PIC18F1220-I/SS - 8-bit MCU, 4KB Flash, 40MHz, SSOP-20 | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F1220-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.57 | $3.57 |
| 10 | $3.21 | $32.10 |
| 100 | $2.84 | $284.00 |
| 500 | $2.46 | $1,230.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.18 | $2,180.00 |
PIC18F1220-I/SS Overview
What is an 8-bit microcontroller? An MCU (microcontroller unit) is a single-chip computer integrating a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), and programmable peripherals (timers, ADC, communication blocks). PIC18F-series MCUs use Microchip's enhanced Harvard RISC architecture with 16-bit instructions and 8-bit data, fitting into the broader taxonomy: microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC. They balance low cost, low power, and rich peripherals for high-volume consumer and industrial products.
Key features include 128 bytes of EEPROM, seven 10-bit ADC channels, an AUSART serial port, capture/compare/PWM modules, self-programming support, and ICD (In-Circuit Debugger) capability. nanoWatt Technology offers six software-controlled power-managed modes with standby current as low as 0.1 microampere, enabling battery-friendly operation in always-on or sleep-dominant applications.
The PIC18F1220 uses a pipelined 8-bit RISC core with 16-bit wide instructions, a hardware multiplier, and a C-compiler-friendly instruction set. The integrated 10-bit ADC (7 channels) supports mixed-signal sensing, while AUSART enables RS-232/RS-485 communication. The 16 I/O pins are 5V-tolerant and source/sink up to 25 mA per pin, suitable for direct LED drive or simple relay/transistor interfaces.
Typical applications include consumer appliances, low-end industrial controls, sensor signal conditioning nodes, and battery-powered instrumentation. Its compact 20-pin SSOP footprint and broad peripheral set make it especially attractive where PCB area is constrained but ADC, communication, and PWM are all required.
When designing with this device, ensure the ICSP/ICD pins (RB6/RB7) are reserved for programming/debug access or isolated with jumpers to avoid contention with the application circuit. Use Microchip's MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler for full toolchain support, and choose the LF variant (PIC18LF1220) for strict 2.0-3.6V-only designs.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in package-compatible alternatives, and practical design notes not collected in a single place in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F1220-I/SS — 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 PIC18F1220-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F1220T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F1220-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F1220-H/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F1220-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F1320-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F14K22-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF1220-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F1220-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| CPU Core | PIC18 (8-bit RISC, Harvard) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 4 KB |
| Data SRAM | 256 bytes |
| EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 7 channels |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2, Timer3 |
| Capture/Compare/PWM | Yes (CCP module) |
| Serial Interface | AUSART (RS-232/RS-485) |
| Self-Programming | Yes |
| In-Circuit Debugger (ICD) | Yes |
| Power-Saving Modes | nanoWatt Technology (6 modes, down to 0.1 uA standby) |
| Operating Temperature (I grade) | -40 C to +85 C |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP (0.209 inch / 5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F1220-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Digital I/O / Analog input 2 / ADC negative reference |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / Analog input 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / Analog input 4 (open-drain) |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5/SS — Digital I/O / Analog input 5 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1CKI — Digital I/O / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 11 | RC1/CCP2 — Digital I/O / Capture/Compare/PWM 2 |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Digital I/O / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC6/TX/CK — Digital I/O / AUSART TX / clock |
| Pin 17 | RC7/RX/DT — Digital I/O / AUSART RX / data |
| Pin 18 | RB0/INT — Digital I/O / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 19 | RB1/INT1 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
Typical Applications
PIC18F1220-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Consumer Appliance Control, Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Industrial Control & Sensor Signal Conditioning, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), Educational & Hobbyist Electronics, Smart Home / IoT Edge Devices.
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC18F1220-I/SS suits low-cost consumer appliance controllers (e.g., coffee machines, toasters, small kitchen devices) thanks to its 4 KB flash holding a typical appliance state machine plus UI handling, 16 I/O pins for buttons/relays/LEDs, and the integrated CCP/PWM module that drives motor or heater elements directly. The 7-channel 10-bit ADC reads temperature, humidity, or current-sense signals without an external ADC IC, cutting BOM cost. Its nanoWatt Technology standby current as low as 0.1 uA makes it ideal for always-line-powered appliances where standby energy consumption is capped by regulations like EU Ecodesign. The wide 2.0 V-5.5 V range also lets designers operate from a single 3.3 V LDO or directly from rectified 5 V rails.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The PIC18F1220-I/SS is well suited to wireless or wired sensor nodes running from a coin cell or two AA batteries. Its nanoWatt Technology offers six power-managed modes with standby current as low as 0.1 uA, and the 2.0 V minimum VDD supports direct connection to a single lithium primary cell. The 7-channel 10-bit ADC digitizes temperature, light, voltage, or gas-sensor signals; the AUSART serial port interfaces to a sub-GHz transceiver or Bluetooth module; and the small 20-SSOP package fits in compact PCB housings. A typical sensor node wakes on timer interrupt, samples, transmits, and returns to sleep - the PIC18F1220-I/SS's low active current and tiny sleep current make multi-year battery life feasible.
Recommended
Industrial Control & Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC18F1220-I/SS fits inside small industrial controllers - fan speed regulators, simple process controllers, and panel meters - because it combines the ADC, PWM, and serial interface in a single 20-pin SSOP. The CCP module generates PWM for fan, valve, or heater drive; the AUSART links to RS-485 transceivers for Modbus RTU or vendor protocols; and the 10-bit ADC (7 channels) reads 4-20 mA loop sensors via a burden resistor or 0-10 V signals via a divider. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade ('I' suffix) supports factory-floor environments. With 4 KB flash and 256 bytes SRAM, the device handles modest protocol stacks and filtering math without external memory.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
For non-safety automotive body modules (interior lighting, seat controllers, simple HVAC actuators) the PIC18F1220-I/SS provides an 8-bit platform with the industrial temperature grade and robust ESD performance typical of PIC18 devices. The PWM CCP module drives LED strings or small DC motors; the ADC reads position sensors and current shunts; and the AUSART communicates with a body control module over LIN-bus via an external transceiver. Designers can pair this MCU with a TPMS-style or LIN transceiver, or migrate to the automotive-qualified PIC18F1220T-I/SS variant if the application moves into AEC-Q100 territory. Its 5V-tolerant I/O simplifies interface to legacy 12V automotive sensors via external resistor dividers.
Recommended
Educational & Hobbyist Electronics
The PIC18F1220-I/SS is a strong teaching platform thanks to Microchip's free MPLAB X IDE and XC8 C compiler, full ICD support, and abundant example code. Students learn ADC sampling, PWM generation, AUSART communication, and EEPROM data logging on a real industrial-grade part. The 20-pin SSOP package is breadboard-friendly when used with SSOP-to-DIP adapters, and the part can also be obtained in a PDIP version (PIC18F1220-I/P). With 4 KB flash, students can implement multi-function projects (a small robot controller, an audio effect unit, or a home automation node) without outgrowing memory. Cost is low (about $2-4 per unit in single-piece quantities), making it affordable for classroom kits.
Recommended
Smart Home / IoT Edge Devices
The PIC18F1220-I/SS fits as the local microcontroller in smart-home edge devices such as smart plugs, light dimmers, and HVAC zone controllers, where it executes deterministic real-time control loops and forwards telemetry to a host SoC via UART. Its 16 I/O pins drive triac/SSR interfaces, zero-cross detectors, and indicator LEDs; the CCP module generates phase-controlled dimming PWM; the AUSART serial port relays commands and status to an ESP32 or Wi-Fi module. With 4 KB flash and 256 bytes SRAM, this part handles protocol framing and safety timing locally, offloading the connected SoC. nanoWatt Technology standby modes keep idle consumption below regulatory limits for always-on smart devices.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F1220-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F1220T-I/SS | PIC18F1220-E/SS | PIC18F1220-H/SS | PIC18F1320-I/SS | PIC18F14K22-I/SS | PIC18LF1220-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same |
| Flash Program Memory | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB | 4 KB |
| SRAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 512 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 64 MHz | 40 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 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 | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (I grade) | -40 C to +85 C (I grade) | -40 C to +125 C (E grade) | -40 C to +150 C (H grade) | -40 C to +85 C (I grade) | -40 C to +85 C (I grade) | -40 C to +85 C (I grade) |
| Differentiator vs Target | Base PIC18F1220-I/SS industrial grade | Tape & reel (-T) packaging variant | Extended temp -40C to +125C | High temp -40C to +150C | 8 KB flash (+100%) upgrade | 16 KB flash (+300%), 64 MHz | 3.6V max VDD only |
Key Differentiators
- Tape-and-reel drop-in variant PIC18F1220T-I/SS preserves identical silicon and footprint (vs PIC18F1220T-I/SS)
- Extended-temperature variant PIC18F1220-E/SS supports up to +125C junction (vs PIC18F1220-E/SS)
- 8 KB flash upgrade PIC18F1320-I/SS doubles code space without PCB changes (vs PIC18F1320-I/SS)
- 16 KB flash and 64 MHz upgrade PIC18F14K22-I/SS quadruples performance (vs PIC18F14K22-I/SS)
Design Notes
Reserve RB6 and RB7 (pins 15/16 in PIC18F1220-I/SS nomenclature; verify against your package variant) for ICSP/ICD. Place a 2x3 0.1 inch header or test points near these pins so the PICkit programmer can attach without removing the MCU. If the application also drives RB6/RB7, add series resistors or jumpers to prevent contention with the debugger. Keep analog traces (RA0-RA5) short and away from switching signals (PWM outputs on RC1/RC2) to minimize ADC noise coupling; a ground pour under analog traces further improves ADC accuracy.
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 20 on SSOP-20) and a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the MCU for nanoWatt Technology operation. According to Microchip datasheet DS39605, the MCU's brown-out reset and power-on reset require VDD rise time within spec - too slow a rise can cause undefined startup state. For battery applications, add a 100 kohm-1 Mohm pull-up on MCLR to define reset state during power-down, and use sleep modes aggressively to leverage the 0.1 uA standby current.
Do not confuse PIC18F1220 (2.0-5.5V) with PIC18LF1220 (2.0-3.6V) - substituting LF into a 5V design will damage the part. The ADC reference voltage (RA3/VREF+, RA2/VREF-) must be properly decoupled with 100 nF caps; floating references cause noisy ADC readings. When using the internal oscillator, calibrate the frequency using the OSCTUNE register if accurate UART baud rates are required - the factory calibration is approximate. Finally, the open-drain RA4 pin requires a pull-up resistor for high-level output; do not drive LEDs directly without the resistor.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial -I temperature grade (-40 C to +85 C); automotive-grade options require AEC-Q100 qualified variants from Microchip's automotive portfolio (verify by exact suffix). Halogen-free status not explicitly listed - confirm with Microchip if required.
