PIC16LF874-04/PT - 8-Bit 4MHz MCU 7KB Flash 44-TQFP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF874-04/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10.63 | $10.63 |
| 10 | $9.55 | $95.50 |
| 100 | $7.92 | $792.00 |
| 500 | $6.84 | $3,420.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.97 | $5,970.00 |
PIC16LF874-04/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, RAM, Flash/ROM program memory, EEPROM, and a rich set of peripherals (I/O, timers, ADC, USART, I2C/SPI) into one device. MCUs belong to the embedded-controller hierarchy: microcontroller -> embedded processor -> integrated circuit -> semiconductor. The PIC16F family, in particular, is a mature RISC architecture known for deterministic instruction execution, a compact 35-instruction set, and a long lifecycle supported by the MPLAB X IDE toolchain.
Key features of the PIC16LF874-04/PT include 192 bytes of RAM, 128 bytes of EEPROM, 33 digital I/O pins, a 10-bit multi-channel ADC, two 8-bit timers plus one 16-bit timer, a USART with addressable mode, an MSSP (Master Synchronous Serial Port) for SPI and I2C, and a capture/compare/PWM (CCP) module. The /04 speed grade limits the oscillator to 4MHz (versus the /20 grade which supports 20MHz). The LF (low-voltage) variant operates down to 2.0V, making it suitable for 2x AA battery-powered designs.
Technically, the PIC16F874 uses a Harvard RISC core with separate program and data buses, a 14-bit instruction word, and a hardware stack of 8 levels. The 44-TQFP package exposes all three port banks (PORTA/B/C/D/E with 33 usable I/O), the two analog comparator inputs, and the two programming/debug pins (RB6/RB7) for ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) and ICD (In-Circuit Debugger) operation.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, instrumentation front-ends, low-power remote sensor nodes, automotive body controllers (with the /04 extended temperature variants), consumer appliance interfaces, and educational embedded platforms where deterministic behavior and a well-supported toolchain matter more than raw throughput.
When designing with this MCU, allocate the oscillator and decoupling network carefully: use a 22-100pF ceramic resonator or quartz crystal with two load capacitors within 5mm of OSC1/OSC2, place a 0.1uF decoupling cap on every VDD/SS pair, and reserve RB6/RB7 for ICSP regardless of the application code, so that firmware can be updated on the production board.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the bare manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a single reference for sourcing and second-sourcing the PIC16LF874-04/PT.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF874-04/PT — 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 PIC16LF874-04/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Timers, Package, CCP Modules, Family, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F874-04/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF874-04I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F874-04I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF874A-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F877-04/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF874-04/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC16F |
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC (Harvard) |
| CPU Architecture | RISC, 14-bit instruction word |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 4 MHz (/04 speed grade) |
| Program Memory | 7 KB Flash (4K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 33 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 8 channels |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| CCP Modules | 1 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Serial Interfaces | USART (addressable), MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (LF variant) |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (PT), 10x10 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial, -04 grade) |
| ICSP / ICD | Yes (RB6/RB7) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF874-04/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RE3/MCLR/VPP — PORTE bit 3 / Master Clear (reset) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 9 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 10 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 11 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 12 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 15 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator out / Timer1 clock in |
| Pin 16 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator in / CCP2 |
| Pin 17 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 18 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 19 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 20 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 21 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 |
| Pin 22 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 23 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 24 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 25 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 26 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 27 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 28 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 29 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 30 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 31 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 32 | RB6/PGD — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP data |
| Pin 33 | RB7/PGC — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 34 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 35 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 36 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 37 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 38 | RE0/RD/AN5 — PORTE bit 0 / Parallel read / Analog input 5 |
| Pin 39 | RE1/WR/AN6 — PORTE bit 1 / Parallel write / Analog input 6 |
| Pin 40 | RE2/CS/AN7 — PORTE bit 2 / Parallel chip select / Analog input 7 |
| Pin 41 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 42 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 43 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 44 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF874-04/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panel, Battery-Powered Remote Sensor Node, Consumer Appliance Interface Board, Educational Embedded Platform, Instrumentation Front-End, Automotive Body Controller (Non-Safety).
Industrial Control Panel
The PIC16LF874-04/PT fits industrial control panels where deterministic response, low power, and 33 I/O lines matter more than raw throughput. Its 2.0-5.5 V LF voltage range allows direct 24 V->5 V regulator operation without a boost stage, while the 7 KB Flash holds HMI menus plus ladder-logic-style control tables in a single binary. The PIC16F874's 8-channel 10-bit ADC is sufficient for monitoring panel voltages, current shunts, and 4-20 mA loop-back signals with a small analog front end; the integrated USART drives an isolated RS-485 link to a PLC. Compared with a switching-MCU design, the PIC16F874's 4 MHz / 1 MIPS performance is enough for scan rates below 1 kHz, and its 44-TQFP package leaves enough room for optocouplers and gate-drive circuitry.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Sensor Node
The PIC16LF874-04/PT's 2.0 V minimum supply makes it well suited to 2x AA cell-powered remote sensor nodes that sleep most of the time and wake on a timer interrupt. Its 192-byte RAM holds a small sensor frame buffer, while the 128-byte EEPROM logs calibration and node ID persistently across battery swaps. The 10-bit 8-channel ADC reads temperature, humidity, and battery voltage directly, eliminating an external ADC and BOM cost. Compared to a Cortex-M0+ alternative, the PIC16F874's lower active current and deep-sleep modes keep quiescent draw under 1 uA, and its 4 MHz / 1 MIPS throughput is enough to format a LoRa/Sigfox preamble once per minute. The 44-TQFP package is overkill for a sensor node; this application typically pairs with the smaller-pin PIC16LF873-04/SO in the same family.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Interface Board
The PIC16LF874-04/PT drives consumer appliance interfaces such as washing-machine front panels, microwave keypads, and HVAC zone controllers where cost and BOM consolidation dominate. The 33 I/O pins handle 4x4 key matrices, 7-segment LED drives (multiplexed), and triac-fired load signals without external GPIO expanders, while the 7 KB Flash holds the user-interface state machine plus EEPROM-backed settings. Its integrated USART connects to a main board or smart-home bridge, and the 4 MHz clock is plenty for keypad scan rates below 100 Hz. Compared to higher-end Cortex-M parts, the PIC16F874 saves $1-2 BOM per board at scale; the 44-TQFP (PT) package allows single-sided PCB layout with all user I/O on the perimeter.
Recommended
Educational Embedded Platform
Universities and training providers favor the PIC16LF874-04/PT as a teaching platform because of the mature MPLAB X toolchain, free XC8 compiler, and broad PICkit 3/4 debugger support. The 33 I/O lines allow students to wire all major peripherals (LEDs, switches, 7-segment, character LCD, UART, SPI/I2C devices, ADC inputs) on a single board without multiplexing. Its 4 MHz clock and 14-bit instruction word make cycle-counting exercises pedagogically clear. Compared to modern ARM-based boards, the PIC16F874's simplicity keeps C-language examples compact and assembly exercises comprehensible. The 44-TQFP is breadboard-friendly with a carrier PCB and remains a recommended core in many undergraduate embedded courses.
Recommended
Instrumentation Front-End
Bench-top instruments and lab data loggers use the PIC16LF874-04/PT as a measurement front-end: its 10-bit ADC digitizes sensor signals, the USART streams data to a host PC at 115200 baud, and the 7 KB Flash stores calibration tables. The 2.0-5.5 V LF range supports USB-powered designs without an additional LDO. Compared with a dedicated metering ASIC, the PIC16F874's flexibility allows firmware-upgradeable measurement algorithms and is far cheaper at low volumes. The 44-TQFP package fits easily alongside op-amps, references, and analog muxes on a small 4-layer PCB.
Recommended
Automotive Body Controller (Non-Safety)
Non-safety automotive body controllers (window regulators, mirror adjusters, interior lighting) historically used the PIC16F874/877 family because of the wide -40C to +85C industrial temperature option and 5 V direct-from-bus operation. The PIC16LF874-04/PT is the commercial variant; the industrial-grade PIC16LF874-04I/PT and PIC16F874-04I/PT share the same 44-TQFP pinout and are drop-in for these applications. Its 33 I/O drive H-bridge enable lines, lamp MOSFET gates, and LIN-bus transceivers directly; the CCP module generates PWM for motor soft-start. Compared with newer Automotive-Q100 PIC16F18855 parts, the PIC16F874 lacks CAN and has a smaller ADC, but remains in volume production at a fraction of the cost for non-safety body modules.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF874-04/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F874-04/PT | PIC16LF874-04I/PT | PIC16F874-04I/PT | PIC16LF874A-I/PT | PIC16F877-04/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (PT) | 44-pin TQFP (PT) - same | 44-pin TQFP (PT) - same | 44-pin TQFP (PT) - same | 44-pin TQFP (PT) - same | 44-pin TQFP (PT) - same |
| Program Memory | 7 KB Flash | 7 KB Flash | 7 KB Flash | 7 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 368 bytes |
| EEPROM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Max CPU Clock | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 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 | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C |
| I/O Pins | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 8-ch | 10-bit, 8-ch | 10-bit, 8-ch | 10-bit, 8-ch | 10-bit, 8-ch | 10-bit, 8-ch |
Key Differentiators
- LF low-voltage operation down to 2.0 V for battery-powered designs (vs PIC16F874-04/PT)
- Industrial-temperature drop-in option on same 44-TQFP pinout (vs PIC16F874-04I/PT)
- Path to A-revision with 2x Flash and 5x CPU speed (vs PIC16LF874A-I/PT)
Design Notes
Place the 44-TQFP decoupling capacitors as close as physically possible to every VDD/VSS pair. According to Microchip's PIC16F874 hardware design checklist, a 0.1 uF ceramic in parallel with a 10 uF tantalum or aluminum electrolytic on each VDD/VSS pair suppresses both high-frequency digital noise and low-frequency supply droop during ADC conversions. Estimated: at 4 MHz switching transients are below 50 ns, so a 100 nF X7R ceramic per VDD pin is sufficient; reduce loop area to under 5 mm.
RB6 (PGD) and RB7 (PGC) must remain accessible for ICSP in-circuit serial programming and ICD debugging - never connect them to heavy-load drivers or pull-up resistors that exceed the 25 mA source/sink rating. The recommended layout keeps the ICSP header within 50 mm of the MCU and routes PGD/PGC as a short parallel pair away from switching power and PWM lines. This preserves the ability to update firmware on the production board without desoldering the MCU.
For the LF variant operating below 4.0 V (e.g., from a 2x AA cell dropping from 3.0 V to 2.0 V), the ADC accuracy degrades by approximately 1 LSB per 100 mV drop in VDD. Use the LF variant's 2.0 V VREF option or an external MCP1541 4.096 V reference for ADC measurements requiring better than 8 ENOB. Estimated: at 4 MHz and 2.0 V VDD, total active current is approximately 1.5 mA, so a 1000 mAh cell yields roughly 600+ hours of continuous operation.
Configuration bits (FOSC, WDTE, PWRTE, BOREN, LVP, CPD, WRT) must be explicitly set in the source code's #pragma config directive; unconfigured (erased) F877 ships with all bits set, which enables low-voltage programming (LVP) on RB3/PGM and disables the watchdog timer. The most common bring-up failure is leaving MCLR floating - tie MCLR through a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD so the device does not randomly reset during supply transients. Add a 100 nF cap from MCLR to VSS for noise immunity.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive AEC-Q100 needs, see PIC16F874-AQ automotive grade. Halogen-free per Microchip Green device designation.