PIC18F25K20-E/ML - 32KB Flash, 48MHz 8-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F25K20-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.32 | $5.32 |
| 10 | $4.78 | $47.80 |
| 100 | $4.05 | $405.00 |
| 500 | $3.41 | $1,705.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.95 | $2,950.00 |
PIC18F25K20-E/ML Overview
A PIC18 microcontroller is a Harvard-architecture 8-bit RISC MCU from Microchip's PIC18 family, positioned above PIC10/12/16 in flash and peripheral count while below PIC24/dsPIC in core width. PIC18 devices combine a 16-bit instruction word (improved code density over PIC16) with a rich peripheral set - ADC, PWM, comparators, EUSART, SPI, I2C, USB (in some variants) - and inherit MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler support, making them a workhorse for industrial control, sensor hubs, and consumer appliances.
Key features of the PIC18F25K20 include 32KB self-programmable Flash, 1536B SRAM, 256B EEPROM, 10-bit ADC with up to 11 channels, two CCP/ECCP modules for PWM, an EUSART, MSSP for SPI/I2C, a 64MHz internal oscillator, nanoWatt XLP modes (sleep current ~100 nA typical), and an ICD-friendly ICSP interface. The QFN-28 (6x6) package exposes an EP pad that must be soldered to the PCB ground pour for thermal dissipation and electrical reference.
Internally the PIC18F25K20 uses Microchip's enhanced PIC18 core with an 8-bit ALU, 31-level hardware stack, and a 16-bit wide program memory bus. The 10-bit ADC is successive-approximation with acquisition time programmable up to several microseconds, suitable for sensor front-ends up to ~100 kS/s aggregate. The nanoWat XLP technology supports RTCC, deep sleep, and ultra-low-power wake-on-change for coin-cell applications.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, HVAC controllers, white-goods user interfaces, low-cost USB-to-UART bridges (companion of the PIC18F25K20 USB variant family), and industrial metering. The wide 1.8-3.6V supply range and low sleep current make it well suited to 2xAA/coin-cell designs.
When designing with the PIC18F25K20-E/ML, ensure the exposed pad (EP) is soldered to a continuous ground plane for thermal performance. Decouple VDD with a 100nF ceramic plus 1-10uF bulk capacitor within 3mm of the pins, and keep analog and digital grounds connected only at the EP to avoid ground-loop noise coupling into the ADC.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, parametric alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers evaluate the PIC18F25K20-E/ML for both new designs and legacy PIC18 drop-in migrations.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F25K20-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 PIC18F25K20-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Timers, Program Memory (Flash), Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F25K20-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F24K20-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F23K20-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F25K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F2520-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F24K50-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F25K20-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB |
| RAM | 1536 B |
| EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature (E suffix) | -40 C to +125 C |
| Digital I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 11 channels |
| Timers | 4 (Timer0-A, Timer1, Timer2, Timer3) |
| CCP / ECCP | 1 CCP + 1 ECCP |
| EUSART | 1 |
| MSSP (SPI / I2C) | 1 |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Package | QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| nanoWatt XLP Sleep Current | ~100 nA typical |
| Internal Oscillator | 64 MHz (selectable 31 kHz to 16 MHz via postscaler) |
PIC18F25K20-E/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/Vref+ — Digital I/O / analog input / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 2 | RA2/AN2/Vref- — Digital I/O / analog input / ADC negative reference |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1/C1IN1-/PGM — Digital I/O / analog input / comparator input / LVP program |
| Pin 4 | RA0/AN0/C1IN0+/ULPWU — Digital I/O / analog input / comparator input / ultra-low-power wake-up |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal input / external clock / digital I/O |
| Pin 7 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal output / clock output / digital I/O |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RC0/SOSCO — Digital I/O / secondary oscillator output (RTCC) |
| Pin 10 | RC1/SOSCI — Digital I/O / secondary oscillator input (RTCC) |
| Pin 11 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 12 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Digital I/O / MSSP SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 13 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O / MSSP SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 14 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O / MSSP SPI data out |
| Pin 15 | RC6/TX/CK — Digital I/O / EUSART transmit / clock |
| Pin 16 | RC7/RX/DT — Digital I/O / EUSART receive / data |
| Pin 17 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 18 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 19 | RB0/INT0/FLT0 — Digital I/O / external interrupt 0 / ECCP fault input |
| Pin 20 | RB1/INT1 — Digital I/O / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 21 | RB2/INT2/CANTX — Digital I/O / external interrupt 2 / ECAN TX (if equipped) |
| Pin 22 | RB3/INT3/ECCP2/P2A — Digital I/O / external interrupt 3 / ECCP2 / PWM output |
| Pin 23 | RB4/AN10/CCP5 — Digital I/O / analog input 10 / CCP5 |
| Pin 24 | RB5/AN11/CCP4/KBI1 — Digital I/O / analog input 11 / CCP4 / keyboard interrupt |
| Pin 25 | RB6/PGC/ICSPCLK — Digital I/O / ICD clock / serial program clock |
| Pin 26 | RB7/PGD/ICSPDAT — Digital I/O / ICD data / serial program data |
| Pin 27 | RA4/AN4/C2IN0-/T0CKI — Digital I/O / analog input / comparator input / Timer0 clock |
| Pin 28 | RA5/AN5/C2IN1+/SS/HLVDIN — Digital I/O / analog input / comparator input / SPI slave select / HLVD input |
Typical Applications
PIC18F25K20-E/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Node, HVAC Climate Controller, White Goods User Interface Panel, Industrial Metering and Data Logging, Low-Cost USB-to-UART Bridge, Automotive Body Control Auxiliary.
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC18F25K20-E/ML's nanoWatt XLP sleep current of approximately 100 nA and 1.8 V minimum supply make it ideal for 2xAA or coin-cell sensor nodes that must run for years unattended. The device wakes on interrupt, samples the 10-bit ADC (up to 11 channels), transmits via EUSART, and returns to deep sleep without external components. Placed as the central MCU with a 32.768 kHz crystal driving RTCC for timekeeping, it achieves <1 uA average current. Compared to a PIC18F46K22 it offers a smaller QFN-28 footprint and lower sleep current, suiting space-constrained wireless sensor designs where the same nanoWatt XLP architecture simplifies firmware reuse.
Recommended
HVAC Climate Controller
The PIC18F25K20-E/ML's 25 I/O pins drive triac interfaces, fan PWM outputs (via ECCP), and NTC temperature sensors via the 10-bit ADC. Its extended -40 C to +125 C rating tolerates attic and outdoor HVAC enclosures without derating. The device runs the main control loop at 48 MHz while a 32 kHz timer handles UI debounce and capacitive touch wakeup. With 32 KB Flash it accommodates full state-machine control code plus a Modbus RTU slave via EUSART. Compared with PIC24 alternatives, the K20 keeps the BOM 30-40% cheaper while delivering sufficient MIPS for proportional-integral control loops at sub-millisecond update rates.
Recommended
White Goods User Interface Panel
The PIC18F25K20-E/ML is well suited to washing-machine, dishwasher, and oven user interface boards where it scans capacitive touch keys, drives LED indicators, and manages the buzzer/relay outputs. Its 10-bit ADC monitors line-frequency zero-crossing for triac dimming while the MSSP SPI port talks to an LED driver IC for segmented or matrix displays. QFN-28 (6x6 mm) keeps the panel PCB small, and the EP pad provides a low-impedance ground reference that meets IEC 61000-4-2 ESD targets when properly grounded. The 256 B EEPROM stores user preferences across power cycles.
Recommended
Industrial Metering and Data Logging
With 32 KB Flash, 1536 B RAM, and 256 B EEPROM, the PIC18F25K20-E/ML serves as the metering brain for water, gas, and electricity sub-meters that log consumption to EEPROM and report via EUSART (Modbus RTU) or MSSP. The 10-bit ADC captures sensor front-ends with adequate resolution for billing-grade accuracy after calibration. Operating from 1.8-3.6 V, the device runs directly from a regulated DC tap on the meter bus. The extended -40 C to +125 C rating handles outdoor meter cabinets in hot climates.
Recommended
Low-Cost USB-to-UART Bridge
Although the PIC18F25K20-E/ML itself lacks native USB, migrating to the PIC18F24K50-I/ML (same QFN-28 footprint, USB 2.0 full-speed on-chip) yields a USB CDC class bridge that enumerates as a virtual COM port. The K20's MSSP and EUSART remain available for the asynchronous serial side. Code reuse is high because the K20 and K50 share register layouts for timers, ADC, and CCP modules. The result is a BOM of roughly $3 per bridge in 100-piece quantities - significantly cheaper than FTDI or CP210x solutions.
Recommended
Automotive Body Control Auxiliary
The PIC18F25K20-E/ML's extended temperature grade (-40 C to +125 C) and wide supply tolerance make it suitable for non-safety automotive body modules such as ambient lighting controllers, seat-position memory, and accessory multiplexers. While not AEC-Q100 qualified (the K20 family is industrial/extended), it is commonly used in non-safety auxiliary circuits where OEM specifications permit. For safety-critical ECUs, the dsPIC33FJ family with AEC-Q100 qualification is the alternative path.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F25K20-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F25K20-I/ML | PIC18F24K20-E/ML | PIC18F23K20-E/ML | PIC18F25K22-I/ML | PIC18F2520-I/ML | PIC18F24K50-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm | QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm | QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm | QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm | QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm | QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm | QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM | 1536 B | 1536 B | 768 B | 512 B | 1536 B | 1536 B | 2048 B |
| Max CPU Speed | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 40 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Temperature Grade | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) |
| USB Peripheral | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (USB 2.0 FS) |
| XLP nanoWatt | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Larger Flash and RAM than the F24K20 in the same footprint (vs PIC18F24K20-E/ML)
- Extended temperature grade for hot-environment designs (vs PIC18F25K20-I/ML)
- Native nanoWatt XLP for sub-microamp sleep current (vs PIC18F2520-I/ML)
- Modern peripheral library and active production status (vs PIC18F2520-I/ML)
Design Notes
The QFN-28 package exposes a center EP pad that must be soldered to a continuous, flooded ground pour on the top or bottom layer. The EP pad carries both thermal dissipation and the VSS bond to the die. Skip vias-in-pad unless you use a via-in-pad-with-microvia process - through-hole vias under the EP can wick solder and starve the joint. Recommended land pattern follows Microchip's QFN-28 6x6 mm drawing with 0.30 mm pitch for thermal vias surrounding (not under) the EP.
Decouple VDD (pin 18) with a 100 nF X7R ceramic placed within 3 mm of the pin, plus a 1-10 uF bulk capacitor on the same VDD net. For designs using the internal 64 MHz oscillator, add a 10 nF bypass on the AVDD-related rails if the ADC is active. The internal LDO that supplies the core draws a brief inrush when waking from sleep; a 10 uF bulk prevents a voltage droop that could reset the part under high transient loads.
Do not omit the AVDD/VREF filtering when using the 10-bit ADC at sample rates above 50 kS/s; route AVDD through a ferrite bead and decouple with 100 nF plus 10 uF. Failing to configure the CONFIG register for the internal oscillator (rather than leaving it in default external-crystal mode) is a common gotcha that prevents the K20 from booting without a crystal. Also: in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) uses RB6/RB7 (PGC/PGD) - never route these pins directly to LEDs or relays without buffer isolation.
Keep analog traces (RA0-RA5, RB4-RB5) short and away from switching signals like PWM outputs (RC2/CCP1, RB3/ECCP2). Connect AGND and DGND only at the EP pad star-point to avoid ground-loop noise that would otherwise degrade ADC results by 1-2 LSB. For EUSART runs above 115200 baud, add a 100 ohm series resistor at the driver to tame ringing on the TX line.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. The PIC18F25K20 family is not AEC-Q100 qualified - for safety-relevant automotive, select dsPIC33FJ AEC-Q100 parts instead. Halogen-free and lead-free per Microchip's package-level declarations.
