO — Crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 (PWM2) |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 (PWM1) |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/PGM — PORTB bit 3 / ICSP programming clock |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5/PGM — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock (PGC) |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data (PGD) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF873A-I/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Conditioning, Battery-Powered Remote Sensor Node, Home Appliance Control Panel, HVAC Thermostat Interface, Motor Control Signal Conditioning, Educational / Hobbyist Embedded Projects.
Industrial Sensor Conditioning
The PIC16LF873A-I/SP fits industrial sensor conditioning boards because its 10-bit 5-channel ADC samples up to 100 ksps, sufficient for temperature, pressure, and 4-20 mA loop transducers. The 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply range lets the MCU run directly from a 24 V-to-5 V isolated rail or a battery backup. The integrated I2C/SPI MSSP peripheral connects to digital sensors and EEPROMs without external glue logic. Brown-out Reset and Watchdog Timer provide the resilience required for unattended factory-floor deployments.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Sensor Node
The PIC16LF873A-I/SP is well-suited for battery-powered remote sensor nodes because its LF process variant supports 2.0 V to 5.5 V operation, allowing direct connection to single-cell lithium (3.6 V) or two-cell alkaline (3.0 V) chemistries without an external LDO. Sleep current below 1 uA at 3 V extends battery life into multi-year ranges for periodic-sampling applications. The 7 KB Flash accommodates basic Modbus or LoRaWAN stack snippets, and the integrated ADC reads sensor outputs directly.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Panel
The PIC16LF873A-I/SP is commonly used in home appliance control panels (washing machines, microwave ovens, dishwashers) because the 22 I/O pins drive multiplexed LED or LCD displays, keypads, and triac-controlled heater relays. The two 10-bit PWM channels provide variable-speed fan or motor control, while the analog comparators detect zero-crossing events for triac firing. Wide 2.0 V to 5.5 V operation simplifies designs powered directly from rectified mains.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat Interface
The PIC16LF873A-I/SP is an appropriate MCU for HVAC thermostat interfaces because its integrated ADC reads thermistor or RTD temperature sensors with 10-bit resolution, and the I2C MSSP links to a humidity sensor and EEPROM for setpoint storage. The two PWM channels can drive a variable-speed blower, while digital I/O controls the HVAC relay bank. Operating temperature rated -40 C to +85 C covers rooftop unit and basement-boiler installations.
Recommended
Motor Control Signal Conditioning
The PIC16LF873A-I/SP is used in low-power motor control front-ends (signal conditioning and PWM generation) where its two 10-bit PWM channels deliver up to 20 kHz switching for brushed DC or small BLDC drivers. The 10-bit ADC samples current-sense amplifier outputs for closed-loop torque control, and the analog comparators implement hardware overcurrent protection with nanosecond response. SPI links to an external gate driver or power-stage MCU.
Recommended
Educational / Hobbyist Embedded Projects
The PIC16LF873A-I/SP is widely used in university embedded systems courses and maker projects because the 28-SPDIP through-hole package is breadboard-friendly, supports hand-soldering, and works with PICSTART Plus, PICKit 3, and PICKit 4 programmers. The 7 KB Flash holds typical lab assignments (LED blinking, UART echo, ADC sampling, I2C scanner), and MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler offers a free toolchain. The PIC16F87XA architecture is a canonical teaching platform for RISC fundamentals.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF873A-I/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F873A-I/SP | PIC16LF876A-I/SP | PIC16F873A-04I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 368 bytes | 192 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 256 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Number of I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| ADC Resolution / Channels | 10-bit / 5 channels | 10-bit / 5 channels | 10-bit / 5 channels | 10-bit / 5 channels |
| AEC-Q100 Automotive | No (Industrial grade) | No (Industrial grade) | No (Industrial grade) | No (Industrial grade) |
Key Differentiators
- Low-voltage operation down to 2.0 V for battery-powered designs (vs PIC16F873A-I/SP)
- Doubles program memory and RAM without changing the PCB (vs PIC16LF876A-I/SP)
- Faster 20 MHz CPU vs 4 MHz grade for time-critical loops (vs PIC16F873A-04I/SP)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 20) and a second 10 uF bulk capacitor near the 28-SPDIP package. For battery-powered designs below 4.0 V, configure CONFIG register bits for the LF low-voltage oscillator mode. The LF variant can run at 10 MHz up to 4.0 V and 20 MHz above 4.0 V; selecting the wrong CONFIG bit causes clock instability. Estimated quiescent current at 3 V with WDT disabled is below 1 uA based on Microchip datasheet typical curves.
Do not leave the MCLR pin floating - tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up resistor. Add a 100 nF capacitor from MCLR to VSS in electrically noisy environments (motor control, switching power supplies) to filter out reset glitches. Without proper MCLR handling the MCU may randomly enter programming mode or fail to start on power-up. Also, ensure PGC (RB6) and PGD (RB7) are not loaded with heavy capacitance (< 50 pF total) so ICSP programming remains reliable.
Reserve an ICSP header footprint (5-pin or 6-pin standard Microchip pinout) on the PCB even if programming will be done in production only - field firmware updates are much easier with on-board ICSP access. Place the 28-SPDIP socket footprint on a 2.54 mm grid; allow at least 2 mm clearance around the package for hand-soldering or test-clip access. Route the crystal traces short and symmetric with a ground guard ring to minimize oscillator drift across temperature.
When using the ADC, place the analog VDD/VSS pins on separate analog supply planes if the PCB has a mixed-signal stack-up. Add a ferrite bead or 10 ohm resistor between digital VDD and analog AVDD, with a 10 uF + 100 nF cap pair on the analog rail. Configure the ADC acquisition time (TAD) for at least 1.6 us at 20 MHz to meet the 10-bit conversion linearity specification. The internal voltage reference is ratiometric; for absolute measurements, use an external MCP1525 or similar 2.5 V reference.
Compliance Information
Industrial temperature grade -40 C to +85 C. RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive applications, migrate to PIC16F1936-I/SP or similar AEC-Q100 qualified part.
