PIC18F2523T-I/ML - 32KB Flash, 8-bit MCU, 28-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F2523T-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.62 | $3.62 |
| 10 | $3.26 | $32.60 |
| 100 | $2.89 | $289.00 |
| 500 | $2.61 | $1,305.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.32 | $2,320.00 |
PIC18F2523T-I/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that combines a CPU core, non-volatile program memory, volatile data memory, and peripheral interfaces on one die. The PIC18 family belongs to Microchip's 8-bit enhanced RISC architecture, where most instructions execute in a single 4-clock cycle and an internal hardware multiplier accelerates 8x8 operations. Within Microchip's portfolio, this places the PIC18F2523 in the mainstream 28/40/44-pin mid-range flash tier, sitting between the PIC16 baseline series and the 16-bit dsPIC33/PIC24 signal-controller families.
Key features include 10 MIPS CPU performance at 40 MHz clock, 25 digital I/O pins, an internal oscillator block tunable from 31 kHz to 8 MHz (with 4x PLL support up to 32 MHz), an integrated 12-bit A/D converter with up to 13 input channels, dual analog comparators, a 5-bit DAC, capture/compare/PWM modules, and nanoWatt power management for low-duty-cycle applications. Hardware features also include a Fail-Safe Clock Monitor that gracefully shuts the system down if the primary clock is lost, and a separate-oscillator Watchdog Timer for code-flow supervision.
The PIC18F2523T-I/ML uses a modified Harvard bus with separate program Flash and data SRAM spaces, plus a 31-level hardware stack and up to 16-bit-wide instructions. Its C-compiler-friendly instruction set, combined with the hardware 8x8 multiplier, enables efficient execution of integer arithmetic without software emulation. Internal EEPROM endurance is rated at 100K erase/write cycles, and Flash endurance is rated at 10K cycles typical.
Typical applications include industrial control subsystems (sensor conditioning, motor drive PWM, relay sequencing), white goods and HVAC control boards, low-cost USB-to-UART bridges, automotive interior accessories, sensor-hub nodes, and consumer devices that need reliable 8-bit processing with self-programmable Flash. Industrial-grade temperature range (-40C to +85C) and on-chip nanoWatt idle modes make it appropriate for always-on battery-backed designs.
When designing with this MCU, allocate I/O budgeting carefully: the QFN-28 (ML) package exposes 25 digital I/O lines, but several share pins with analog inputs and the ICSP programming/debug interface. Plan for the ICSP pins (PGC/PGD) and a dedicated MCLR reset network at the board level so that in-circuit debug and re-flash remain accessible in production units.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives from the PIC18 family, and practical design notes not found on a single manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F2523T-I/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 PIC18F2523T-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, ADC, Core Architecture, MSL Level.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F2523-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F2523-E/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F2423-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2520-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2520T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2480T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2523T-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit Enhanced RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB |
| Data RAM | 1536 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| CPU Performance | 10 MIPS (DC to 40 MHz) |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.2 V to 5.5 V |
| Digital I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 13 channels |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| DAC | 5-bit (voltage reference output) |
| Timers | Timer0/1/2/3, plus WDT |
| CCP/ECCP Modules | 1 CCP + 1 ECCP |
| Internal Oscillator | 31 kHz to 8 MHz, 4x PLL to 32 MHz |
| Fail-Safe Clock Monitor | Yes |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (separate oscillator) |
| nanoWatt Power Management | Yes (idle/sleep modes) |
| ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) | Yes |
| Package | QFN-28 (ML), 6 x 6 mm |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F2523T-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/RE3 — Master Clear reset (input) or RE3 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 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Digital I/O / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS/HLVDIN — Digital I/O / analog input 4 / SPI SS / HLVD input |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock / digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / clock out / digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T13CKI — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator out / Timer1 clock |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator in / CCP2 output |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Digital I/O / SPI SCK / I2C SCL |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O / SPI SDI / I2C SDA |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O / SPI SDO |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — Digital I/O / USART TX / USART synchronous clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — Digital I/O / USART RX / USART synchronous data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply (4.2 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0/AN12/INT0 — Digital I/O / analog input 12 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/AN10/INT1 — Digital I/O / analog input 10 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/AN8/INT2 — Digital I/O / analog input 8 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/AN9/CCP2A — Digital I/O / analog input 9 / ECCP2 enhanced PWM |
| Pin 25 | RB4/AN11 — Digital I/O / analog input 11 |
| Pin 26 | RB5/AN13 — Digital I/O / analog input 13 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock (programming/debug) |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data (programming/debug) |
Typical Applications
PIC18F2523T-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, HVAC and White Goods Control Boards, USB-to-UART / Sensor Hub Bridge, Automotive Interior Accessory Modules, Low-Cost Power Monitor / Smart-Meter Front End, Consumer Appliance User Interface.
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC18F2523T-I/ML fits industrial sensor-conditioning boards because its 12-bit ADC with up to 13 channels quantizes 4-20 mA loops, bridge outputs, and thermistor networks to 0.024% resolution, sufficient for Class III instrumentation. Its 25 digital I/O drive opto-isolators, status LEDs, and HMI keypads without external logic. The internal oscillator (31 kHz to 8 MHz) and Fail-Safe Clock Monitor keep the unit running even if a crystal fails in the field, while nanoWatt sleep reduces quiescent draw for solar or battery-backed sensor nodes. Use a 10 uF decoupling cap on VDD and keep the QFN-28 thermal pad soldered to a continuous ground pour.
Recommended
HVAC and White Goods Control Boards
In HVAC fan/valve controllers and washing-machine drum-control boards, the PIC18F2523T-I/ML provides the 12-bit ADC, ECCP PWM, and 10 MIPS throughput needed to run closed-loop PI control at a few hundred Hz loop rate. The 25 I/O drive triac interfaces, relay coils, and seven-segment displays; the nanoWatt idle mode drops consumption to micro-amp levels between compressor cycles. The 4.2-5.5 V supply range matches rectified 5 V rails directly, removing the need for an extra LDO. Industrial -40C to +85C operation tolerates under-cabinet heat and unheated garage installations.
Recommended
USB-to-UART / Sensor Hub Bridge
The PIC18F2523T-I/ML is well suited to low-speed USB-to-UART bridge dongles and sensor-hub aggregator nodes when paired with an external USB transceiver like the MCP2200 or a CP2102N front end. Its 32 KB Flash holds full USB CDC class drivers and a UART manager, while the 12-bit ADC and I2C/SPI peripherals aggregate multiple downstream sensors. The industrial temperature rating is appropriate for industrial-USB hubs; the small QFN-28 footprint fits inside Type-A connector shells with no real estate penalty.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Accessory Modules
The PIC18F2523T-I/ML powers interior accessories such as LED cabin-light controllers, ambient-lighting drivers, and seat-position memory modules where 25 I/O and a 12-bit ADC are sufficient. Its Fail-Safe Clock Monitor and Watchdog Timer detect oscillator faults and code-flow stalls - both required for ISO 26262-style functional-safety at ASIL-A tier. For under-hood or wheel-well nodes, migrate to the AEC-Q100-qualified PIC18F46K22 family; for interior use, the industrial -40C to +85C rating is adequate.
Recommended
Low-Cost Power Monitor / Smart-Meter Front End
Single-phase smart-meter front-end boards pair the PIC18F2523T-I/ML with current-sense amplifiers and a metrology ADC to compute RMS voltage, current, and active/reactive power. The on-chip 12-bit ADC samples at 100 kSPS, sufficient for class 1.0 single-phase energy meters, while the 32 KB Flash holds the metering firmware plus a segmented LCD driver. Fail-Safe Clock Monitor and Watchdog Timer provide fault recovery for unattended installations, and nanoWatt sleep keeps idle consumption below 30 uA for line-powered but battery-backed meters.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance User Interface
Consumer appliances such as coffee machines, air purifiers, and robot-vacuum docks use the PIC18F2523T-I/ML as the user-interface controller, scanning capacitive touch pads, driving character or graphical OLED displays, and PWM-controlling pump/motor speeds via the ECCP module. The 32 KB Flash holds a real-time event kernel plus protocol stacks for Wi-Fi co-processor communication (e.g. to an ESP32), while the 12-bit ADC reads NTC temperature probes and battery voltage. The QFN-28 package fits into the tightest cosmetic enclosures.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F2523T-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F2523-I/ML | PIC18F2523-E/ML | PIC18F2423-I/ML | PIC18F2520-I/ML | PIC18F2520T-I/ML | PIC18F2480T-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | QFN-28 (ML) | QFN-28 (ML) - same | QFN-28 (ML) - same | QFN-28 (ML) - same | QFN-28 (ML) - same | QFN-28 (ML) - same | QFN-28 (ML) - same |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| Data RAM | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 768 bytes |
| CPU MIPS | 10 MIPS | 10 MIPS | 10 MIPS | 10 MIPS | 10 MIPS | 10 MIPS | 10 MIPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| CAN Module | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (CAN 2.0B) |
| Qty-1 Price (USD, as of 2026-09-27) | $3.62 | $3.62 | $3.80 (extended temp) | $3.30 | $3.45 | $3.45 | $4.10 |
Key Differentiators
- 12-bit ADC at the same QFN-28 footprint as 10-bit predecessors (vs PIC18F2520-I/ML)
- Full 32 KB Flash at the same QFN-28 footprint as the 16 KB sibling (vs PIC18F2423-I/ML)
- Industrial temperature grade with extended-temperature upgrade path (vs PIC18F2523-E/ML)
Design Notes
The QFN-28 (ML) package exposes a 6x6 mm die with a center thermal pad that MUST be soldered to a continuous ground pour on the top PCB layer to achieve the rated thermal performance and to provide the main VSS return path. Per Microchip AN1254 (QFN PCB design), use an array of 9 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pitch) under the e-pad to drop heat to the inner plane. A 100 nF X7R decoupling cap must sit within 3 mm of each VDD pin pair; do not share a single cap between VDD pins.
When the PIC18F2523T-I/ML enters Sleep mode, the brown-out reset (BOR) and watchdog timer (WDT) continue to draw current from VDD. Microchip datasheet DS39617 specifies a Sleep current of approximately 100 nA with WDT disabled and BOR disabled, but approximately 8-15 uA with WDT enabled at industrial temperature. For battery-backed designs targeting under 30 uA total, configure the FWDTEN fuse to disable WDT during Sleep and use a periodic WDT wake-up only if the application truly needs it.
A common pitfall is leaving the ICSP pins (RB6/PGC, RB7/PGD) without accessible test points; once the PCB is sealed into an enclosure, field re-flash becomes impossible. Expose PGC, PGD, MCLR, VDD, and VSS through a 5-pin 2.54 mm header or test pad cluster so that a PICkit 3 or ICD 4 programmer can reach the device in production. Also remember to route VPP/ICSP-cap to the MCLR pin with a 10 kohm pull-down to ensure clean in-system programming.
The 12-bit ADC achieves 0.5 LSB integral nonlinearity only when the analog VREF pins (RA2/AN2/VREF- and RA3/AN3/VREF+) are driven by a low-impedance reference and the analog ground returns are star-connected to the chip VSS pin. Do not run digital switching traces under the analog VREF traces or near AN0-AN13 - cross-coupling through the package substrate can inject 1-2 LSB of noise. Tie unused analog inputs to VSS via 10 kohm resistors or configure them as digital outputs to minimize pin-induced leakage.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. The -I suffix denotes industrial temperature grade -40C to +85C; the -E suffix denotes extended -40C to +125C. This part is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive deployments choose an AEC-Q100 K-series part (e.g., PIC18F46K22).
