PIC16F1508-I/P - 8-Bit 20MHz 7KB Flash MCU 18 I/O | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1508-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.62 | $1.62 |
| 10 | $1.46 | $14.60 |
| 100 | $1.3 | $130.00 |
| 500 | $1.15 | $575.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.04 | $1,040.00 |
PIC16F1508-I/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU core, program and data memory, peripheral I/O, and a clock generator on one IC. The PIC16F1508 belongs to the Microchip enhanced mid-range PIC16 family, which uses a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) Harvard architecture. The PIC architecture is widely deployed across millions of embedded designs because of its deterministic instruction timing, low power consumption, and ease of programming in C or assembly via MPLAB X IDE. Within the broader product hierarchy, the PIC16F1508 sits between PIC10/12/16 baseline parts and PIC18/dsPIC high-performance parts, making it well-suited for cost-sensitive, low-power applications.
Key features include an operating voltage range of 2.5 V to 5.5 V, eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology, an internal configurable oscillator, on-chip debugging, and a CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) plus multiple PWM, I2C, SPI, and EUSART peripherals. The 20-pin PDIP form factor enables hand-prototyping and breadboard-friendly through-hole assembly.
Typical applications include LED lighting controllers, sensor signal conditioning, battery-powered IoT endpoints, low-cost consumer appliances, and small motor control. The combination of 7 KB Flash, 18 I/O pins, and rich peripheral set is engineered for designs that exceed baseline PIC16 capabilities without paying for larger Flash footprints. The industrial-grade -40C to +85C operating range qualifies the part for non-automotive commercial and industrial deployments.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1508-I/P — 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 PIC16F1508-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Program Memory (Flash), Timers, MSL Level.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1508T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1508-E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1509-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.43 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1508-I/MV
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1507-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1508-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC (RISC architecture) |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K × 14 words) Flash |
| RAM Size | 256 bytes |
| Number of I/O Pins | 18 |
| ADC | 10-bit, multiple channels |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Package | 20-PDIP (0.300 inch, 7.62 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Program Memory Type | Flash (self-programmable) |
| Oscillator | Internal configurable + external |
| Connectivity | I2C, SPI, EUSART |
| PWM | Yes (multiple channels) |
| Peripherals | CWG, ADC, PWM, Timers |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | Not applicable (through-hole) |
| Series | PIC® XLP™ 16F |
PIC16F1508-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/VREF+/T1G/SS — Digital I/O / Analog input / Positive voltage reference / Timer1 gate / SPI slave select |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4/T1G/OSC2/CLKOUT — Digital I/O / Analog input / Timer1 gate / Oscillator output / Clock out |
| Pin 3 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — Digital I/O / Master Clear reset (active low) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 4 | RA0/AN0/ULPWU/P1A/CWG1A — Digital I/O / Analog input / Ultra-low-power wake-up / PWM output / CWG output A |
| Pin 5 | RA1/AN1/P1B/CWG1B — Digital I/O / Analog input / PWM output / CWG output B |
| Pin 6 | RA2/AN2/P1C/CWG1C — Digital I/O / Analog input / PWM output / CWG output C |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RB7/ICSPDAT/AN7 — Digital I/O / ICSP data / Analog input |
| Pin 10 | RB6/ICSPCLK/AN5 — Digital I/O / ICSP clock / Analog input |
| Pin 11 | RB5/AN11 — Digital I/O / Analog input |
| Pin 12 | RB4/AN10 — Digital I/O / Analog input |
| Pin 13 | RC0/SCL1/SCK1 — Digital I/O / I2C clock / SPI clock |
| Pin 14 | RC1/SDA1/SDI1 — Digital I/O / I2C data / SPI data in |
| Pin 15 | RC2/SDO1 — Digital I/O / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC3/SS1 — Digital I/O / SPI slave select |
| Pin 17 | RC4/CWG1D/TX1 — Digital I/O / CWG output D / EUSART TX |
| Pin 18 | RC5/RX1 — Digital I/O / EUSART RX |
| Pin 19 | RC6/AN8/SS2 — Digital I/O / Analog input / SPI2 slave select |
| Pin 20 | RC7/AN9/SDO2 — Digital I/O / Analog input / SPI2 data out |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1508-I/P is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting Controller, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Industrial Sensor Interface, Small Motor Control (DC, Stepper), Consumer Appliance Control, Educational and Prototyping Platform.
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16F1508-I/P is well suited to LED lighting controllers because its Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) and PWM peripherals generate dead-band-corrected drive signals for half-bridge LED drivers, while the 18 I/O pins support RGB channel control and tactile buttons. At 20 MHz, the CWG can be configured for dimming frequencies up to several hundred kHz, enabling flicker-free illumination. Power sequencing and soft-start routines fit within the 7 KB Flash budget when coded in XC8. The 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range supports direct battery or USB-bus operation. Compared with discrete analog dimming circuits, the firmware-driven approach simplifies production tuning and enables features such as color temperature mix and remote control via EUSART or I2C.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16F1508-I/P fits battery-powered IoT endpoints because of its eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology, which provides sub-microamp sleep currents and multiple low-power modes (Sleep, Doze, Idle). The 10-bit ADC digitizes sensor signals from thermistors, photocells, or analog sensors with up to 18 multiplexed channels across the I/O pins. At duty cycles of 1% active and 99% sleep, two-AA battery life can extend beyond five years. The 7 KB Flash supports TinyOS-style sensor stacks or proprietary protocols. I2C or SPI master interfaces connect to wireless modules like LoRa or BLE transceivers. The 20-PDIP package simplifies breadboard prototyping before final SMT migration.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface
Industrial sensor interfaces benefit from the PIC16F1508-I/P's 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range, which tolerates 24 V industrial rails after regulation, plus the -40C to +85C industrial temperature range for factory environments. The 18 I/O pins interface with 4-20 mA loops, discrete switches, and actuator outputs, while EUSART and I2C peripherals bridge to higher-level PLCs or HMIs. The 10-bit ADC provides sufficient resolution for temperature, pressure, and flow measurement pre-processing. On-chip Flash allows field firmware updates via ICSP for deployed sensor calibration. The 20-PDIP package withstands vibration in panel-mounted assemblies better than fine-pitch SMD alternatives.
Recommended
Small Motor Control (DC, Stepper)
The PIC16F1508-I/P can drive small DC and stepper motors via PWM and CWG peripherals, producing up to four complementary PWM channels with programmable dead-band to prevent shoot-through in H-bridge drivers. The 20 MHz clock supports 10-bit PWM resolution at reasonable switching frequencies (e.g., 20 kHz). The 7 KB Flash accommodates trapezoidal commutation and PI control loops. The 18 I/O pins connect to encoder feedback, current sensing, and direction control logic. The industrial temperature range allows deployment in motor control cabinets. For higher-current applications, pair the MCU with external MOSFET drivers.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
Consumer appliances including coffee makers, blenders, washing machines, and small kitchen electronics are well served by the PIC16F1508-I/P because its 18 I/O pins handle buttons, seven-segment or LCD displays, and triac-driven heater control. The 7 KB Flash stores appliance state machines and user interface logic in C or assembly. The 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range works with rectified mains-fed 5 V rails. The PIC16 enhanced mid-range core runs deterministic real-time tasks such as button debouncing, timer-based cooking profiles, and over-temperature protection. The 20-PDIP package is well suited to through-hole consumer electronics PCBs.
Recommended
Educational and Prototyping Platform
The PIC16F1508-I/P is well matched to educational and prototyping environments because the 20-PDIP through-hole package fits standard breadboards and 0.300-inch perfboard without soldering adapters. The PIC16 enhanced mid-range architecture is taught in many universities, and MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler is freely available. The 7 KB Flash, 256-byte RAM, and rich peripheral set let students implement UART communication, ADC sampling, PWM motor control, and I2C sensor projects. PICkit 3, PICkit 4, or MPLAB Snap programmers provide affordable in-circuit debugging. Compared with surface-mount only parts, the PDIP package reduces the barrier to entry for hands-on learning.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1508-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1508T-I/SO | PIC16F1508-E/P | PIC16F1509-I/P | PIC16F1508-I/MV | PIC16F1507-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-PDIP (through-hole) | 20-SOIC (surface-mount) | 20-PDIP (through-hole) | 20-PDIP (through-hole) | 20-UQFN (surface-mount) | 20-SOIC (surface-mount) |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory | 7 KB Flash | 7 KB Flash | 7 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 7 KB Flash | 3.5 KB Flash |
| RAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 512 bytes | 256 bytes | 128 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 14 |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| CWG Peripheral | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) peripheral (vs PIC16F1507-I/SO)
- Double the Flash and RAM vs PIC16F1507 (vs PIC16F1507-I/SO)
- Through-hole PDIP vs SOIC alternative (vs PIC16F1508T-I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16F1508-I/P operates from 2.5 V to 5.5 V and supports XLP low-power modes including Sleep, Doze, and Idle. For battery-powered designs, place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor close to VDD (pin 7) and a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the supply input. Use the internal oscillator to reduce current draw further, and gate peripheral clocks by clearing the appropriate bits in the OSCSTAT/PMDx registers when peripherals are idle.
Place the 100 nF VDD decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of pin 7 to minimize supply ringing. The MCLR pin (pin 3) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for normal operation and a 100 nF capacitor to ground for noise immunity during ICSP programming. For the 20-PDIP package, leave at least 0.5 mm clearance between adjacent through-hole pads to prevent solder bridges during wave soldering.
The PIC16F1508-I/P defaults to internal oscillator configuration on power-up. Verify CONFIG1 and CONFIG2 settings are correct for the desired clock source before code execution to avoid unintended HF or LF oscillator startup. Do not float the MCLR pin; it must be tied to VDD through a resistor or driven by an external supervisor. LVP (Low-Voltage Programming) is enabled by default; if using an HV programmer, disable LVP via the LVP CONFIG bit to release the RB5/PGM pin for I/O use.
Route analog inputs (RA0-RA5) away from switching nodes such as PWM outputs and oscillator traces to minimize ADC coupling. Use a ground pour beneath the device to provide a low-impedance return path for switching currents. Place the ICSP connector at the board edge to simplify programming access during prototype bring-up without disassembling the enclosure.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; choose automotive-grade Microchip PIC16 variants for vehicular applications. Through-hole PDIP package is not subject to MSL moisture sensitivity classification.
