PIC18F2480-I/SP - 8-Bit 40MHz MCU, 16KB Flash, ECAN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F2480-I/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.84 | $5.84 |
| 10 | $5.3 | $53.00 |
| 100 | $4.78 | $478.00 |
| 250 | $4.4 | $1,100.00 |
| 500 | $4.1 | $2,050.00 |
PIC18F2480-I/SP Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a programmable system-on-chip that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, peripheral set and I/O in a single silicon die. The PIC18 family is a high-performance 8-bit architecture positioned between the baseline PIC10/12/16 series and the 16-bit dsPIC/PIC24 line; within Microchip's portfolio it sits in the "enhanced" tier offering C-friendly code, hardware multiplier and self-programming Flash. Microcontrollers sit under the broader "embedded computing" hierarchy: MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor -> integrated circuit.
Key features include 25 digital I/O pins, three 16-bit timers (Timer0/1/3) plus Timer2, two capture/compare/PWM (ECCP + CCP) modules, an enhanced USART with LIN support, MSSP for SPI/I2C, two analog comparators and a master synchronous serial port. The integrated ECAN controller with CAN 2.0B active compliance makes the part distinctive among PIC18 devices. NanoWatt technology offers multiple idle/sleep modes and on-the-fly oscillator switching for reduced quiescent current.
The PIC18F2480 uses a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, a hardware 8x8 multiplier for fast math, a 10-bit 8-channel ADC with acquisition timer, and priority interrupt handling for time-critical events. The ECAN module supports 8 acceptance filters, programmable bit rates up to 1 Mbps, and three transmit buffers. Instruction cycle time is 4 oscillator periods, yielding 100 ns per instruction at 40 MHz.
Typical applications include industrial CAN-bus nodes (e.g., sensor aggregation, distributed I/O, building automation), automotive body and comfort ECUs (mirror controllers, HVAC modules), embedded CAN bridges, OBD-II telemetry interfaces, and low-cost networked sensor nodes that benefit from the integrated CAN physical-layer signaling rather than an external controller. The 28-pin SPDIP package supports hand-soldering and breadboard-friendly prototyping that surface-mount alternatives cannot.
When designing with this part, allocate at least 4 I/O pins for ICSP (PGC/PGD, MCLR/Vpp, Vss/Vdd) and respect the ECAN bus termination (120 ohm at each end of the bus). The internal 8 MHz oscillator can drive 40 MHz via the 5x PLL, eliminating an external crystal in cost-sensitive designs.
This page synthesizes cross-distributor pricing, drop-in package-compatible alternatives, and practical ECAN design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F2480-I/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 PIC18F2480-I/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory (Flash), Timers, Operating Temperature, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F2480-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.13 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2480-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2580-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2480T-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F2480-I/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 (8-bit Harvard, 16-bit instruction) |
| Program Memory | 16 KB Flash (8K x 16) |
| RAM | 768 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 100 ns @ 40 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 4.5V to 5.5V (F-range) |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (0.300 inch, 7.62 mm) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 8 channels |
| ECAN Module | CAN 2.0B Active compliant |
| Timers | Timer0 (8-bit), Timer1/3 (16-bit), Timer2 (8-bit) |
| Capture/Compare/PWM | 1 ECCP + 1 CCP |
| Serial Interfaces | EUSART (LIN), MSSP (SPI/I2C) |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life, not moisture sensitive) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free / Halogen-Free | Lead-free per Microchip product page |
PIC18F2480-I/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/Vpp — Master Clear (reset) input / ICSP programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/Vref- — PORTA bit 2 / analog input 2 / ADC Vref- |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/Vref+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / ADC Vref+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock / PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / clock output / PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 output |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / ECCP1 output |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / EUSART async transmit / sync clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / EUSART async receive / sync data |
| Pin 19 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | Vdd — Positive supply (4.5V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/CCP2 — PORTB bit 3 / CCP2 output (alt) |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 26 | RB5/PGM — PORTB bit 5 / ICSP LVP enable |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP serial clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP serial data |
Typical Applications
PIC18F2480-I/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial CAN-Bus Sensor Node, Automotive Body / Comfort ECU, Building Automation CAN Gateway, OBD-II CAN Telemetry Interface, Low-Cost Networked Sensor Hub, Educational Embedded Platform.
Industrial CAN-Bus Sensor Node
The PIC18F2480-I/SP's integrated ECAN 2.0B controller and 25 digital I/O pins make it well-suited to low-cost industrial CAN-bus sensor nodes aggregating analog inputs over a single twisted-pair bus. Its 10-bit 8-channel ADC handles 0-5V transducer signals with adequate resolution for temperature, pressure and flow monitoring, while the 16 KB Flash fits typical sensor-fusion firmware plus CANopen or DeviceNet stacks. Placed at the far end of a CAN backbone, it replaces an external CAN controller and reduces BOM cost. Power dissipation is modest: at 5V and 40 MHz it draws roughly 15 mA active, so no heatsink is needed. Compared to using a dsPIC for the same task, the PIC18F2480 cuts cost while keeping the 100 ns instruction cycle fast enough for 1 Mbps CAN with margin.
Recommended
Automotive Body / Comfort ECU
The PIC18F2480-I/SP's ECAN module, 25 I/O and PWM peripherals suit small automotive body controllers such as seat adjusters, mirror modules and HVAC flap drivers. Two CCP/ECCP channels generate complementary PWMs for half-bridge motor control, while the EUSART supports LIN 2.1 master communication for sub-bus slaves. Operating voltage is 5V, so a local LDO is needed from the 12V battery rail; add a TVS such as SMBJ16CA on Vdd for ISO 7637-2 transient protection. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating handles cabin environments, while the /E variant supports underhood -40C to +125C. CAN bit timing at 500 kbps is achievable with the internal 10 MHz / 40 MHz PLL configuration, leaving headroom for protocol jitter.
Recommended
Building Automation CAN Gateway
In BACnet/Modbus-to-CAN gateways, the PIC18F2480-I/SP bridges between an RS-485 upstream link and a downstream CAN-bus sub-network, handling protocol translation in a single chip. The EUSART drives the RS-485 link via an external transceiver such as MAX485, while the ECAN module services the downstream CAN nodes. Its 768 bytes RAM and 16 KB Flash are sufficient for a light TCP/IP-over-CAN or BACnet MS/TP gateway firmware image. Hardware CRC and 8 acceptance filters let the ECAN module drop unwanted frames autonomously, lightening CPU load. Pin-compatible alternative PIC18F2580-I/SP adds headroom for richer web-server firmware if required.
Recommended
OBD-II CAN Telemetry Interface
The PIC18F2480-I/SP's ECAN module natively handles OBD-II CAN frames at 500 kbps with 11-bit identifiers, making it a fit for compact OBD-II telemetry dongles and diagnostic interfaces. The 10-bit ADC reads battery voltage and analog sensor channels, while the EUSART streams parsed PIDs to a Bluetooth or USB host. An external MCP2561 or TJA1050 transceiver is required to drive the OBD-II J1962 bus, plus a 5V LDO from the 12V accessory rail. The 28-pin SPDIP package enables quick breadboard prototyping of the firmware before committing to SOIC-28 for production. The part's 5V supply aligns with legacy OBD-II hardware expectations.
Recommended
Low-Cost Networked Sensor Hub
For distributed sensor hubs on a CAN-bus backbone, the PIC18F2480-I/SP combines a multi-channel 10-bit ADC, digital I/O and ECAN in a single IC, eliminating the need for a separate ADC chip or external CAN controller. Its 25 I/O drive LEDs, relays and digital sensors directly, while the MSSP adds an SPI/I2C port for external sensors or EEPROM. NanoWatt power management cuts quiescent current to a few microamps in sleep, suitable for battery-powered remote nodes that wake on CAN traffic. Firmware libraries from Microchip's application note library (AN215) accelerate development of CAN-based sensor firmware.
Recommended
Educational Embedded Platform
The PIC18F2480-I/SP in 28-pin SPDIP form factor is breadboard-friendly and is widely used in university embedded systems courses to teach CAN-bus networking, ADC sampling and PWM motor control without surface-mount soldering challenges. Its 40 MHz clock and 16 KB Flash comfortably accommodate student projects such as CAN-controlled line-following robots or HVAC demonstrators. The MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler and PICkit 5 programmer form a low-cost learning toolchain. Industrial-temperature operation makes lab-grade hardware viable in classroom environments. PIC18F2480-I/SO surface-mount variant enables students to transition to reflow-soldered designs as their skills progress.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F2480-I/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F2480-I/SO | PIC18F2480-E/SP | PIC18F2580-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SPDIP-28 (0.300 in) | SOIC-28 (0.300 in) | SPDIP-28 (0.300 in) | SPDIP-28 (0.300 in) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB |
| RAM | 768 bytes | 768 bytes | 768 bytes | 768 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz |
| ECAN Module | Yes (CAN 2.0B Active) | Yes (CAN 2.0B Active) | Yes (CAN 2.0B Active) | Yes (CAN 2.0B Active) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C |
| Mounting Style | Through-Hole | Surface Mount | Through-Hole | Through-Hole |
Key Differentiators
- Lower cost than PIC18F2580 while keeping identical peripherals (vs PIC18F2580-I/SP)
- Through-hole package for prototyping and hand-soldered builds (vs PIC18F2480-I/SO)
- Extended-temperature variant available in identical footprint (vs PIC18F2480-E/SP)
- Integrated ECAN eliminates external controller (vs PIC18F4580 (40-pin))
Design Notes
Power the PIC18F2480-I/SP from a regulated 5V supply at 4.5V to 5.5V; add a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor directly across Vdd/Vss (pin 20 and pin 19/8) within 5 mm of the package, plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum polymer on the supply rail. Brown-out reset (BOR) should be enabled in CONFIG to ensure deterministic restart when Vdd sags below 4.5V. NanoWatt modes reduce quiescent current to single-digit microamps for sleep, but oscillator start-up latency must be accounted for in CAN timing.
Do not omit the MCLR pull-up resistor (typically 10 kOhm to Vdd) on pin 1, or the device may fail to start or enter reset intermittently due to noise on the MCLR line. The ICSP pins (RB6/PGC, RB7/PGD) must not be tied low at reset or programming will be blocked; ensure your application does not sink these pins during power-up. When using LVP (low-voltage programming) mode, the PGM pin (RB5) must be held low during reset.
Terminate the CAN bus with 120 Ohm resistors at each end of the bus, not at every node. The PIC18F2480's ECAN TX/RX pins are CMOS logic levels and must drive a separate CAN transceiver (e.g., MCP2551, MCP2561, TJA1050); connecting them directly to a CAN bus without the transceiver will damage the MCU. For high-noise environments, use shielded twisted pair and ground the shield at one end only. CAN-H and CAN-L traces should be routed as a differential pair with controlled impedance (typically 120 Ohm differential).
At 40 MHz and 5V supply, the PIC18F2480-I/SP dissipates roughly 75 mW (15 mA typical active current); the SPDIP-28 package is plastic through-hole with adequate thermal margin for normal operation at room temperature. For sealed enclosures above 60C ambient, verify junction temperature by measurement rather than calculation, because internal package conduction dominates. Forced-air cooling is generally not required. The industrial temperature grade is rated to +85C ambient.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial (-I) and Extended (-E) temperature grades; not AEC-Q100 qualified. Cross-reference PIC18F2480-I/SP is active in Microchip's catalog as of 2026-09-26.
