PIC16LF876-04I/SP - 8-bit MCU, 14KB Flash, 4MHz, 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF876-04I/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.5 | $7.50 |
| 10 | $6.85 | $68.50 |
| 100 | $6.1 | $610.00 |
| 500 | $5.42 | $2,710.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.78 | $4,780.00 |
PIC16LF876-04I/SP Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory, and peripheral interfaces on a single die. PIC microcontrollers use a Harvard RISC architecture with a small instruction set (35 single-word instructions) and one accumulator (W) plus a memory-mapped I/O register file, enabling deterministic execution and code compactness. The PIC16F family sits in the Microchip mid-range portfolio between 6-pin baseline PIC10/12/16 parts and 80+ pin PIC18/PIC24 high-pin-count families.
The PIC16LF876 includes five 10-bit ADC channels, two 8-bit timers plus one 16-bit timer, a synchronous serial port configurable for SPI or I2C (MSSP), an enhanced USART, a capture/compare/PWM (CCP) module, and a 10-bit ADC. The LF suffix denotes an extended low-voltage operating range down to 2.0V, supporting battery-powered applications. The -04 suffix indicates the 4MHz maximum oscillator frequency, and I denotes the industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade.
The device uses a 14-bit instruction word and includes an in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) interface plus an ICD-friendly debug port. Internal RC and crystal oscillator options enable operation without external clock components in cost-sensitive designs. The 22 I/O pins support peripheral pin select via the standard PIC16F peripheral mapping.
Typical applications include industrial sensor interfaces, low-power instrumentation, HVAC controllers, motor control PWM, and battery-powered remote sensor nodes. The 28-SPDIP package simplifies prototyping and rework on through-hole PCBs and breadboards.
When designing, ensure the MCLR reset circuit includes the recommended 10k pull-up and that Vdd is decoupled with a 100nF ceramic cap within 5mm of the package pin. Use ICD2/ICD3/PICKit3 for in-circuit debug rather than the older parallel programming interface.
This page synthesizes 28-SPDIP cross-reference data, parametric equivalents, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF876-04I/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 PIC16LF876-04I/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Mounting Type, Timers, Communication, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF876-20I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF876-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF876-04I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F876-04I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F886-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF876-04I/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 368 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit |
| Communication | I2C, SPI, UART/USART (MSSP + EUSART) |
| CCP Modules | 1 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial grade) |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (300 mil) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| ICSP/ICD | Yes (In-Circuit Serial Programming + Debug) |
PIC16LF876-04I/SP 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 Vref+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Digital I/O / Timer0 clock input (open-drain) |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — Digital I/O / Analog input 4 / 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 |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator in / CCP2 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCL/SCK — Digital I/O / I2C clock / SPI clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDA/SDI — Digital I/O / I2C data / SPI data in |
| 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 2.0V-5.5V |
| 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 / LVP programming |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICD clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICD data |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF876-04I/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface, Battery-Powered Remote Sensor Node, HVAC Thermostat Controller, Low-Cost DC Motor Speed Controller, I2C/SPI Sensor Hub for Data Loggers, Educational / Hobbyist Development Platform.
Industrial Sensor Interface
The PIC16LF876-04I/SP suits industrial 4-20 mA sensor interfaces thanks to its 5-channel 10-bit ADC, industrial -40C to +85C temperature range, and 2.0V-5.5V wide Vdd that simplifies conditioning rail design. With 14 KB Flash it can host a Modbus RTU slave over the EUSART plus a sensor linearization table. The 22 I/O pins handle multiple analog inputs, digital status, and an isolated RS-485 transceiver enable. Pair with an ADM3252E isolated transceiver for high-noise factory floors, and rely on the low 2 uA typical sleep current for battery-backed gateways.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Sensor Node
The LF prefix and 2.0V Vdd minimum make the PIC16LF876-04I/SP ideal for battery-powered wireless sensor nodes powered by a single CR2032 or 2xAA. Its typical <2 uA sleep current combined with the internal 32 kHz Timer1 oscillator lets the MCU spend most of its life in sleep, waking periodically to read a sensor and transmit. With 14 KB Flash it can hold a small MAC plus sensor stack, while the 256-byte EEPROM stores calibration constants and node IDs that survive battery swaps. Pair with an RN2483 LoRa module for long-range, multi-year deployments.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat Controller
The PIC16LF876-04I/SP fits HVAC thermostat controllers with its CCP module providing PWM for triac-fired heater stages, 10-bit ADC for thermistor bridge readout, and EUSART for connection to a Wi-Fi module or HVAC bus. The 28-SPDIP package simplifies UL-listed thermostat housings that still use through-hole power stages. Industrial temperature grade tolerates attic installations where temperatures swing -20C to 70C. The 14 KB Flash holds scheduling firmware, while EEPROM retains user-setpoints and run-hour counters across power cycles.
Recommended
Low-Cost DC Motor Speed Controller
Use the PIC16LF876-04I/SP as the brain of a brushed DC motor speed controller: the 16-bit Timer1 captures Hall-sensor feedback, the CCP module generates a 20 kHz PWM into a half-bridge FET driver, and the 10-bit ADC reads motor current via a shunt for closed-loop torque limiting. With 22 I/O it can also handle direction relays, brake, and fault LEDs. The 2.0-5.5V Vdd lets the board share the motor 12V rail via a step-down switching regulator. Industrial temp grade supports under-hood automotive auxiliary pumps.
Recommended
I2C/SPI Sensor Hub for Data Loggers
The MSSP peripheral on the PIC16LF876-04I/SP simultaneously supports an I2C master to read a MEMS combo sensor (e.g., accelerometer + gyro) and an SPI slave to feed an external FRAM logger. This dual-bus capability, combined with 14 KB Flash and 368 bytes RAM, makes the chip a low-cost sensor hub for portable data loggers. Industrial temp range supports field-deployed environmental monitors, and the 256-byte EEPROM buffers samples during wireless dead zones. Pair with a 25LC1024 SPI EEPROM for multi-megabit logging.
Recommended
Educational / Hobbyist Development Platform
The PIC16LF876-04I/SP in 28-SPDIP is a classic teaching platform: the through-hole package plugs into breadboards without soldering, and PICKit3 / ICD3 headers can be added for in-circuit debug. With 14 KB Flash and 35 single-word instructions it is large enough to demonstrate real applications (LCD, ADC, UART) yet small enough for a one-week classroom lab. Industrial temp grade tolerates student bench environments. Pair with a standard 16x2 character LCD and a potentiometer for the classic analog-read-and-display lab.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF876-04I/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF876-20I/SP | PIC16LF876-04I/SO | PIC16LF876-04I/P | PIC16F876-04I/SP | PIC16F886-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (300 mil) | 28-SPDIP (300 mil) - same | 28-SOIC (300 mil) - same pinout, SMD | 28-PDIP (600 mil) - same | 28-SPDIP (300 mil) - same | 28-SPDIP (300 mil) - same |
| Maximum Clock | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Flash Program Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0V to 5.5V (LF) | 2.0V to 5.5V (LF) | 2.0V to 5.5V (LF) | 2.0V to 5.5V (LF) | 4.0V to 5.5V (F) | 2.0V to 5.5V (F) |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Commercial 0C to +70C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C |
| ADC Channels | 5 x 10-bit | 5 x 10-bit | 5 x 10-bit | 5 x 10-bit | 5 x 10-bit | 11 x 10-bit |
| Lifecycle Status (2026) | active (mature) | active | active | active | active | active (recommended migration) |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial -40C to +85C temperature range with low-voltage LF operation (vs PIC16LF876-04I/P)
- 28-SPDIP through-hole package simplifies hand-soldering and breadboarding (vs PIC16LF876-04I/SO)
- Low-voltage 2.0V Vdd minimum supports battery designs (vs PIC16F876-04I/SP)
- Modern recommended migration path available in the same footprint (vs PIC16F886-I/SP)
Design Notes
Decouple Vdd (pin 20) with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the package pin and a bulk 10 uF electrolytic or tantalum capacitor on the same rail. For battery designs, the LF family draws <2 uA typical in sleep mode, so adding a series ferrite bead between the battery and Vdd reduces conducted noise from switching peripherals waking the MCU. According to the Microchip PIC16F876 datasheet, Vdd rise time during power-on must be monotonic, or the internal brown-out may not trigger properly.
Pin 1 (MCLR) must be pulled up to Vdd through a 10 kohm resistor for normal operation. Leave it floating and the MCU will randomly enter programming mode or reset under EMI. For ICSP, the PGD/PGC pins (RB7/RB6) need 4.7 kohm pull-downs to prevent false clock pulses from corrupting Flash writes. Configuration bits (_CONFIG) must be set to disable the watchdog unless firmware actually services it, or the MCU will reset every ~18 ms.
Place the decoupling cap on pin 20 (Vdd) with a short, wide trace directly to the ground plane. Pin 19 (Vss) should also connect to the ground plane with a via within 5 mm. Keep the crystal traces (pins 9-10) short and surrounded by a ground pour to prevent oscillator jitter from the ADC or PWM switching. If using the internal 4 MHz RC oscillator instead, OSC1 can be left floating and OSC2 can drive a peripheral clock; do not load OSC2 with more than 10 pF or the frequency will shift.
The MSSP I2C lines (RC3/SCL, RC4/SDA) are open-drain and require external pull-up resistors; 4.7 kohm is standard for 100 kHz I2C and 2.2 kohm for 400 kHz. The USART pins (RC6/TX, RC7/RX) are TTL-level and need a transceiver like the MAX232 for RS-232 or MAX485 for RS-485. The ADC inputs (RA0-RA5) benefit from a 100 ohm series resistor and 100 nF cap to ground to form a low-pass filter, which reduces switching noise from PWM outputs coupling into analog readings.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH status depends on the specific date code - the original PIC16LF876-04I/SP was launched before the -I (Industrial) suffix was retroactively RoHS-evaluated; Microchip's -I parts manufactured post-2006 are lead-free and RoHS compliant. Always verify the manufacturer date code and the latest PCN/PCI documents for production builds.
