PIC18F2523-E/SP - 8-Bit MCU 32KB Flash 40MHz 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F2523-E/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.74 | $9.74 |
| 10 | $8.99 | $89.90 |
| 100 | $7.62 | $762.00 |
| 500 | $6.49 | $3,245.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.85 | $5,850.00 |
PIC18F2523-E/SP Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory, volatile RAM, and a rich set of on-chip peripherals (A/D converters, timers, communication controllers, and I/O). The PIC18F family sits above the PIC16 entry-level line in Microchip's taxonomy, offering more memory, more peripherals, and faster instruction throughput. It belongs to the broader 8-bit MCU class (PIC18 -> 8-bit PIC -> microcontroller -> embedded computing -> semiconductor), designed to bridge the gap between simple 8-bit control loops and higher-performance 16-/32-bit cores at very low cost and power.
The PIC18F2523's headline features include hardware single-cycle 8x8 multiplication, an internal oscillator that can be tuned from 31 kHz to 8 MHz (and up to 32 MHz with the 4x PLL), a Fail-Safe Clock Monitor that safely shuts the system down if the primary clock is lost, an enhanced addressable USART, MSSP with I2C and SPI support, a 12-bit A/D converter with up to 10 channels, and nanoWatt power-management modes for energy-sensitive applications. An enhanced 16-bit capture/compare/PWM module supports motor-control and lighting use cases. The -E suffix designates the extended temperature grade (-40 °C to +125 °C), and the -40 MHz / 40 MHz operation is the standard rate; the extended-grade die is specified across automotive and industrial ranges.
The architecture uses a Harvard memory layout with separate program and data buses, a 16-bit instruction word, and an instruction pipeline that lets most operations complete in one cycle. Hardware multiplier support and the C-optimized instruction set accelerate the kind of byte- and bit-level DSP work common in consumer and industrial control loops. Code protection, a separate watchdog timer with its own on-chip low-power RC oscillator, and In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) complete the picture. Boot memory region and configuration-word protection safeguard against accidental reprogramming in the field.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, building automation sensor nodes, low-end motor drivers and appliance controllers, USB-to-UART bridges (when paired with the PIC18F family USB-capable siblings), temperature and pressure monitoring devices, automotive interior modules (under -E temperature grade), and consumer devices that benefit from generous Flash and reliable analog peripherals. The 12-bit ADC and nanoWatt modes are particularly useful for battery-powered instrumentation.
Designers should note that pin ordering and package suffix matter: the -E/SP part is the extended-temperature SPDIP variant, while -E/SO is the wide-SOIC package and -E/ML is the QFN. All three are code-compatible; the only practical difference is the PCB footprint. When migrating between them, ensure the lead-free solder process and the in-circuit programming header are repackaged accordingly.
This page bundles distributor pricing, real drop-in alternatives, and PCB-level design guidance that aren't visible from the manufacturer datasheet alone, giving engineers a single starting point for selecting and qualifying the PIC18F2523-E/SP for volume production.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F2523-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 PIC18F2523-E/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core, ADC, Communication, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F2523-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2423-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.94 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2520-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2523-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4523-E/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F2523-E/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Program Memory Type | Flash |
| Program Memory Size | 32 KB (16K x 16) |
| RAM Size | 1.5 KB (1536 bytes) |
| CPU Core | PIC18, enhanced 8-bit Harvard RISC |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Digital I/O Pins | 25 |
| A/D Converter | 12-bit, up to 10 channels |
| Timers | Multiple 8-bit and 16-bit (Timer0/1/2/3) |
| Capture/Compare/PWM | Enhanced CCP, 16-bit, multiple channels |
| Communication | EUSART (LIN-capable), MSSP (I2C/SPI) |
| Internal Oscillator | 31 kHz to 8 MHz, up to 32 MHz with 4x PLL |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator |
| Fail-Safe Clock Monitor | Yes |
| Hardware Multiplier | 8 x 8 single-cycle |
| Operating Temperature Range (E suffix) | -40C to +125C |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (Skinny Plastic DIP, 0.300" / 7.62 mm pitch) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Lead-Free finish; RoHS compliance per lot |
| In-Circuit Programming | ICSP via 2-wire interface (PGC/PGD) |
PIC18F2523-E/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/THV — Master Clear (reset input) / ICSP programming voltage / triple-hybrid 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 negative reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input (digital-only, open-drain) |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4 — PORTA bit 5 / analog input 4 |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input / 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 input/output |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 input/output |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / MSSP SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / MSSP SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / MSSP SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / EUSART TX / EUSART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / EUSART RX / EUSART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| 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/INT3 — PORTB bit 3 / external interrupt 3 / PGM low-voltage programming |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC18F2523-E/SP is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Control Panel MCU, Automotive Interior Module, Battery-Powered Sensor Instrument, Low-End Motor Drive / PWM Controller, USB / UART Bridge Dongle, Consumer Appliance Controller, Education / Development Board Core.
Industrial Control Panel MCU
The PIC18F2523-E/SP fits industrial control panels because its 32 KB Flash swallows full-featured C-coded HMIs while the 25 I/O pins drive keypads, multiplexed 7-segment displays, relays, and triac isolators. The 12-bit ADC reads thermocouple amplifiers and 4-20 mA current loops at 1 ksps with ~70 dB SNR, well within process-control accuracy. Hardware 8x8 multiplication accelerates PID loops and the nanoWatt sleep currents drop panel standby to single-digit microamps. Place a watchdog-fed supervisor and an external 32 kHz crystal for Fail-Safe Clock Monitor recovery in noisy plant environments.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Module
PIC18F2523-E/SP's -40 °C to +125 °C extended temperature grade makes it a fit for non-safety automotive interior modules - HVAC blend-door controllers, seat-position memory, dashboard lighting, and instrument-cluster LED drivers. The 12-bit ADC accurately reads ambient-light sensors, the EUSART implements LIN bus slave (the family is widely used for LIN), and the 40 MHz core handles 10 MIPS of multiplexed LED-PWM duty-cycle math without sweating margins. Use the Fail-Safe Clock Monitor to recover from accessory-load transients and pair with an automotive-grade TVS to pass load-dump compliance.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Instrument
Battery-powered sensor instruments benefit from PIC18F2523-E/SP's nanoWatt modes (deep sleep <1 µA typical, RTCC on), 12-bit ADC for sensor digitization, and EUSART for Bluetooth-classic bridging via a companion HC-05. The 32 KB Flash holds protocol stacks plus local calibration tables, while the 1.5 KB RAM permits ring-buffer-style data logging. Battery-life modeling from datasheet sleep currents suggests a 2000 mAh coin cell can power a 1 Hz sample-loop for multiple years. Place decoupling within 5 mm of VDD/VSS and route ADC traces away from switching nodes.
Recommended
Low-End Motor Drive / PWM Controller
The PIC18F2523-E/SP drives BLDC and stepper motors through its enhanced 16-bit CCP/PWM module, capable of complementary outputs and programmable dead-band control. The 25 I/O pins feed H-bridge gate drivers and back-EMF sensing channels, while the 12-bit ADC samples phase current every PWM period, enabling field-oriented control loops at modest kRPM. The 40 MHz / 10 MIPS instruction throughput is enough for trapezoidal commutation and slow-motion FOC on small motors. Pair the MCU with gate drivers like the TC4427 and current-sense amplifiers for a complete micro-drive solution.
Recommended
USB / UART Bridge Dongle
PIC18F2523-E/SP serves as the MCU core for UART-to-UART or SPI-to-UART bridge dongles used in legacy industrial equipment upgrades. While the family without on-chip USB needs an external CP2102-style bridge, the firmware-resident PIC18 still handles protocol conversion, flow control, and address lookup. The MSSP peripheral supports I2C/SPI master mode for sensor-hub aggregation, and the internal 31 kHz to 32 MHz PLL trims baud-rate timing without an external crystal, saving BOM cost. Use the watchdog timer to recover dongles from bus stalls.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Controller
The PIC18F2523-E/SP integrates cleanly into consumer appliance designs - washing-machine control boards, coffee machines, kitchen-hood controllers, and HVAC thermostats. The 32 KB Flash hosts menu logic, the 12-bit ADC reads thermistor-style temperature sensors, and the enhanced PWM module drives buzzer tones and triac-phase cuts for heating elements. The internal oscillator eliminates a 2 USD crystal in cost-sensitive appliances, while the -E temperature grade survives the elevated chassis temperatures near heating elements. Pre-program the ICSP bootloader to enable field firmware updates.
Recommended
Education / Development Board Core
PIC18F2523-E/SP is a textbook-level microcontroller for university embedded courses and hobbyist projects - through-hole 28-SPDIP fits 0.1" proto boards and breadboards without a reflow oven. Its 32 KB Flash stores student programs, the 25 I/O connect LED arrays and 7-segment displays, and ICSP allows in-circuit programming during lab sessions. The C-optimized instruction set is well-documented, supported by MPLAB X IDE + XC8 compiler, and surrounded by hundreds of Microchip app notes. Pick the PIC18F2523-E/SO variant when surface-mount reflow is preferred in a maker-class board.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F2523-E/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F2523-I/SP | PIC18F2423-E/SP | PIC18F2520-E/SP | PIC18F4523-E/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP (28-pin subset of 40/44-pin family) |
| Program Memory | 32 KB Flash | 32 KB Flash | 16 KB Flash | 32 KB Flash | 32 KB Flash |
| RAM | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.0 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 10-bit | 12-bit |
| Operating Voltage | 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 |
| Temperature Grade | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Extended (-40C to +125C) |
| I/O Count | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 36 |
Key Differentiators
- 28-pin SPDIP with extended temperature grade (vs PIC18F2523-I/SP)
- 12-bit ADC resolution (vs PIC18F2520-E/SP)
- Same-package drop-in compatibility across the family (vs PIC18F2423-E/SP)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD/VSS pairs with 100 nF ceramic X7R capacitors placed within 5 mm of each supply pin pair and add a bulk 10 µF electrolytic or tantalum on the VDD rail. Estimated: the PIC18F2523 sourcing 25 mA on the I/O and clocked at 40 MHz draws a typical I_DD of 12-16 mA, so the regulator must deliver 50 mA with margin. Adding the Fail-Safe Clock Monitor requires the secondary oscillator to be active before enabling, otherwise the FSCM will mis-detect clock loss.
Route the high-impedance analog inputs (AN0-AN4) over a contiguous analog ground island separated from switching nodes by a single-star ground tie at the VDD bulk cap. Place the ICSP header (PGC/PGD, MCLR/VPP) within 50 mm of the MCU pins to avoid signal integrity issues during programming. The 28-SPDIP package has 7.62 mm pitch - leave 200 mil clearance above the package for socketed programming and breadboard reproducibility. For the SOIC version, pad extensions ease hand-solder rework.
MSSP-driven I2C lines exceeding 50 mm need 4.7 kΩ pull-ups to VDD; with 25 MCU-load SDI/SDA inputs in parallel, total capacitance may approach 100 pF, slowing the rise time below the I2C spec. Decrease pull-up resistors to 2.2 kΩ or switch the bus to 100 kHz Standard mode if 400 kHz is required. The EUSART TX line driving a 250 mm cable needs a 10 kΩ series terminator at the source end to dampen reflections from capacitive loads.
Do not confuse -E suffix (extended -40C to +125C) with the -I (industrial -40C to +85C) for outdoor or automotive applications. Verify the configuration words on each ICSP programming pass - unprogrammed WDT or BOR defaults can leave the part running an unintended oscillator. When migrating code from PIC18F2520 to PIC18F2523, update the ADC configuration to 12-bit mode and re-validate conversion timing. Estimating from datasheet: at 5 V and 40 MHz, the ADC clock required is 4-16 T_ADC for full-precision conversion.
The 28-SPDIP package typically exhibits theta_JA around 80 C/W in still air, so worst-case power dissipation of 250 mW (10 MIPS, 5 V, 25 mA I/O sourcing) yields a junction rise of ~20 C above ambient. At -E upper limit +125 C ambient, junction hits ~145 C - well below the 150 C maximum but with little margin. Heavily-loaded designs driving high-current I/O should derate by enforcing fewer simultaneously active outputs or shifting to the SOIC/QFN package, which halves thermal resistance.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip material declarations. Lead-free finish is standard; halogen-free status not explicitly noted in the Verified Web Data. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for safety-critical automotive, select a specifically AEC-Q100-qualified PIC18 part.
