PIC24F16KA101-E/SO - 16-Bit 32MHz XLP Microcontroller | Microchip
MPN: PIC24F16KA101-E/SO ✓ ActivePIC24F16KA101-E/SO Overview
A PIC24F microcontroller is a 16-bit reduced-instruction-set-controller device in the broader embedded microcontroller and semiconductor category. The PIC24F family combines a compact instruction set, Flash program memory, EEPROM data storage, timers, communication peripherals, and low-power control features. The XLP, or eXtreme Low Power, architecture is specifically suited to systems that spend substantial time in sleep or deep-sleep states while retaining fast execution when wake-up is required.
The PIC24F16KA101 core operates at up to 32 MHz and provides 16 MIPS performance according to the device family description. Its 16 KB Flash memory is organized as 5.5K by 24 words, while the device includes 1.5K by 8 bytes of RAM and 512 bytes of EEPROM. An 18-I/O configuration supports external sensors, displays, communication interfaces, and control signals in compact embedded systems.
Low-power operation is central to the device. The manufacturer highlights deep sleep mode with DSBOR, the Digital Sleep Watchdog Timer, and the Real-Time Clock and Calendar as distinctive features for reducing standby energy. These features help designers maintain system state, monitor elapsed time, and limit current consumption in battery-operated equipment.
Typical applications include low-power sensor nodes, compact industrial controllers, battery-powered instruments, environmental monitors, and consumer products with small OLED or LED interfaces. The 20-pin SOIC footprint also makes the device practical for through-hole assembly and prototype boards where a fine-pitch QFN package would be inconvenient.
Designers should select capacitors, oscillators, and programming interfaces according to the manufacturer datasheet, then verify pin multiplexing and peripheral assignments in the device-specific pin table. The -E/SO ordering code identifies the extended-temperature SOIC configuration, while the exact operating limits and automotive qualification should be checked for the final operating environment.
This page combines the manufacturer’s product information with distributor package, memory, speed, and availability details, while adding application guidance, design notes, comparison structure, and procurement-oriented answers for engineers evaluating this specific device.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24F16KA101-E/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 PIC24F16KA101-E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, EEPROM, Low-Power Technology.
PIC24F16KA101-I/SO
✅ Drop-InContact for price
View Datasheet →PIC24F16KA101T-I/SO
✅ Drop-InContact for price
View Datasheet →PIC24F16KA101T-E/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24F16KA101-E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 16-bit Flash microcontroller |
| Architecture | PIC RISC |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Flash Program Memory | 16 KB (5.5K x 24) |
| RAM Size | 1.5K x 8 bytes |
| EEPROM | 512 bytes |
| Number of I/O Pins | 18 |
| Package | 20-pin SOIC |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
| Low-Power Technology | XLP eXtreme Low Power |
| Deep-Sleep Feature | DSBOR |
| Watchdog Feature | DSWDT |
| Real-Time Peripheral | RTCC |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V or 3.3 V |
| Temperature Grade | Extended temperature |
| Mounting Type | Surface mount |
| Packaging | Tube |
| Automotive Qualification | AEC-Q100 |
PIC24F16KA101-E/SO 20-pin soic Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for PIC24F16KA101-E/SO (20-pin soic package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for PIC24F16KA101-E/SO.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
PIC24F16KA101-E/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Environmental Monitoring Instrument, Compact Industrial Controller, Battery-Powered Portable Instrument, LED Control and User Interface, Low-Power Embedded Control Module.
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC24F16KA101-E/SO fits compact battery-powered sensor nodes because its 32 MHz PIC RISC core provides processing headroom while the XLP architecture emphasizes low-power operation. Deep sleep with DSBOR and DSWDT can reduce standby demand, while the RTCC supports time-based sensing or logging. Its 16 KB Flash memory stores application firmware, and 512 bytes of EEPROM preserves calibration or configuration values without using external nonvolatile storage. The 18 available I/O pins can accommodate a sensor, digital interface, status indicator, and wake-control hardware.
Recommended
Environmental Monitoring Instrument
The PIC24F16KA101-E/SO is appropriate for environmental monitoring instruments that periodically sample sensors and operate from a battery or low-power source. The 16-bit architecture and 32 MHz operating speed support measurement sequencing, filtering, and data formatting, while XLP sleep modes reduce energy use between samples. The RTCC can organize timed sampling intervals, and EEPROM can retain setup values, counters, or calibration offsets. With 18 I/O pins, the controller can support digital sensors, an external memory interface, status LEDs, and a serial communications link.
Recommended
Compact Industrial Controller
The PIC24F16KA101-E/SO can serve as the control core in compact industrial equipment where a 20-pin SOIC simplifies through-hole assembly and PCB routing. Its 32 MHz execution rate provides responsive handling of control logic, timers, and communication tasks, while 16 KB of Flash and 512 bytes of EEPROM provide a compact embedded footprint. The extended-temperature ordering option is relevant where the ambient environment exceeds ordinary consumer conditions. System designers should still verify the device’s full electrical limits and apply isolation, surge protection, and proper grounding at the interface layer.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Instrument
The PIC24F16KA101-E/SO is well suited to portable instruments that need responsive control without a continuously active processor. Its XLP architecture and deep-sleep capability help the product spend more time in a low-current state, while the 32 MHz core handles user commands, display updates, and measurement processing when awakened. The 20-pin SOIC package remains practical for compact prototypes and serviceable assemblies. A design using the RTCC can avoid frequent external timer wakeups, and the available EEPROM can retain user settings or calibration parameters.
Recommended
LED Control and User Interface
The PIC24F16KA101-E/SO can manage LED indication, buttons, and other user-interface functions in a low-power embedded product. Its 18 I/O pins provide more parallel interface capacity than the number of dedicated application functions may require, and the 16-bit core can coordinate display updates, debouncing, menu logic, and fault indication. Low-power operation is especially useful in products that periodically wake to refresh an indicator or read a control input. The device should be configured so unused pins and peripherals remain disabled to avoid unnecessary current draw.
Recommended
Low-Power Embedded Control Module
The PIC24F16KA101-E/SO is suitable for compact embedded control modules that coordinate sensors, actuators, and serial communication while observing strict energy limits. The 32 MHz PIC RISC core can service multiple interrupt-driven peripherals, and the 16 KB Flash capacity is appropriate for moderate firmware workloads. XLP sleep modes, DSWDT, and RTCC support designs that wake periodically or on a defined schedule. Its 20-pin SOIC package supports assembly methods that are less demanding than fine-pitch QFN, while 18 I/O pins leave room for sensor inputs and digital actuator outputs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24F16KA101-E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24F16KA101-I/SO | PIC24F16KA101T-I/SO | PIC24F16KA101T-E/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-pin SOIC | 20-pin SOIC - same footprint | 20-pin SOIC - same footprint | 20-pin SOIC - same footprint |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Base Device | PIC24F16KA101 | PIC24F16KA101 | PIC24F16KA101 | PIC24F16KA101 |
| CPU Architecture | 16-bit PIC RISC | 16-bit PIC RISC | 16-bit PIC RISC | 16-bit PIC RISC |
| Maximum Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB (5.5K x 24) | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM Size | 1.5K x 8 bytes | 1.5K x 8 bytes | 1.5K x 8 bytes | 1.5K x 8 bytes |
| EEPROM | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes |
| Number of I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V or 3.3 V | 2.5 V or 3.3 V | 2.5 V or 3.3 V | 2.5 V or 3.3 V |
| Low-Power Features | XLP, DSBOR, DSWDT, RTCC | XLP, DSBOR, DSWDT, RTCC | XLP, DSBOR, DSWDT, RTCC | XLP, DSBOR, DSWDT, RTCC |
| Temperature Ordering Code | E - extended temperature | I - industrial temperature | I - industrial temperature | E - extended temperature |
Key Differentiators
- Combines 32 MHz execution with XLP low-power behavior (vs PIC24F16KA101-I/SO)
- Offers 16 KB Flash, 15 KB-class RAM, and EEPROM in a compact 20-pin package (vs PIC24F16KA101T-I/SO)
- Maintains pin-to-pin family continuity for PCB reuse (vs PIC24F16KA101T-E/SO)
Design Notes
Use the manufacturer power-management guidance for bypass capacitors, brown-out behavior, and low-power mode entry. Place the required input and decoupling capacitors close to the corresponding device pins, with the shortest possible return path to ground. In battery-operated products, configure unused peripherals and pins for their lowest supported activity state, and verify the sleep-mode wake source before relying on periodic RTCC timing.
Design the PCB around the 20-pin SOIC footprint and preserve access to programming and debug signals. Keep sensitive timing, communications, and analog-adjacent traces away from noisy switching nodes, and route ground returns without narrow loops. Because several digital I/O pins can be assigned to peripheral functions, finalize the pin-multiplexing plan before routing and avoid assuming every I/O remains available as a general-purpose logic signal.
Do not substitute a temperature-grade or packing-code variant without checking the operating-temperature requirement and assembly format. PIC24F16KA101-I/SO differs from PIC24F16KA101-E/SO in temperature ordering, while T variants use tape-and-reel packaging. Confirm that the firmware, clock, power, decoupling, and peripheral assignments match the selected ordering code, and validate the complete operating range rather than comparing only CPU frequency and memory size.
Compliance Information
The Arrow product listing identifies the exact ordering code as automotive AEC-Q100. RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status were not explicitly established.