PIC16LF876-04I/SO - 4MHz 8-bit Flash MCU, 14KB, 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF876-04I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.73 | $11.73 |
| 10 | $10.55 | $105.50 |
| 100 | $9.38 | $938.00 |
| 500 | $8.2 | $4,100.00 |
| 1,000 | $7.02 | $7,020.00 |
PIC16LF876-04I/SO Overview
A PIC microcontroller is a compact programmable processor that integrates CPU core, non-volatile program memory, RAM, EEPROM, timers, ADC, and communication peripherals on a single die, designed for deterministic real-time control in cost- and power-sensitive embedded systems. Within the broader taxonomy, PIC16LF876 belongs to the 8-bit microcontroller class, which sits inside the larger family of microcontrollers (MCUs), integrated circuits (ICs), and semiconductors. Its mid-range 14-bit instruction set is upwards compatible with PIC12CXXX and PIC16C7X predecessors, simplifying firmware migration and protecting legacy code investments.
Key features include 5 channels of 10-bit analog-to-digital conversion, a USART/SCI for asynchronous serial communication, an MSSP module supporting both SPI and I²C (master/slave), two 8-bit timers and one 16-bit timer with capture/compare/PWM capability, plus a watchdog timer with on-chip low-power RC oscillator for reliable operation. The LF prefix denotes an extended low-voltage operating range, the 04 suffix specifies the 4MHz speed grade, and the I suffix indicates the industrial -40C to +85C operating temperature range suitable for harsh-environment embedded designs.
The PIC16LF876 is built on Microchip's proprietary CMOS FLASH process with nanoWatt power management technology, providing power-managed modes (Run, Idle, Sleep) and ultra-low standby currents well below 1 µA in Sleep, enabling multi-year battery life in IoT edge nodes, remote sensors, and metering applications. The Harvard architecture separates program and data buses for predictable single-cycle instruction execution, and the 8-level hardware stack plus interrupt controller support real-time responsiveness in motor, power conversion, and sensor-conditioning loops.
Typical applications include industrial automation sensor interfaces, portable medical monitoring devices, automotive body and accessory ECUs (non-safety), smart energy metering, consumer appliance control boards, and low-cost USB-to-UART bridging firmware platforms. With 22 general-purpose I/O pins plus dedicated peripheral lines, the device addresses moderate-complexity embedded designs that exceed 8-bit PIC16F84-class capabilities but do not yet justify the cost or footprint of a 40-pin PIC18F or dsPIC33 part.
When designing with this MCU, reserve one I/O pin for the ICSP programming interface (typically RB6/RB7 clock/data) and design for in-circuit serial programming access without removing the part from the board. Add a 100 nF decoupling capacitor adjacent to VDD and consider MCLR pull-up behavior if the device is used in noisy motor or relay environments.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives (PIC16F876A-I/SO, PIC16F876-04I/SO), parametric comparison, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF876-04I/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 PIC16LF876-04I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Communication Peripherals, Operating Temperature, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F876A-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F876-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F876T-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF876T-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF876A-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF876-04/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F876A-E/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF876-04I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology |
| Series | PIC® 16F |
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Program Memory Size | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| RAM Size | 368 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | 256 bytes |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels |
| Communication Peripherals | USART/SCI, MSSP (SPI, I²C) |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit (with CCP) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, 'I' suffix) |
| Package | 28-SOIC (SO) wide-body, 7.50 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Oscillator | Internal 4 MHz RC + external crystal support |
| Watchdog | Yes, on-chip low-power RC |
| Power-Saving Modes | Run, Idle, Sleep (nanoWatt technology) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (ROHS3 per distributor data) |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life at <30C/85% RH) |
PIC16LF876-04I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/CVREF — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 2 / Comparator voltage reference output |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4/T0CKI — Digital I/O (open-drain) / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN4/SS — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 7 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 8 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 9 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 10 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator input / Capture-Compare-PWM 2 |
| Pin 11 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 12 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Digital I/O / SPI clock / I²C clock |
| Pin 13 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O / SPI data in / I²C data |
| Pin 14 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O / SPI data out |
| Pin 15 | RC6/TX/CK — Digital I/O / USART TX / USART synchronous clock |
| Pin 16 | RC7/RX/DT — Digital I/O / USART RX / USART synchronous data |
| Pin 17 | RB0/INT — Digital I/O / External interrupt |
| Pin 18 | RB1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 19 | RB2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 20 | RB3/PGM — Digital I/O / LVP programming |
| Pin 21 | RB4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 22 | RB5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 23 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 24 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 25 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear reset / programming voltage |
| Pin 26 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 27 | AVDD — Analog positive supply (tie to VDD) |
| Pin 28 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF876-04I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface Module, Portable Battery-Powered Medical Device, Smart Energy Meter / Sub-Meter, Consumer Appliance Control Board, Automotive Body and Accessory ECU, USB-to-UART Bridge Firmware Platform, IoT Edge Sensor Node.
Industrial Sensor Interface Module
The PIC16LF876-04I/SO fits industrial 4-20 mA and 0-10 V sensor interface modules because it combines 5 channels of 10-bit ADC with 2.0-5.5 V operation and industrial -40C to +85C temperature support. Its 14 KB FLASH comfortably holds Modbus RTU framing, linearization tables, and HMI command parsing, while the MSSP I²C/SPI bus connects to external DACs and digital potentiometers for analog signal conditioning. The 4 MHz speed grade and 200 ns instruction cycle give deterministic loop times for sensor sampling and digital filtering. Industrial designers typically place it on the same PCB as RS-485 transceivers, leveraging the USART to drive half-duplex multidrop networks on factory floors. This part is well suited to PLC analog input cards, weigh-scale transmitters, and process-control front-ends where cost-per-channel matters and full 16-bit DSP performance is not required.
Recommended
Portable Battery-Powered Medical Device
The PIC16LF876-04I/SO is a strong match for portable medical monitoring devices such as pulse oximeters, digital thermometers, and portable spirometers, because its LF prefix enables operation down to 2.0 V from two alkaline or one Li-ion cell while Sleep current drops below 1 µA in nanoWatt mode. The 14 KB FLASH holds application code plus lookup tables for SpO2 or temperature linearization, while the 256-byte EEPROM stores calibration coefficients unique to each unit. Five ADC channels digitize thermistor bridges, pressure transducers, and battery voltage monitoring concurrently. The 4 MHz operation draws only a few mA active, extending battery life to weeks or months on a single AAA cell. Industrial -40C to +85C support ensures reliable operation in ambulances, cold-chain logistics, and home-care environments where compact BOM and long runtime are critical.
Recommended
Smart Energy Meter / Sub-Meter
The PIC16LF876-04I/SO is well suited to single-phase smart energy meters, sub-meters, and load-monitoring nodes because its 5-channel 10-bit ADC samples current transformers and shunt resistors at sufficient bandwidth for energy calculation at 50/60 Hz mains. The MSSP I²C port reads companion metrology AFE chips or EEPROM calibration data while the USART drives PLC or RF modem links for AMR/AMI backhaul. With 14 KB FLASH, the device fits IEC 62053 billing algorithms, RMS computation, TOU scheduling, and LCD driver code. Low-voltage 2.0 V operation supports backup super-capacitor ride-through during brownout events. Industrial temperature rating ensures reliability in outdoor meter cabinets. The 28-SOIC package is widely accepted in IEC-certified utility metering designs where component longevity and supply continuity are mandatory.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Board
The PIC16LF876-04I/SO is widely deployed in consumer appliance controllers for washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, and induction cooktops because it offers 22 I/O pins for keypad, LED, relay, and triac drive, plus PWM-capable 16-bit timers for closed-loop motor and heater control. The 14 KB FLASH holds state-machine firmware, fault-detection logic, and buzzer/tone tables, while 256 bytes of EEPROM retain user settings through power cycles. Operation from 2.0 to 5.5 V lets the same firmware serve both battery-backed and rectified-mains-powered designs after regulator selection. The 4 MHz cycle time is fast enough for capacitive touch sampling and rotary encoder debouncing. Industrial temperature grade supports garage, outdoor kitchen, and unheated laundry-room installations where commercial-grade MCUs would be over-specified and low-cost 8-pin MCUs cannot handle the I/O count.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Accessory ECU
The PIC16LF876-04I/SO is appropriate for non-safety automotive body and accessory ECUs such as interior lighting controllers, seat-heater modules, mirror-adjustment units, and aftermarket alarm systems, where the industrial -40C to +85C rating survives cabin temperature stress. The 5-channel ADC monitors battery voltage, illumination sensors, and potentiometer wiper positions, while PWM timers drive LED strings and DC motor H-bridges. 14 KB FLASH holds CAN-LIN protocol stacks (when paired with an external transceiver), diagnostic trouble codes, and firmware update bootloaders. Note: this part is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified and must not be used in safety-critical systems such as airbag, brake, or steering ECUs. Designers needing AEC-Q100 should migrate to PIC16F876A-I/SO or PIC16F886 automotive-qualified variants. The 28-SOIC footprint is robust through wave-solder and selective-solder processes used in automotive PCBA.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge Firmware Platform
The PIC16LF876-04I/SO is a popular platform for USB-to-UART bridge firmware implementations using bit-banged low-speed USB on the MSSP or USART pins, replacing legacy RS-232 ports on legacy industrial and test equipment. With 14 KB FLASH it holds USB-HID or USB-CDC stacks, line-discipline handlers, and configurable baud-rate generators up to 115.2 kbps and beyond, while 368 bytes of RAM is enough for double-buffered UART FIFOs. The 22 I/O pins support RTS/CTS hardware flow control plus multiple GPIO for status LEDs and strap configuration. Industrial temperature rating lets the bridge live on factory-floor equipment exposed to temperature swings. Designers pair this MCU with popular USB-UART bridges like FTDI or MCP2200 to provide a fully programmable CDC-ACM device with custom VID/PID and boot-time firmware update via the on-chip FLASH self-write routine.
Recommended
IoT Edge Sensor Node
The PIC16LF876-04I/SO suits low-power IoT edge sensor nodes (temperature, humidity, leak detection, occupancy sensors) because nanoWatt Sleep mode drops quiescent current below 1 µA, allowing multi-year battery life when waking briefly to sample and transmit. The 5-channel ADC interfaces analog environmental sensors while the MSSP I²C bus addresses digital sensors like SHT21 or BMP280. 14 KB FLASH holds application code plus simple TLS or proprietary RF link layers for sub-GHz or BLE companion chips. Industrial -40C to +85C operation is essential for outdoor or HVAC-adjacent deployments. The 28-SOIC package is robust for through-hole reflow on hand-soldered prototypes and small-batch IoT products where supply chain predictability matters more than raw MHz throughput. Designers benefit from Microchip's MPLAB X IDE free toolchain and ICD programmer ecosystem for low-cost development.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF876-04I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F876A-I/SO | PIC16F876-04I/SO | PIC16F876T-04I/SO | PIC16LF876A-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC (SO) wide-body | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Max Clock Speed | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory (FLASH) | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB |
| RAM | 368 B | 368 B | 368 B | 368 B | 368 B |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (LF) | 4.0 V to 5.5 V (F) | 4.0 V to 5.5 V (F) | 4.0 V to 5.5 V (F) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (LF) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels (improved) | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels (improved) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Wider supply-voltage range than PIC16F876A-I/SO (vs PIC16F876A-I/SO)
- Industrial -40C to +85C temperature range with PIC16LF876A-I/SO alternative (vs PIC16LF876A-I/SO)
- 22 I/O pins vs only 12 on PIC16F630-class MCUs (vs PIC16F630-I/SL)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF (0.1 µF) ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as physically possible to the VDD pin (pin 26) with the ground return via a short trace to the VSS pin (pin 28). For the analog supply AVDD (pin 27), tie it to VDD and add a separate 10 µF + 100 nF decoupling network if ADC accuracy under 1 LSB at 10 bits is required. Long VDD traces or missing decoupling are the most common sources of MCU reset brownout in PIC16LF876 designs - the internal brown-out detector (BOD) cannot distinguish a sagging VDD from a transient ground bounce.
The MCLR pin (pin 25) must NOT be left floating; tie it to VDD through a 10 kΩ pull-up resistor and provide a 100 nF capacitor to ground to filter ESD strikes and prevent spurious resets in electrically noisy environments. For ICSP programming, ensure RB6/PGC (pin 23) and RB7/PGD (pin 24) are not heavily loaded by external circuitry - excessive capacitance prevents reliable in-circuit serial programming and is a leading cause of programming failures in field returns.
The LF low-voltage variant operates down to 2.0 V at 4 MHz. Below 4 MHz, the VDD minimum can drop to 1.8 V with proper configuration word settings (FOSC<2:0>). For battery-powered designs using two alkaline cells (nominally 3.0 V), size the brownout voltage (BOR) trip point conservatively so the MCU enters Sleep rather than running with marginal VDD that may corrupt FLASH self-write operations or EEPROM writes. Estimated: with VDD = 2.0 V minimum and 4 MHz oscillator, active current is typically 1-2 mA; in Sleep mode with WDT disabled, current drops below 1 µA enabling multi-year coin-cell battery life in low-duty-cycle IoT nodes.
Keep the analog inputs (RA0-RA5) away from switching digital lines or PWM outputs routed on adjacent PCB layers to minimize ADC crosstalk. Use a ground plane on layer 2 with the analog ground island under the analog pins. If using the internal voltage reference (CVREF on RA2), add a 10 nF capacitor on the CVREF pin to reduce reference noise. For SSI/I²C bus lengths over 50 mm, add 4.7 kΩ pull-ups to SCL/SDA and consider slew-rate control via configuration word bits to reduce EMI emissions.
Compliance Information
RoHS3 compliant per distributor listings. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; not suitable for safety-critical automotive ECUs (airbag, brake, steering). Lead-free reflow profile per JEDEC J-STD-020. PIC16LF876 is in active production per Microchip product page.
