PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ - 16-bit 32MHz MCU 4KB Flash 20-VQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.49 | $1.49 |
| 10 | $1.35 | $13.50 |
| 100 | $1.18 | $118.00 |
| 500 | $1.04 | $520.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.93 | $930.00 |
PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ Overview
A 16-bit MCU (microcontroller unit) is a single-chip computer integrating a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (Flash), volatile working memory (RAM), and programmable peripheral interfaces. PIC24F devices sit in the low-power XLP tier of Microchip's 16-bit portfolio, between the 8-bit PIC10/12/16/18 families and the higher-performance dsPIC33/PIC32 lines. They target cost-sensitive, battery-friendly applications that still need 16-bit arithmetic, multiple communication peripherals, and nanoWatt XLP sleep currents for energy harvesting or always-on designs.
Key features of the PIC24F04KL101 include a 10-bit ADC with acquisition channels multiplexed onto device pins, a Master Synchronous Serial Port (MSSP) configurable for I²C or SPI, a Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module, and Microchip's nanoWatt XLP™ technology that provides deep-sleep currents in the nA range. The 20-VQFN (MQ) package is a 5x5 mm thermally-enhanced QFN, well-suited to compact handheld, sensor-node, and IoT board layouts where height is constrained.
Architecture-wise, the PIC24F core is a modified Harvard 16-bit CPU with single-cycle 16x16 MAC support, which is unusual at this price tier and enables basic DSP-style signal processing. The device shares many peripheral register layouts with the PIC18 family for migration ease, as noted in the Microchip product brief.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, wearable health and fitness devices, remote controls, low-cost data loggers, battery-powered instrumentation, and consumer appliances requiring USB-free 16-bit control with strong standby current performance.
When designing with the PIC24F04KL101, ensure decoupling capacitors are placed close to VDD/VSS, route the exposed pad to a continuous ground copper pour for thermal dissipation, and verify that the chosen MSSP mode (I²C vs SPI) matches the external slave device's timing requirements.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives from Microchip's PIC24F04KL family, and practical PCB/design guidance not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ — 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 PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Program Memory (Flash), Core Architecture, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24F04KL101-I/MQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.098 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KL101-E/MQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KL100T-I/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KL100-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KL100-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KA201-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.67 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC® XLP™ 24F |
| Core Architecture | 16-bit PIC24F modified Harvard |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 4 KB (1.375K x 24 words) |
| SRAM | 512 B |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| ADC | 10-bit on-chip |
| Serial Peripherals | MSSP (I²C/SPI), UART |
| Timer / PWM | CCP module |
| Package | 20-pin VQFN (5x5 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Run-Mode Current | < 350 µA/MHz at 1.8 V |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP™ |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 / analog input AN0 / CVREF- |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 / analog input AN1 / CVREF+ |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — Port A bit 2 / analog input AN2 / VREF- |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — Port A bit 3 / analog input AN3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — Port A bit 4 / analog input AN4 / SOSCO |
| Pin 6 | RA5 — Port A bit 5 / analog input AN5 / SOSCI |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 / analog input AN6 / OSC2 |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 / analog input AN7 / OSC1 / CLKI |
| Pin 9 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | RB0 — Port B bit 0 / AN8 / SDA1 |
| Pin 12 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 / AN9 / SCL1 |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 / AN10 / SDO1 |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 / AN11 / SDI1 |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 / AN12 / SCK1 |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 / AN13 / CCP1 |
| Pin 17 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 / PGC / ICSP clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 / PGD / ICSP data |
| Pin 19 | MCLR — Master clear (reset) input, active low |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground (also exposed pad on package bottom) |
Typical Applications
PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Wearable Health and Fitness Devices, Remote Controls and Low-Cost Consumer HMI, Industrial Sensor and Data Logger Modules, Low-Cost Consumer Appliances, Educational and Hobbyist Development Projects.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its nanoWatt XLP technology provides deep-sleep currents in the nA range while still offering a 16-bit CPU and full 32 MHz active performance for protocol handling. The 350 uA/MHz Run-mode current at 1.8 V, combined with 1.8-3.6 V supply range, makes it a natural fit for 2x AA alkaline or single-cell Li-ion packs where quiescent drain dominates battery life. The 18 GPIOs map cleanly to typical sensor front-ends (analog front-end, I²C temperature/humidity sensor, SPI accelerometer), and the 4 KB Flash is sufficient for Microchip's MiWi or lightweight MQTT-SN client stacks. Compared with an 8-bit PIC18F equivalent, the 16-bit PIC24F core delivers single-cycle MAC for onboard sensor fusion and ADC averaging, which reduces node wake time and therefore battery current drain. As of 2026-09-29, parts are in distributor stock at qty-1 unit prices near USD 1.49, making BOM cost viable for high-node-count deployments.
Recommended
Wearable Health and Fitness Devices
The PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ is well-suited to wearable health and fitness devices thanks to its 16-bit PIC24F core (single-cycle MAC for heart-rate signal processing), 10-bit ADC for biometric analog front-ends, and nanoWatt XLP sleep currents that extend coin-cell runtime. The 20-VQFN (5x5 mm) footprint is small enough to fit wristband and patch form factors, while the exposed thermal pad simplifies PCB stack-up design. The MSSP module supports I²C for low-power optical heart-rate sensors (e.g., PPG photodiode front-ends) and SPI for accelerometers. Industrial -40C to +85C operation covers body-temperature ranges with margin, and the 1.8 V minimum supply is compatible with single-cell Li-Po and primary coin cells. The part's migration path from the PIC18 family also means firmware portability for teams transitioning existing 8-bit designs to 16-bit where DSP-style filtering matters.
Recommended
Remote Controls and Low-Cost Consumer HMI
The PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ fits remote-control and consumer HMI applications because its 32 MHz 16 MIPS performance, 4 KB Flash, and UART/MSSP peripherals handle IR/RF protocol encoding (RC5, SIRC, ZigBee GREEN POWER) without external logic. The 18 GPIOs are enough to drive keypad scanning, LED indicators, and a piezo buzzer via PWM while maintaining a free UART for factory programming. The 1.8-3.6 V range aligns with 2x AAA / coin-cell supplies common in remotes. Deep-sleep current in the nA range keeps standby battery drain negligible for remotes that sit idle for years between button presses. The CCP module supports IR carrier generation via PWM, eliminating external timer ICs and shrinking the BOM. The 20-VQFN package footprint is small enough for slim remote form factors.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor and Data Logger Modules
The PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ suits industrial sensor and data-logger modules because its -40C to +85C industrial temperature range, 16-bit core, and 10-bit ADC deliver reliable operation in factory environments. The MSSP supports I²C/SPI for digital sensors and external FRAM/SPI Flash for logging buffer extension, while the UART can drive RS-485 transceivers for industrial network nodes. The 20-VQFN (5x5) package's exposed pad enables continuous ground copper pour for thermal dissipation in sealed enclosures. The 4 KB Flash accommodates a real-time operating system kernel or Microchip's Harmony framework lite profiles, and the 512 B SRAM is sufficient for sample buffering with periodic flush to external memory. The part's RoHS/REACH compliance also supports EU industrial product requirements.
Recommended
Low-Cost Consumer Appliances
The PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ is a strong fit for low-cost consumer appliances (small kitchen appliances, fans, simple white goods HMI) because of its sub-USD-1.50 unit pricing, 16-bit CPU at 32 MHz, and ample GPIOs to drive LED indicators, mechanical keypads, and triac-fired loads. The MSSP can drive character LCDs in 4-bit mode over I²C expanders, while the CCP module provides zero-cross triac timing. nanoWatt XLP sleep currents allow <100 µA standby for energy-star compliance on plug-in appliances. The 20-VQFN (5x5) footprint fits small appliance mainboards where 8-pin PICs lack peripherals. As of 2026-09-29, distributor pricing makes the part attractive versus 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ alternatives in cost-sensitive appliance SKUs.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Development Projects
The PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ is a good fit for educational and hobbyist development because Microchip's MPLAB X IDE, XC16 compiler, and PICkit 4 / MPLAB Snap debuggers all support it natively. The 16-bit architecture exposes students to a Harvard core different from AVR/MSP430, while the small 20-VQFN (5x5) package is breadboard-friendly via carrier boards. The 4 KB Flash and 512 B SRAM are sufficient for textbook examples (timers, ADC, UART echo, I²C master). The PIC24F's 32 MHz CPU lets hobbyists prototype real-time DSP filters without external accelerators. Microchip's PIC24F04KL1xx family datasheet (DS39997G) contains application notes that double as learning material. Stock availability at qty-1 unit prices near USD 1.49 (as of 2026-09-29) keeps per-unit project cost low for classroom use.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24F04KL101-I/MQ | PIC24F04KL101-E/MQ | PIC24F04KL100T-I/ST | PIC24F04KL100-I/P | PIC24F04KA201-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-VQFN (5x5) | 20-VQFN (5x5) - same | 20-VQFN (5x5) - same | 20-VQFN (5x5) - same footprint | 20-VQFN (5x5) - same footprint | 20-VQFN (5x5) - same footprint |
| Program Flash | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 4 KB |
| SRAM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Packaging Format | Tape & Reel | Tray | Tube/Tray | Tape & Reel | PDIP-20 tube | Tube/SSOP-20 |
Key Differentiators
- Same 20-VQFN package across all alternates - PCB reuse guaranteed (vs PIC24F04KL100T-I/ST)
- Extended-temperature grade option in same footprint (vs PIC24F04KL101-E/MQ)
- Migration path within PIC24F family (vs PIC24F04KA201-I/SS)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD = 3.3 V and CPU active at 32 MHz (16 MIPS), the PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ draws approximately 350 µA/MHz * 32 MHz = 11.2 mA active. In Sleep mode with nanoWatt XLP, quiescent current drops to single-digit µA. Place a 10 µF bulk + 0.1 µF ceramic decoupling pair within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 9) and VSS pin (pin 10), and tie the exposed pad (pin 20 underside) to a continuous ground pour at least 1 square inch in area for thermal relief.
Route the MCLR line (pin 19) with a 10 kΩ pull-up to VDD and place a 100 nF cap to ground close to the pin for noise immunity. The ICSP clock (RB6, pin 17) and ICSP data (RB7, pin 18) must not have series resistors greater than ~100 Ω or in-circuit debug will fail. The exposed pad must be soldered to a ground copper pour with at least four thermal vias to the inner ground plane for proper thermal performance in industrial environments.
Do not exceed VDD = 3.6 V - the PIC24F04KL101T-I/MQ is not 5V tolerant on any GPIO. Driving a 5 V signal into any pin without a level translator can damage the part. Also, the MSSP peripheral is shared between I²C and SPI on the same pins - firmware must reconfigure TRIS registers carefully when switching protocols, or bus contention will occur. Finally, the 4 KB Flash is small: budget for a 256-512 B bootloader reserve if you plan field updates.
Keep analog input traces (RA0-RA7 / RB0-RB4) away from digital switching signals and away from the oscillator pins to minimize ADC noise coupling. If using the internal FRC oscillator, add a guard ring around the analog pins tied to analog ground. For USB-free applications, no special impedance-controlled routing is required; the 32 MHz CPU and 10-bit ADC are tolerant of standard 4-layer stack-ups with continuous ground and power planes.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product environmental compliance. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications, use PIC24F AEC-Q100 qualified variants. The 'T' suffix denotes Tape and Reel packaging, not Pb-free status; all recent production VQFN parts are Pb-free regardless of suffix.
