PIC18F26K20-E/ML - 8-bit 64KB Flash MCU, 48MHz, 28-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F26K20-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.69 | $5.69 |
| 10 | $5.21 | $52.10 |
| 100 | $4.72 | $472.00 |
| 500 | $4.31 | $2,155.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.95 | $3,950.00 |
PIC18F26K20-E/ML Overview
The PIC18F26K20 belongs to the PIC18F family of 8-bit microcontrollers, an enhanced Harvard-architecture RISC MCU family that has been widely deployed in industrial, automotive, and consumer applications for over two decades. The K-series specifically targets low-power embedded designs with nanoWatt XLP technology, enabling sleep currents down to the nanoampere range. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, the PIC18F family sits under 8-bit microcontroller -> RISC MCU -> embedded controller -> semiconductor device. The 28-QFN package places it in the surface-mount QFN family (JEDEC MO-220).
Key features include a 10-bit ADC with up to 17 channels, three timers, two capture/compare modules (ECCP + CCP), enhanced USART, MSSP (SPI/I2C), and a 25-pin I/O complement. The -E temperature grade extends from -40C to +125C, suitable for industrial and automotive under-hood environments. Supply voltage operates from 1.8 V to 3.6 V across the full temperature range with the internal regulator.
Architecturally the PIC18F26K20 uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range core with 16-bit opcodes, hardware multiplier (8x8 in one cycle), and a 31-level hardware stack. The flash memory supports self-programming via ICSP and run-time reads. Deep-sleep current (Watchdog Timer disabled) is among the lowest in the 8-bit MCU class, which is the headline benefit of the nanoWatt XLP branding.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, low-power remote controls, industrial sensor conditioning, automotive body and climate modules, and portable medical devices such as glucose meters. The combination of 64 KB flash and 10-bit ADC makes it well-suited for apps requiring moderate code density plus analog front-end integration.
When designing with this part, choose 1.8 V-3.6 V supply rails and follow the recommended 100 nF VDD/VSS decoupling placement. The exposed pad must be soldered to the ground plane for thermal dissipation. Programming can be done via ICSP using MPLAB X IDE and any of Microchip's programmers (PICkit, ICD).
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives from Microchip's own PIC18F family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F26K20-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 PIC18F26K20-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory (Flash), Timers, ADC, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26K20-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.96 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K20T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F25K20-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K22-E/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26J53-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26J13-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26K20-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 enhanced 8-bit RISC Harvard |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16 words) |
| Data SRAM | 3936 bytes |
| Operating Temperature (E grade) | -40C to +125C |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| Capture/Compare/PWM | 1 ECCP + 1 CCP |
| Communication Interfaces | EUSART, MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Package | 28-pin QFN (6x6 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP (eXtreme Low Power) |
PIC18F26K20-E/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 / DAC negative reference |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / DAC positive reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4/T0CKI/C1OUT — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input / Comparator 1 output |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN4/SS/HLVDIN — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input 4 / SPI slave select / HLVD input |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2/CLKO — PORTA bit 6 / Oscillator output / Clock out |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — PORTA bit 7 / Oscillator input / Clock in |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | RB0/INT0/FLT0 — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt 0 / ECCP fault input |
| Pin 11 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 12 | RB2/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 13 | RB3/CCP2 — PORTB bit 3 / CCP2 input/output |
| Pin 14 | RB4/KBI0 — PORTB bit 4 / Interrupt-on-change bit 0 |
| Pin 15 | RB5/KBI1/PGM — PORTB bit 5 / Interrupt-on-change bit 1 / LVP program |
| Pin 16 | RB6/KBI2/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / Interrupt-on-change bit 2 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 17 | RB7/KBI3/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / Interrupt-on-change bit 3 / ICSP data |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 20 | RC0/T1OSO/T13CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1/3 clock |
| Pin 21 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 |
| Pin 22 | RC2/CCP1/P1A — PORTC bit 2 / ECCP1 input/output / PWM output A |
| Pin 23 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 24 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 25 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 26 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / EUSART TX / EUSART sync clock |
| Pin 27 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / EUSART RX / EUSART sync data |
| Pin 28 | MCLR/RE3 — Master clear reset input / PORTE bit 3 |
Typical Applications
PIC18F26K20-E/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes, Industrial Sensor Conditioning Modules, Automotive Body and Climate Modules, Portable Medical Monitoring Devices, Low-Power Remote Controls, Smart Energy Meters and Sub-Metering.
Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes
The PIC18F26K20-E/ML is purpose-built for wireless sensor nodes that must run for years on a single coin-cell or AA battery. Its nanoWatt XLP technology delivers Sleep currents in the nanoampere range with the Watchdog Timer disabled, and the device wakes via ultra-low-power interrupt sources such as the RTCC alarm or an external GPIO edge. The 10-bit ADC with up to 17 channels supports direct connection to temperature, humidity, and voltage-sensing front-ends without an external signal conditioner, while the 64 KB Flash accommodates Zigbee PRO or LoRaWAN stack libraries. Operating at 1.8 V to 3.6 V across the full -40C to +125C industrial/automotive range, it survives cold-storage logistics and high-temperature outdoor enclosures without supply-rail conditioning.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning Modules
In industrial process-control and factory-automation modules, the PIC18F26K20-E/ML serves as the local intelligence that digitizes 4-20 mA loops, thermocouples, and bridge sensors. Its 10-bit ADC with up to 17 channels provides sufficient resolution for measurement endpoints, while the ECCP module drives 4-20 mA current-loop outputs via a PWM-plus-filter topology. The MSSP peripheral supports SPI for digital-temperature-sensor interfaces and I2C for EEPROM and RTC backup, eliminating external glue logic. The -40C to +125C operating range, plus 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply flexibility, allows the same firmware to ship across factory-floor, outdoor-cabinet, and refrigerated-warehouse SKUs without re-validation.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Climate Modules
Automotive body controllers, HVAC flaps, and lighting modules benefit from the PIC18F26K20-E/ML's -40C to +125C automotive temperature grade and built-in EUSART for LIN-bus communication. The 25 I/O pins support direct drive of multiple LED strings, H-bridge motors, and rotary encoders without external logic. The CCP/ECCP modules generate PWM at frequencies compatible with automotive LED dimming curves and DC motor speed control, while the enhanced USART implements LIN v1.3/v2.0 master and slave protocols via firmware. Microchip's PIC18F family is a long-standing automotive workhorse, and the K20's 64 KB Flash accommodates LIN descriptors plus J1939-style message dictionaries without external code memory.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Devices
Handheld and ambulatory medical devices such as glucose meters, pulse oximeters, and INR monitors rely on the PIC18F26K20-E/ML for low-power display driving, button-scan handling, and ADC-based sensor readout. The 64 KB Flash stores menu trees, calibration constants, and trend-log buffers, while the 3936 bytes of SRAM handle active sensor pipelines and BLE command queues. nanoWatt XLP Sleep modes extend battery life to weeks in standby, and the 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply accommodates single-cell lithium and 2x alkaline topologies without boost converters. The 28-QFN (6x6 mm) footprint leaves room for coin-cell holders or OLED displays in the smallest handhelds.
Recommended
Low-Power Remote Controls
Infrared and RF remote controls for consumer audio, HVAC, and smart-home products use the PIC18F26K20-E/ML to scan key matrices, encode IR or RF protocols, and enter Sleep for years on a coin cell. nanoWatt XLP technology brings Sleep current below 100 nA with WDT disabled, and the Wake-on-Change or interrupt-on-change peripherals eliminate the need for a separate wake-up controller. The 64 KB Flash holds multi-protocol IR code libraries (NEC, RC5/6, Sony SIRC, Samsung) plus BLE or proprietary RF stack fragments. The internal oscillator and EUSART/MSSP peripherals support direct connection to low-cost 433 MHz / 315 MHz / 2.4 GHz transmitter ICs without external crystals.
Recommended
Smart Energy Meters and Sub-Metering
Single-phase residential electricity meters and sub-metering modules use the PIC18F26K20-E/ML to perform analog front-end sampling, RMS calculation, and tamper detection. The 10-bit ADC with up to 17 channels digitizes voltage and current channels simultaneously, and the ECCP module times sample intervals precisely via hardware capture. The EUSART supports optical-port IEC 62056-21 (DLMS/COSEM) communication, while MSSP SPI connects to external non-volatile memories for event logging. The -40C to +125C temperature grade ensures reliable operation inside meter enclosures across desert and arctic climates, and the wide 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply tolerates weak-grid voltage variations.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F26K20-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26K20-I/ML | PIC18F25K20-E/ML | PIC18F26K22-E/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB - same | 32 KB (-50%) | 64 KB - same |
| SRAM | 3936 bytes | 3936 bytes | 3936 bytes | 3896 bytes |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz (16 MIPS) | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 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 |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit with Capacitive Voltage Divider |
Key Differentiators
- nanoWatt XLP technology for sub-uA Sleep current (vs PIC18F26K20-I/ML)
- 64 KB Flash versus 32 KB on the PIC18F25K20 (vs PIC18F25K20-E/ML)
- Industrial/automotive temperature grade vs commercial (vs PIC18F26K20T-I/ML)
Design Notes
The PIC18F26K20-E/ML integrates a 1.8 V core LDO that is enabled by default from factory CONFIG settings. Apply a 100 nF decoupling capacitor on VDD (pin 19) as close as possible to the pin, plus a bulk capacitor of at least 4.7 uF on the supply rail. For applications that operate above 3.6 V, use an external LDO (such as Microchip MCP1700) to bring the rail down; the device does not support direct 5 V operation. The internal LDO also requires the VDD/VSS pair to settle within the operating range within the BOR timeout window, otherwise the device will reset repeatedly.
The 28-QFN exposed pad is the primary thermal path and MUST be soldered to the PCB ground plane to meet the datasheet thermal resistance of 33 C/W (theta_JC). Failing to solder the e-pad increases junction-to-ambient thermal resistance by 3-5x and may cause thermal-shutdown faults at full 48 MHz CPU load. Recommended layout uses a 4-thermal-via array under the e-pad connecting to the inner ground plane. For industrial -40C to +125C designs this is especially important because elevated ambient temperature reduces the margin to the silicon maximum junction rating.
Keep the ICSP signals (PGC on RB6, PGD on RB7, MCLR/RE3) accessible for production programming - do not connect them to high-frequency switching nodes. Place the 32.768 kHz low-power watch crystal between RC0 and RC1 within 5 mm of the pins, and route T1OSO/T1OSI traces symmetrically. The 28-QFN land pattern should follow IPC-7351 nominal-density guidelines with NSMD pads. Avoid running analog signal traces under the device to minimize noise coupling into the VDD/VSS pins.
A common pitfall is enabling the internal regulator (CONFIG LVDEN) without confirming the supply ramp time meets BOR requirements - if VDD ramps slower than the BOR timeout, the device never latches out of reset. Another pitfall is leaving ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT pins floating during in-circuit programming; pull-up resistors on PGC/PGD prevent bus contention. Finally, do not tie MCLR directly to VDD through a low-value resistor: use 10 kohm to VDD plus a decoupling capacitor to ground to allow reliable in-circuit resets without compromising BOR behavior.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per DigiKey and Mouser distributor listings. AEC-Q100 not formally qualified - this part targets industrial (-40C to +125C) rather than full automotive qualification. For AEC-Q100 qualified alternatives, consider PIC18F26K22-E/ML or PIC18F26Q10-I/ML. Lead-free per Microchip product documentation.
