PIC16LF876AT-I/ML - 8-Bit 10MHz 14KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF876AT-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.92 | $8.92 |
| 10 | $7.98 | $79.80 |
| 100 | $6.42 | $642.00 |
| 500 | $5.31 | $2,655.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.65 | $4,650.00 |
PIC16LF876AT-I/ML Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller is a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) device built on Harvard architecture, where program and data buses are physically separate, allowing simultaneous instruction fetch and operand access. The PIC16F family belongs to Microchip's mid-range 8-bit MCU portfolio, sitting above the baseline PIC10/12/16 baseline cores and below the enhanced PIC18 and 16-bit dsPIC/PIC24 families. Mid-range PIC MCUs typically execute one instruction per clock cycle (4 clocks per instruction at the oscillator input), giving 5 MHz oscillator = 1.25 MIPS, 10 MHz = 2.5 MIPS, while this LF part supports up to 200 ns instruction execution at 20 MHz = 10 MIPS.
Key features of the PIC16LF876AT-I/ML include a 10-channel 10-bit ADC, two 8-bit timers plus one 16-bit timer, a USART with addressable TX/RX, a Master Synchronous Serial Port (MSSP) supporting both SPI and I2C master/slave modes, two capture/compare/PWM (CCP) modules, an 8-bit parallel slave port, and a 256-byte EEPROM with 1M erase/write cycles endurance. The "LF" prefix designates the wide-voltage low-power variant operating from 2.0 V to 5.5 V, making it compatible with both 3.3 V and 5 V rails. The 28-QFN package is ideal for space-constrained designs and benefits from the exposed thermal pad for improved heat dissipation at full 10 MHz operation.
Typical applications span industrial automation sensor interfaces, low-power battery-driven remote controls, automotive body electronics subsystems (non-safety), white-goods control boards, HVAC thermostats, and small appliances. The 10-bit ADC and CCP/PWM peripherals make it well suited for closed-loop motor control, LED dimming, and analog sensor conditioning. When designing with this device, ensure the exposed pad (pin 28 EPAD) is soldered to a properly grounded copper pour; failure to do so risks exceeding the package's thermal budget at high toggling rates.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF876AT-I/ML — 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 PIC16LF876AT-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Timers, I/O Pins, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF876A-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF819-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.94 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF818-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF77-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF74-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF876AT-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC16F |
| Core | PIC 8-bit RISC, mid-range |
| Program Memory | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) Flash |
| RAM | 368 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 8 channels |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| CCP/PWM Modules | 2 |
| Communication | USART (TX/RX), MSSP (SPI/I2C) |
| Parallel Slave Port | 8-bit |
| Package | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) with exposed pad |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16LF876AT-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input / Programming voltage / PORTE bit 3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input channel 2 / Negative voltage reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input channel 3 / Positive voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer 0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input channel 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 output |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 output |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART synchronous clock |
| Pin 17 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART synchronous data |
| Pin 18 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 19 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 20 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 21 | RB3/PGM — PORTB bit 3 / Low-voltage programming |
| Pin 22 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 23 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 24 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 25 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 26 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 28 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet pinout, no internal bond) |
| Pin 29 | EPAD — Exposed thermal pad - connect to ground plane |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF876AT-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface Module, Battery-Powered Remote Control, HVAC Thermostat Controller, Small Appliance Control Board, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), Test and Measurement Handheld Instruments.
Industrial Sensor Interface Module
The PIC16LF876AT-I/ML is well suited to industrial sensor interface modules because its 10-bit ADC (8 channels) and 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply range allow direct connection to 4-20 mA current-loop transducers, thermistor bridges, and 0-10 V process signals after a simple resistor divider. The 22 I/O pins are sufficient to drive status LEDs, HMI keypads, and isolated RS-485 buses through the on-chip USART, while the MSSP module simultaneously talks to SPI sensors (e.g., digital temperature or pressure ICs). At 10 MIPS the firmware can run 100 Hz PID loops with margin for background filtering.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Control
The PIC16LF876AT-I/ML's "LF" wide-voltage operation from 2.0 V to 5.5 V and nanoWatt power-managed sleep modes make it ideal for battery-powered remote controls running from 2x AA cells or single CR2032 coin cells. With all peripherals disabled and the CPU halted, the device draws under 1 uA, allowing multi-year standby from a primary battery. The PWM modules drive IR LEDs with modulated 38 kHz carrier, while the 14 KB Flash accommodates extensive button-mapping tables and protocol stacks (NEC, RC5, RC6).
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat Controller
In HVAC thermostat designs, the PIC16LF876AT-I/ML provides 10-bit ADC inputs for NTC thermistor temperature sensing, two CCP/PWM channels to drive a triac for AC heater/cooler switching, and the MSSP to interface an I2C LCD display. The 22 I/O support keypad scanning, mode relays, and a UART link to a Wi-Fi/BLE module for cloud connectivity. The 28-QFN package fits behind a flush-mount touch panel, with the exposed pad providing thermal relief for the always-on display backlight driver transistor.
Recommended
Small Appliance Control Board
Coffee machines, bread makers, and countertop kitchen appliances use the PIC16LF876AT-I/ML as the main MCU because of its 14 KB Flash (sufficient for menu-driven UI logic with a state machine), 256-byte EEPROM (for storing user presets), and USART for communicating with sensor hubs or BLE add-on modules. The CCP/PWM outputs switch TRIACs or MOSFETs at low frequency (sub-1 kHz), and the 10-bit ADC reads temperature, water level, or humidity sensors directly.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the PIC16LF876AT-I/ML is widely used in non-safety automotive body modules such as mirror controllers, seat-position memory, interior lighting dimmers, and aftermarket accessories. Its 5.5 V tolerant I/O tolerates load-dump events with external TVS protection, and the -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature range covers cabin environments. The 28-QFN 6x6 mm footprint fits compact modules behind trim panels.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Handheld Instruments
Handheld DMMs, insulation testers, and cable-length meters benefit from the PIC16LF876AT-I/ML's 10 MIPS throughput, which enables real-time RMS calculation, OLED/LCD driving via SPI, and USB-charging interface logic. The 14 KB Flash holds calibration constants and lookup tables for non-linear sensors; 256-byte EEPROM stores user preferences across battery swaps. The 2.0 V to 5.5 V input range supports direct Li-ion battery operation with simple protection circuits.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF876AT-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF876A-I/ML | PIC16LF819-I/ML | PIC16LF818-I/ML | PIC16LF77-I/ML | PIC16LF74-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-QFN (6x6) with exposed pad | 28-QFN (6x6) - same | 28-QFN (6x6) - same | 28-QFN (6x6) - same | 28-QFN (6x6) - same | 28-QFN (6x6) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 8 KB Flash (-43%) | 8 KB Flash (-43%) | 8 KB Flash (-43%) | 7 KB Flash (-50%) |
| RAM | 368 bytes | 368 bytes | 256 bytes (-30%) | 256 bytes (-30%) | 368 bytes (same) | 192 bytes (-48%) |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 (same) | 16 (-27%) | 16 (-27%) | 22 (same) | 22 (same) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels | None (no ADC) | 10-bit, 8 channels |
| USART | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Tape & Reel Suffix | Yes ("T" in part number) | No (tray packaging) | No (tray) | No (tray) | No (tray) | No (tray) |
Key Differentiators
- Wide-voltage LF operation from 2.0 V to 5.5 V (vs PIC16F876A-I/ML)
- Industry-standard 14 KB Flash mid-range PIC with rich peripheral set (vs PIC16LF818-I/ML)
- On-chip 10-bit ADC with 8 channels (vs PIC16LF77-I/ML)
- Tape-and-reel packaging for SMT high-volume assembly (vs PIC16LF876A-I/ML)
Design Notes
Solder the exposed thermal pad (pin 29, EPAD) to a grounded copper pour with at least 4 thermal vias to the inner ground plane. Failure to solder the EPAD causes the package's theta_JA to rise from approximately 30 C/W to over 100 C/W, potentially exceeding the 150 C absolute maximum junction temperature at sustained 20 MHz operation. The QFN land pattern must include a center pad with proper solder paste stencil apertures for reliable reflow.
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 26), with a 10 uF bulk capacitor within 1 cm. For ADC accuracy better than 8 LSB, add a separate 0.1 uF + 10 uF pair on the AVCC/AVSS pins if the part has them, or filter VDD with a ferrite bead. The internal brown-out reset (BOR) should be enabled to detect drops below 2.0 V that could corrupt Flash writes.
PIC16F (non-LF) variants operate only from 4.0 V to 5.5 V; substituting an F part where LF is specified will fail to start at 3.3 V. The MCLR pin (pin 1) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for normal operation; leaving it floating or driven low puts the device in reset. The ICSP pins RB6 (PGC) and RB7 (PGD) must not be permanently pulled low or high at power-up if in-circuit programming is required - use series 10 kohm resistors if shared with application circuits.
The PIC16LF876AT-I/ML's analog inputs share pins with digital I/O. Set the corresponding TRIS bit to input AND clear the ADCON1 PCFG bits to disable digital input buffers on the analog-enabled pins. Failing to do so causes digital switching noise to couple into the ADC measurement through the input buffer's parasitic capacitance, degrading SNR by up to 10 dB. Use the lowest practical ADC clock frequency for the best noise performance.
Keep the 20 MHz oscillator traces short and surround them with a grounded guard ring. The OSC1/OSC2 pins are adjacent to PORTC pins; route PORTC traces on the opposite PCB layer to minimize crosstalk. If using a high-speed external oscillator in HS mode, follow the Microchip AN826 reference layout exactly, including the loading capacitor placement within 5 mm of the pins.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free matte tin finish. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive safety applications use PIC16F876A-E/SO or PIC18F2520 with AEC-Q100 grade. Halogen-free status not explicitly confirmed in available data.
