PIC18C252-E/SP - 8-bit MCU, 32KB OTP, 10 MIPS | Microchip
MPN: PIC18C252-E/SP ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.95 | $7.95 |
| 10 | $7.15 | $71.50 |
| 100 | $6.05 | $605.00 |
| 500 | $5.2 | $2,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.6 | $4,600.00 |
PIC18C252-E/SP Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory (ROM/Flash/OTP), data memory (RAM), peripherals, and I/O on one die. PIC18-series MCUs belong to the RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) family, where a small, fixed-length instruction set allows most operations to complete in one instruction cycle. The PIC18C252-E/SP is one of the older OTP-programmable members of the PIC18C family, which has since been largely superseded by the flash-based PIC18F family (Microchip itself recommends migrating to PIC18F252).
Key differentiating features include an enhanced 16-bit instruction word with an 8-bit data path, 77 single-word instructions, priority-level interrupts, linear data memory addressing up to 4 Kbytes, and a Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module. The 28-pin SPDIP package is the same footprint used across most PIC18C/F mid-range parts, simplifying prototype and production migration. On-chip peripherals include timers, a USART, an MSSP (SPI/I2C), and a 10-bit ADC with up to 5 analog input channels on the 28-pin variant.
Typical applications for this part include industrial automation controllers, automotive body and chassis subsystems, consumer appliance controls, low-cost sensor front ends, and legacy embedded designs that require a drop-in OTP solution. The 32 KB program memory is well-suited to mid-complexity firmware stacks such as small RTOS implementations, motor control state machines, and multi-protocol bridging code.
Design consideration: because this part uses OTP memory, firmware must be mask-programmed or programmed once at production and cannot be field-updated. For new designs or designs requiring firmware revision flexibility, Microchip recommends migrating to the flash-based PIC18F252. Be aware that the older PIC18C silicon carries silicon errata on the CCP module when used in Compare toggle mode - see the datasheet errata sheet before committing the design.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in Microchip PIC18 same-family alternatives, and practical design notes that complement the Microchip datasheet rather than restating it.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18C252-E/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 PIC18C252-E/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Mounting Type, ADC, CCP Modules.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F252-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18C252-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F252-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18C242-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18C252-E/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 RISC, 8-bit data path, 16-bit instructions |
| Instruction Set | 77 single-word instructions |
| Performance | 10 MIPS (100 ns instruction execution) |
| Program Memory | 32 KB OTP (16K x 16) |
| Data RAM | 1.5 KB |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 5 channels (28-pin variant) |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V |
| Oscillator Frequency | Up to 40 MHz (DC - 40 MHz) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (extended industrial, -E suffix) |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (300 mil) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| Data Memory Addressing | Linear up to 4 KB |
| On-chip Peripherals | Timers, USART, MSSP (SPI/I2C), CCP, 10-bit ADC |
| Process Technology | CMOS |
PIC18C252-E/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — I/O port A bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — I/O port A bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — I/O port A bit 2 / analog input 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — I/O port A bit 3 / analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — I/O port A bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — I/O port A bit 5 / analog input 4 / SSP slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO — Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1CKI — I/O port C bit 0 / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/CCP2 — I/O port C bit 1 / Capture-Compare-PWM 2 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — I/O port C bit 2 / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — I/O port C bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — I/O port C bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — I/O port C bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — I/O port C bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — I/O port C bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (+5 V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT0 — I/O port B bit 0 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/INT1 — I/O port B bit 1 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/INT2 — I/O port B bit 2 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/INT3/CCP2 — I/O port B bit 3 / external interrupt 3 / CCP2 |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — I/O port B bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — I/O port B bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — I/O port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — I/O port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC18C252-E/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Controllers, Automotive Body and Chassis Electronics, Consumer Appliance Controls, Low-Cost Sensor Front Ends, Legacy Embedded Control Replacement, Educational and Hobby Microcontroller Boards.
Industrial Automation Controllers
The PIC18C252-E/SP fits industrial automation controllers because its 10 MIPS PIC18 RISC core and 32 KB of OTP program memory comfortably host PID control loops, Modbus ASCII/RTU stacks, and multi-channel sensor sampling routines. The 10-bit ADC with up to 5 analog inputs handles 4-20 mA transducer and thermistor inputs directly, while the on-chip USART and MSSP interface to RS-485 transceivers and I2C sensor ICs. The -40C to +125C extended industrial temperature grade meets IEC 60068-2-1/2 thermal stress requirements for factory-floor cabinets. Pair with an external RS-485 transceiver such as the MAX485 for half-duplex fieldbus links.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Chassis Electronics
The PIC18C252-E/SP suits automotive body controllers such as window lift, seat position, and HVAC blend-door actuators because its 32 KB OTP supports finite-state-machine logic with NVRAM-backed fault counters. The Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module generates accurate servo pulses for actuator drives, and 22 I/O pins interface with switches, relays, and LIN slave nodes. The -40C to +125C operating range matches AEC-Q100 temperature profile Grade 2 conditions for non-safety body modules. For new designs, however, migrate to the flash-based PIC18F252-E/SP to enable OTA-style firmware revision via service tools.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Controls
The PIC18C252-E/SP is well-suited to white-goods control boards such as washing machine motor controllers, dishwasher cycle managers, and refrigerator user interfaces. Its 10 MIPS performance is sufficient for sensor-fusion routines and triac zero-crossing detection, while 1.5 KB of RAM comfortably holds the active cycle state machine and a small keypad debounce buffer. The OTP memory enforces firmware immutability for safety-critical appliance codes, preventing field tampering. Pair with the MOC3021 optotriac for AC line isolation and the DS18B20 for temperature sensing.
Recommended
Low-Cost Sensor Front Ends
The PIC18C252-E/SP excels as a sensor front-end controller where it aggregates readings from I2C/SPI sensors, performs local calibration and linearization in firmware, and transmits results over UART to a host processor. Its 32 KB OTP holds comprehensive lookup tables for thermistor, RTD, and strain-gauge linearization, while the 10-bit ADC digitizes analog sensor outputs at up to 100 ksps. The PIC18C252-E/SP's high noise immunity and industrial temperature range make it suitable for noisy factory or process plant environments. Pair with the MCP3421 18-bit ADC for precision front-end extension.
Recommended
Legacy Embedded Control Replacement
The PIC18C252-E/SP continues to serve as a form-fit-function replacement for legacy PIC16C5X/PIC16CXX/PIC17CXX designs that need to upgrade to the more capable PIC18 architecture while preserving the 28-pin DIP through-hole footprint. Per Microchip documentation, the PIC18C252 is upwards code-compatible with PIC16C5X, PIC12CXXX, PIC16CXX, and PIC17CXX devices, enabling assembly source migration with minimal rework. The 32 KB program memory accommodates expanded feature sets that older PIC16 architectures could not host. Use this part for service replacements, end-of-life spares, and industrial refurbishment where redesign is not feasible.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Microcontroller Boards
The PIC18C252-E/SP is well-suited to university microcontroller courses and DIY hobby projects that benefit from a through-hole DIP package on a breadboard or ZIF socket. Its 28-pin SPDIP fits standard 0.3 inch wide DIP footprints, and the 5 V supply requirement aligns with hobbyist bench supplies and 5 V USB-TTL serial converters like the CH340G. The 32 KB OTP and 1.5 KB RAM allow students to build meaningful projects (e.g., motor speed controllers, basic robotic controllers) while learning RISC architecture fundamentals. Pair with a PICKit-compatible programmer and the MPLAB X IDE for development.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18C252-E/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F252-I/SP | PIC18C252-I/SP | PIC18F252-E/SP | PIC18C242-E/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SPDIP-28 (300 mil) | SPDIP-28 (300 mil) - same | SPDIP-28 (300 mil) - same | SPDIP-28 (300 mil) - same | SPDIP-28 (300 mil) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 32 KB OTP | 32 KB Flash | 32 KB OTP | 32 KB Flash | 16 KB OTP (-50%) |
| Data RAM | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 512 B |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (-E grade) | -40C to +85C (-I grade) | -40C to +85C (-I grade) | -40C to +125C (-E grade) | -40C to +125C (-E grade) |
| Memory Type | OTP (one-time programmable) | Flash (reprogrammable) | OTP | Flash (reprogrammable) | OTP |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete (Microchip EOL) | Active | Obsolete | Active | Obsolete |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels | 10-bit, 5 channels |
Key Differentiators
- Extended industrial -40C to +125C temperature grade (vs PIC18C252-I/SP)
- Same PIC18 architecture as actively produced flash parts (vs PIC16F877A-I/P)
- Upwards compatible with PIC16C5X, PIC16CXX, PIC17CXX devices (vs PIC16C5X legacy migration)
Design Notes
The PIC18Cxx2 silicon carries an erratum on the CCP module in Compare toggle mode (CCPxCON = b00xx0010): the output pin can exhibit unexpected operation. Per the Microchip errata sheet, this affects PIC18C242/C252/C442/C452 silicon. Mitigation is to use Compare Special Event Trigger (CCPxCON = b00xx1011) or PWM mode instead. Always check the latest silicon errata for your device revision before locking the firmware design.
The PIC18C252-E/SP requires a stable +5 V supply on VDD (pins 20 and 31 in 40-pin variants; pin 20 only in 28-pin) with decoupling capacitors as close to the package as possible. Place one 100 nF ceramic on each VDD pin, plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum electrolytic on the board supply rail. The analog AVdd pin (when present) should be filtered separately from digital Vdd with a small ferrite bead or 10 ohm resistor to reduce ADC switching noise.
Because the PIC18C252-E/SP uses OTP memory, firmware cannot be updated in-circuit without a parallel programmer or windowed package variant. Place the SPDIP in a ZIF socket on prototype boards to allow easy device swaps during development. For production, consider adding a 6-pin ICSP header (ICSPDAT, ICSPCLK, MCLR, VDD, VSS, VPP) so OTP parts can be programmed before final assembly.
The -E suffix denotes the -40C to +125C extended industrial temperature grade, NOT -40C to +85C industrial. Verify the temperature grade against your application environment before committing the design. For cost-sensitive consumer or indoor industrial, the -I grade (PIC18C252-I/SP) is sufficient and may offer better availability. For automotive under-hood or outdoor industrial, the -E grade is mandatory.
Compliance Information
Compliance values not directly stated in Verified Web Data and require checking the Microchip product environmental compliance documents. AEC-Q100 not qualified - PIC18C family predates automotive qualification programs; use PIC18F252 with AEC-Q100 variants for automotive safety-critical applications.
