PIC18F1230-E/P - 8-bit 4KB Flash MCU 40MHz DIP-18 | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F1230-E/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.04 | $3.04 |
| 10 | $2.78 | $27.80 |
| 100 | $2.42 | $242.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.78 | $1,780.00 |
PIC18F1230-E/P Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller belongs to the class of reduced-instruction-set computing (RISC) microcontrollers based on Harvard architecture, where program and data buses are physically separate. This architecture, combined with a 16-bit instruction word, allows most instructions to execute in a single instruction cycle. PIC microcontrollers sit within the broader category of microcontrollers (MCUs), embedded computing subsystems that integrate CPU, RAM, Flash, and peripherals on a single silicon die. The PIC18F family is Microchip's mid-range 8-bit line, positioned between baseline PIC10/12/16 families and high-pin-count PIC24/dsPIC parts, offering a balance of performance, peripheral integration, and cost for general embedded designs.
Key features of the PIC18F1230-E/P include 4 KB Flash program memory, 256 bytes of RAM, 16 I/O pins, a 10-bit A/D converter with multiple channels, an enhanced PWM module with dedicated 14-bit resolution for motor-control-class waveforms, and nanoWatt Technology sleep/Idle modes that reduce quiescent current to microampere levels. The integrated power-management PWM makes this part particularly suited to switched-mode and digital-motor-control applications where a separate PWM controller would otherwise be required.
Architecturally, the PIC18F1230 leverages a modified Harvard core with a 16-bit wide program memory bus and an 8-bit data bus, a hardware multiplier for 8x8 unsigned operations in one cycle, and an interrupt controller with multiple priority levels. The 40 MHz oscillator drives a four-phase instruction pipeline, achieving 10 MIPS peak throughput. The 10-bit successive-approximation A/D converter supports up to 8 channels with automatic acquisition timing.
Typical applications include DC motor control (BLDC, brushed, and stepper), power-conversion control loops, low-cost PWM-driven LED dimming, and general-purpose embedded control where the integrated high-resolution PWM eliminates the need for an external PWM IC. The 18-pin PDIP footprint also makes it attractive for hobbyist, educational, and through-hole prototyping applications.
When designing with the PIC18F1230-E/P, ensure that the ICSP programming header is accessible and that decoupling capacitors (typically 100 nF ceramic) are placed as close as possible to VDD/VSS pins. The Extended temperature grade (-40C to +125C) makes this specific variant suitable for industrial and automotive-under-hood applications, but a less expensive Industrial (-40C to +85C) grade is also available in the same package.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F1230-E/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 PIC18F1230-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Mounting Type, Program Memory (Flash), Family, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F1230-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F1220-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F1220-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F1220-H/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F1330-I/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F1230-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| Family | PIC18F |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 4 KB |
| RAM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 40 MHz |
| Instruction Throughput | 10 MIPS |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.2 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 |
| A/D Converter | 10-bit, multi-channel |
| PWM Module | Enhanced, dedicated 14-bit |
| Package | 18-pin PDIP (DIP-18, 0.300") |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended grade) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| ROM Type | Flash |
| Lifecycle Stage | Active (In Production) |
PIC18F1230-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RA5 — Master Clear (Reset) input / programming voltage / digital I/O |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Digital I/O / analog input channel 2 / A/D negative voltage reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / analog input channel 3 / A/D positive voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / analog input channel 4 |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | RA6/OSC2/CLKO — Digital I/O / oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 9 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — Digital I/O / oscillator input / clock input |
| Pin 10 | RB0/PWM1 — Digital I/O / enhanced PWM output 1 |
| Pin 11 | RB1/PWM2 — Digital I/O / enhanced PWM output 2 |
| Pin 12 | RB2/PWM3 — Digital I/O / enhanced PWM output 3 |
| Pin 13 | RB3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 14 | RB4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 15 | RB5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock input |
| Pin 17 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data input/output |
| Pin 18 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (4.2 V to 5.5 V) |
Typical Applications
PIC18F1230-E/P is suitable for 6 applications: Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor Control, Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Control, PWM-Driven LED Lighting and Dimming, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Educational and Hobbyist Embedded Projects, Automotive Under-Hood Auxiliary Controls.
Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor Control
The PIC18F1230-E/P's enhanced Power-Control PWM module with six dedicated outputs and 14-bit resolution directly drives the gate drivers of a 3-phase BLDC motor bridge, replacing a dedicated motor-control IC. With a 40 MHz clock and 10 MIPS throughput, the firmware can execute field-oriented control or trapezoidal commutation at 20 kHz without CPU saturation. The 10-bit A/D converter samples back-EMF and current-sense signals at PWM-synchronized intervals, while nanoWatt sleep modes cut idle current to under 1 uA for battery-powered tools. The 18-pin PDIP form factor suits through-hole hobbyist motor-control boards.
Recommended
Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Control
In isolated and non-isolated DC-DC converters, the PIC18F1230-E/P provides closed-loop PWM control with 14-bit duty-cycle resolution, fast PWM interruption on analog comparator events, and high-speed 10-bit A/D for output-voltage sensing. The 40 MHz / 10 MIPS throughput supports peak-current-mode control at switching frequencies above 200 kHz. Hardware fault inputs immediately latch the PWM outputs low, providing cycle-by-cycle current limiting. nanoWatt modes allow standby power reduction when the load is light, meeting energy-efficiency targets such as 80 PLUS for AC-DC adapters.
Recommended
PWM-Driven LED Lighting and Dimming
The PIC18F1230-E/P delivers flicker-free logarithmic or linear dimming curves for architectural and horticultural LED drivers via its enhanced PWM module, which supports complementary outputs with programmable dead-band for synchronous-buck topologies. Multiple PWM channels enable individual RGB-channel or warm/cool white control without external timer ICs. The 10-bit A/D reads ambient-light sensors or potentiometers for closed-loop brightness control, while nanoWatt Idle mode and interrupt-driven wakeup preserve battery life in portable lighting fixtures.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
Industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered transmitters and bridge-sensor interfaces benefit from the PIC18F1230-E/P's integrated 10-bit A/D, hardware multipliers, and extended -40C to +125C temperature range. The chip acquires ratiometric sensor measurements, applies digital filtering, and linearizes outputs without external op-amps, while the nanoWatt Sleep mode keeps idle current under 1 uA for intrinsically safe loops. The 18-pin PDIP package also suits legacy through-hole industrial backplanes and legacy PLC I/O modules.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Embedded Projects
The PIC18F1230-E/P's 18-pin PDIP through-hole footprint is breadboard-friendly, allowing hobbyists and university students to insert the chip directly into solderless breadboards without SMD reflow. The PIC18 instruction set, MPLAB X IDE, and XC8 compiler form a free development chain supported by thousands of tutorials. The 4 KB Flash comfortably fits introductory programs including servo control, sensor reading, and UART communication. The Extended temperature grade also tolerates student-lab mishandling.
Recommended
Automotive Under-Hood Auxiliary Controls
The Extended -40C to +125C operating temperature grade of the PIC18F1230-E/P supports automotive under-hood auxiliary functions such as fan-speed controllers, water-pump PWM drivers, and HVAC damper actuators. The enhanced PWM module with fault shutdown handles inductive loads safely, while the 10-bit A/D monitors thermistor inputs for thermal protection. While not AEC-Q100 qualified in this exact MPN, designers targeting AEC-Q100 should consider the PIC18F1220-H/P automotive grade or PIC18F-K40 family.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F1230-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F1230-I/P | PIC18F1220-E/P | PIC18F1220-I/P | PIC18F1220-H/P | PIC18F1330-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | PDIP-18 (DIP-18) | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 4 KB | 4 KB | 2 KB (-50%) | 2 KB (-50%) | 2 KB (-50%) | 8 KB (+100%) |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +150C (Automotive) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| I/O Pins | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Supply Voltage | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V |
| A/D Converter | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| PWM Module | Enhanced 14-bit | Enhanced 14-bit | Enhanced 14-bit | Enhanced 14-bit | Enhanced 14-bit | Enhanced 14-bit |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature grade in standard PDIP-18 package (vs PIC18F1230-I/P)
- 4 KB Flash - twice the PIC18F1220 family (vs PIC18F1220-E/P)
- Integrated 14-bit enhanced PWM module (vs PIC18F1330-I/P)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD/VSS pin pair (pin 7 VSS, pin 18 VDD for DIP-18). Add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum-polymer capacitor at the board power-entry point. The PIC18F1230-E/P's internal voltage regulator requires a low-impedance supply; noisy rails can cause brown-out resets or corrupted Flash writes during ICSP. For battery-powered designs, the nanoWatt Sleep mode draws <1 uA typical at 25C - verify against datasheet DC characteristics at your specific VDD and temperature corner.
Route the MCLR/VPP/RA5 pin to a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and to the ICSP programming header. Without this pull-up the device may randomly enter Reset state in noisy environments. Keep high-current switching traces (PWM outputs driving FET gates) at least 5 mm away from the analog input pins (RA0-RA4) and use a ground guard ring around analog traces to minimize switching noise coupling into A/D measurements.
Do not connect an external crystal directly across OSC1/OSC2 without loading capacitors - 18-pin PIC18 devices require 15-33 pF load caps selected per crystal manufacturer ESR specifications. When using the internal 8 MHz oscillator (INTOSC) for cost savings, the PLL can synthesize up to 32 MHz but PLLEN must be configured in CONFIG1L. Also: configuration bits (CONFIG1H, CONFIG2L, etc.) are Flash-programmed and lock device options - verify FOSC, WDTE, and LVP settings before bulk programming.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page (verified 2026-09-26). PIC18F1230-E/P is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive-grade equivalent in 18-pin PDIP, consider PIC18F1220-H/P (AEC-Q100).
