PIC18F2480-E/ML - 8-Bit 25MHz 16KB Flash MCU w/ ECAN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F2480-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.85 | $6.85 |
| 10 | $6.12 | $61.20 |
| 100 | $5.38 | $538.00 |
| 500 | $4.72 | $2,360.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.15 | $4,150.00 |
PIC18F2480-E/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), working memory (RAM), and a range of peripherals (ADC, timers, communication controllers, GPIO) into one package. The PIC18F family sits in Microchip's 8-bit performance tier, offering 16-bit-wide instructions, 8-bit data paths, and enhanced peripherals such as CAN and 10-bit ADC that target embedded control rather than pure signal processing. The PIC18F2480 is the 28-pin member of the ECAN-enabled family, balancing I/O count with small footprint for body, chassis, and sensor applications.
Key features include 25 I/O pins, one UART, one SPI, one I2C, one ECAN port, six timers, six PWM channels, and a 10-bit A/D converter with up to 8 channels. The 28-QFN package exposes the die thermal pad for enhanced dissipation and suits reflow-only assembly. Self-programmability and an internal oscillator reduce external component count, while the nanoWatt technology allows deep sleep currents in the nanoampere range for battery-powered designs.
Typical applications include automotive CAN nodes (body controllers, instrument clusters), industrial sensor interfaces, low-cost control boards, and any CAN/LIN-connected embedded system where a small, low-pin-count MCU with integrated CAN is required. The wide 2.0V to 5.5V operating range simplifies battery-backed designs and industrial 24V-derived rails after regulation.
When designing with the PIC18F2480-E/ML, ensure the exposed pad is soldered to the PCB ground plane for thermal and electrical performance, and follow the Microchip pin-out compatibility chart when migrating between 28-pin PIC18F variants. Engineers should use the MPLAB ICD 5 or PICkit programmer for development, and the ECAN bit-timing calculator in MPLAB X for bus configuration.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F2480-E/ML — 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 PIC18F2480-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, Timers, ADC, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F2480-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F2580-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4480-E/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4580-E/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F2420-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2480-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory | 16 KB Flash (8K x 16) |
| SRAM | 768 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 25 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| Timers | 6 |
| PWM Channels | 6 |
| Communication Peripherals | 1x ECAN, 1x UART, 1x SPI, 1x I2C |
| Package | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +125C (E suffix = Extended) |
| Power-Saving Technology | nanoWatt |
| Self-Programming | Yes |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F2480-E/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Port A bit 2 / Analog input 2 / DAC negative reference |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Port A bit 3 / Analog input 3 / DAC positive reference |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Port A bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN4/SS — Port A bit 5 / Analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / External clock input / Port A bit 7 |
| Pin 7 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / Clock output / Port A bit 6 |
| Pin 8 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Port C bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 9 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Port C bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / Capture/Compare/PWM 2 |
| Pin 10 | RC2/CCP1 — Port C bit 2 / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 11 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Port C bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 12 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Port C bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 13 | RC5/SDO — Port C bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 14 | RC6/TX/CK — Port C bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 15 | RC7/RX/DT — Port C bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 16 | RB0/INT0 — Port B bit 0 / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 17 | RB1/INT1 — Port B bit 1 / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 18 | RB2/INT2 — Port B bit 2 / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 19 | RB3/INT3/CCP2 — Port B bit 3 / External interrupt 3 / Capture/Compare/PWM 2 |
| Pin 20 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 21 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 22 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 23 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 24 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 25 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 26 | C1IN+/C2IN+ — Comparator 1/2 non-inverting input (NC for many designs) |
| Pin 27 | RA0/AN0/ULPWU — Port A bit 0 / Analog input 0 / Ultra-Low-Power Wake-up |
| Pin 28 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC18F2480-E/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive CAN Body Controller, Industrial CANopen Sensor Module, Battery-Powered Portable Instrument, Home Appliance Control Board, Security and Access-Control Panel, IoT Sensor Node with CAN Backhaul.
Automotive CAN Body Controller
The PIC18F2480-E/ML is well suited for automotive CAN body controllers, where its integrated ECAN 2.0B controller and 16KB Flash enable local node logic for door modules, seat controllers, mirror adjust, and lighting. Operating from 2.0V to 5.5V and -40C to +125C, it tolerates the cold-crash and under-voltage transients of 12V automotive rails after the LDO stage. The 28-QFN (6x6 mm) keeps the node footprint small enough to mount behind a door handle or in a headliner, and the 10 MIPS core handles periodic CAN message parsing and PWM-driven mirror/lamp actuators with margin.
Recommended
Industrial CANopen Sensor Module
The PIC18F2480-E/ML integrates cleanly into industrial CANopen sensor modules that read a 4-20 mA transducer or thermistor and broadcast the value on a CAN bus. Its 10-bit ADC and nanoWatt sleep modes let the module wake on a CAN frame, sample, transmit, and return to a sub-microamp idle, suiting battery-backed wireless gateways. ECAN 2.0B identifier filtering reduces host CPU load in multi-node networks, and the 256-byte EEPROM stores node ID and CANopen object dictionary parameters without external memory.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Instrument
Battery-powered portable instruments such as handheld multimeters, environmental loggers, and BLE sensor nodes benefit from the PIC18F2480-E/ML's nanoWatt technology, which drops quiescent current into the nanoampere range during sleep. The 16KB Flash hosts the periodic-sampling state machine while the 768-byte SRAM buffers sensor readings between UART transmissions. The 28-QFN with exposed pad enables compact PCB layouts for wearable or clip-on form factors, and the 2.0V-5.5V supply range accepts a single lithium cell down to its cut-off voltage.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Board
Washing-machine, dishwasher, and induction-cooktop control boards use the PIC18F2480-E/ML to manage user inputs, drive triac-controlled loads via PWM, and supervise a CAN or LIN network for inter-board communication. The 25 I/O pins and six timers handle multiple zero-cross detectors, triac triggers, and rotary-encoder inputs in parallel. The 10-bit ADC reads NTC temperature sensors for thermal fold-back, while the 16KB Flash stores the appliance state machine and fault log.
Recommended
Security and Access-Control Panel
The PIC18F2480-E/ML powers alarm panels, access-control readers, and intrusion detectors where tamper events must be logged with a timestamp and reported on a CAN/LIN backbone. Its on-chip 256-byte data EEPROM retains the event log across power-cycles, while the 16KB Flash stores the user-interface state machine and keypad de-bounce logic. The 28-QFN package's small footprint suits slim panel designs, and the -40C to +125C extended temperature range tolerates outdoor enclosures and rooftop installations.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Node with CAN Backhaul
Industrial IoT nodes that aggregate data from multiple field sensors and backhaul it over CAN use the PIC18F2480-E/ML as the master controller. Its ECAN 2.0B peripheral handles deterministic, real-time communication with neighbouring sensors, while the UART/SPI/I2C block interfaces with Wi-Fi, LoRa, or RS-485 modules for upstream connectivity. The 16KB Flash is enough for the routing logic and OTA bootloader stub, and nanoWatt sleep mode extends battery life between sample-and-transmit bursts.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F2480-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F2480-I/ML | PIC18F2580-E/ML | PIC18F4480-E/ML | PIC18F4580-E/ML | PIC18F2420-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-QFN (6x6) | 28-QFN (6x6) - same | 28-QFN (6x6) - same | 44-QFN (8x8) | 44-QFN (8x8) | 28-QFN (6x6) - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 768 B | 768 B | 1.5 KB | 768 B | 1.5 KB | 768 B |
| ECAN Controller | Yes (ECAN 2.0B) | Yes (ECAN 2.0B) | Yes (ECAN 2.0B) | Yes (ECAN 2.0B) | Yes (ECAN 2.0B) | No (ECAN removed) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 25 MHz (10 MIPS) | 25 MHz (10 MIPS) | 25 MHz (10 MIPS) | 25 MHz (10 MIPS) | 25 MHz (10 MIPS) | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| ADC | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| I/O Pins | 25 | 25 | 25 | 36 | 36 | 25 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated ECAN 2.0B with 16KB Flash in 28-QFN (vs PIC18F2420-I/ML)
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature range (vs PIC18F2480-I/ML)
- Drop-in compatible with PIC18F2580-E/ML for higher RAM (vs PIC18F2580-E/ML)
Design Notes
The 28-QFN package relies on the exposed thermal pad for heat dissipation. Solder the pad to a continuous PCB ground plane with thermal vias (typically 4-9 vias in a 1 mm grid) to keep the junction temperature within the -40C to +125C operating range. For the PIC18F2480-E/ML typical currents of <50 mA, this is rarely a problem, but high-output-pin-toggle designs should verify with a thermal probe.
Place the 0.1 uF VDD decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of the VDD pin and the bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic within 10 mm. Keep the ICSP PGC/PGD traces (RB6/RB7) away from switching signals to avoid debug glitches. Maintain a 4-wire ICSP header footprint (VDD, VSS, PGC, PGD, plus MCLR) on the PCB for in-circuit programming without disturbing the application.
Two common pitfalls when migrating from the PIC18F2480 to the PIC18F2420: (1) PIC18F2420 lacks the ECAN peripheral entirely - code using CAN registers will silently fail; (2) PIC18F2420 runs at 40 MHz max, but only 10 MIPS - peripherals such as Timer1 are unchanged but instruction-cycle math must be reviewed. Always consult the PIC18F family pin-pack compatibility chart (Microchip doc 00148J2) before substituting.
When using the ECAN peripheral, ensure the MCP2551 (or equivalent) CAN transceiver is within 50 mm of the CANTX/CANRX pins and that the bus is terminated with 120 ohm resistors at each end. Failure to do so produces bit-time errors and reduced bus reliability, particularly at 1 Mbps.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for full automotive qualification, consider PIC18F4680 family or AEC-Q100-grade PIC18 alternatives.
