PIC18F26K40-I/ML - 64KB Flash 8-bit MCU 28-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F26K40-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.1 | $3.10 |
| 10 | $2.78 | $27.80 |
| 100 | $2.35 | $235.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.78 | $1,780.00 |
PIC18F26K40-I/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), working memory (RAM), non-volatile data storage (EEPROM), and configurable peripherals such as ADC, PWM, timers, and communication interfaces. Within the broader semiconductor hierarchy, the PIC18F26K40 sits in the 8-bit MCU class, beneath 16-bit dsPIC and 32-bit ARM Cortex-M families, and is designed for cost-sensitive, deterministic, low-power embedded control.
Key features include a 10-bit ADC with up to 24 channels, a 5-bit DAC, two comparators, multiple PWM/CWG/CCP/SMT modules, a windowed watchdog (WWDT), a CRC/SCAN memory integrity block, and Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) that offload tasks from the CPU. The device operates across 2.3V to 5.5V, supports the nanoWatt XLP sleep modes, and provides 25 general-purpose I/O pins on this 28-pin variant.
Typical applications include consumer appliance control, IoT sensor nodes, low-power wireless remote controls, LED lighting controllers, motor control loops, and battery-powered instrumentation. The combination of 5V tolerance, large memory, and rich analog integration makes the part well suited for both retrofit legacy 5V designs and modern mixed-signal products.
When designing with this MCU, allocate the 64 KB Flash carefully between bootloader, application, and configuration words; verify VDDCORE decoupling against the datasheet, and use the dedicated ICSP pins (ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT) for production programming. The ML package has an exposed thermal pad that must be soldered to the ground plane for thermal and electrical performance. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F26K40-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 PIC18F26K40-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Program Memory (Flash), Core Architecture, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26K40T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF26K40-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F25K40-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26K42-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26K40-E/MLVAO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F24K40-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.66 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K40-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| CPU Speed (Max) | 64 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16) |
| Data RAM | 4 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 24 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Timers | 9 (8/16-bit) |
| PWM Channels | Multiple (CCP, PWM, CWG) |
| Package | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm with EP |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| XLP (nanoWatt) | Yes |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F26K40-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN17/SSP1MSPS — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 17 / SSP1 master-out slave-in |
| Pin 2 | RA2/AN18 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 18 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN19 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 19 |
| Pin 4 | RA0/AN20 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 20 |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3V - 5.5V) |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — Bidirectional I/O / External clock input / Crystal oscillator input |
| Pin 8 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — Bidirectional I/O / Crystal oscillator output / Clock output |
| Pin 9 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O port C |
| Pin 10 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O port C |
| Pin 11 | RC2/AN14 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 14 |
| Pin 12 | RC3/AN15/SCL1 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 15 / I2C1 clock |
| Pin 13 | RC4/SDA1 — Bidirectional I/O / I2C1 data |
| Pin 14 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O port C |
| Pin 15 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O port C |
| Pin 16 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O port C |
| Pin 17 | RB7/ICSPCLK — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP clock (programming) |
| Pin 18 | RB6/ICSPDAT — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP data (programming) |
| Pin 19 | RB5/AN13 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 13 |
| Pin 20 | RB4/AN11 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 11 |
| Pin 21 | RB3/AN9 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 9 |
| Pin 22 | RB2/AN8 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 8 |
| Pin 23 | RB1/AN10 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 10 |
| Pin 24 | RB0/AN12/INT0 — Bidirectional I/O / Analog input 12 / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 25 | VDDIO — I/O supply voltage (for PORTA/PORTB voltage tolerance) |
| Pin 26 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 27 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O port A |
| Pin 28 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O port A |
Typical Applications
PIC18F26K40-I/ML is suitable for 7 applications: Consumer Appliance Control, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, LED Lighting Controller, Automotive Body Control Modules (non-safety), Industrial Sensor Interface Module, HMI / User Interface Panel, Motor Control (BLDC / Stepper).
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC18F26K40-I/ML fits consumer appliance control boards where 5V tolerance, 25 I/O pins, and 64 KB Flash support both HMI driving and closed-loop motor/PWM control. Its 10-bit ADC and 5-bit DAC cover analog sensor readout for temperature, humidity, and current sensing, while CCP/CWG peripherals drive TRIAC or IGBT switches for heater regulation. XLP nanoWatt sleep modes reduce standby power to nanoamp levels between user interactions. Place decoupling 100nF + 1uF near VDDCORE/VDD per datasheet DS40001886.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
For IoT sensor nodes, the PIC18F26K40-I/ML provides nanoWatt XLP sleep currents in the nA range, waking on RTC or external interrupt to read sensors and transmit via a companion BLE/sub-GHz radio over UART/SPI. The 64 KB Flash accommodates OTA bootloader plus application, while the 10-bit ADC digitizes analog sensor outputs directly. The wide 2.3-5.5V supply range supports single-cell Li-ion, 2xAA, and even USB-powered designs without level shifters for legacy 5V sensors.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC18F26K40-I/ML drives multi-channel LED lighting fixtures using its CCP/CWG/PWM peripherals for smooth dimming and color-mixing control. With 64 KB Flash and 4 KB RAM, firmware can implement DMX-512 or DALI receive plus closed-loop constant-current control. The 10-bit ADC reads photodiode feedback for ambient sensing; the CWG peripheral generates complementary PWM with dead-time control for half-bridge LED driver stages. Operating voltage up to 5.5V aligns with standard LED driver IC supply rails.
Recommended
Automotive Body Control Modules (non-safety)
For non-safety automotive body electronics such as interior lighting, mirror control, or seat-position memory, the PIC18F26K40-I/ML offers 5V operation tolerant of load-dump transients (with external TVS) and -40C to +125C automotive temperature grade via PIC18F26K40-E variant. The 64 KB Flash handles LIN protocol stack plus application logic; CCP/CWG modules drive solenoids or motors. For AEC-Q100 qualified variants, designers should select the explicitly automotive-qualified ordering code per Microchip's selector guide.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface Module
In industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered transmitters, the PIC18F26K40-I/ML serves as the digital heart that digitizes the analog sensor, applies calibration in Flash-resident lookup tables, and drives an HART modem or 4-20 mA DAC output. The 10-bit ADC is sufficient for process variables; for higher accuracy, an external 16-bit ADC such as MCP3421 can be paired over I2C. The wide 2.3-5.5V supply allows direct connection to loop-powered 24V systems via a switching regulator such as MCP16311.
Recommended
HMI / User Interface Panel
The PIC18F26K40-I/ML drives small graphical or segment LCDs and keypads via its 25 GPIO, with 64 KB Flash supporting a small RTOS-like state machine or UI library. The CWG peripheral can generate complementary drive signals for segment LCD bias; comparators handle cap-touch via charge-time measurement. The 5V tolerance simplifies interface to legacy 5V LCD modules without level shifters. PIC's deterministic interrupt latency is well suited to responsive button debouncing.
Recommended
Motor Control (BLDC / Stepper)
The PIC18F26K40-I/ML drives small BLDC or stepper motors via its PWM, CCP, and CWG modules that provide complementary outputs with programmable dead time. The 10-bit ADC samples back-EMF or current-sense signals for sensorless or sensored commutation algorithms, while the WWDT and CRC/SCAN peripherals support ASIL-friendly fault detection (non-safety only). The 64 MHz core runs FOC at low to mid RPM; for high-RPM FOC consider dsPIC33. The exposed pad on the 28-QFN aids thermal dissipation at moderate PWM duty.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F26K40-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26K40T-I/ML | PIC18LF26K40-I/ML | PIC18F25K40-I/ML | PIC18F26K42-I/ML | PIC18F24K40-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm | 28-QFN (ML) - same | 28-QFN (ML) - same | 28-QFN (ML) - same | 28-QFN (ML) - same | 28-QFN (ML) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | PIC18 8-bit, 64 MHz | PIC18 8-bit, 64 MHz | PIC18 8-bit, 64 MHz | PIC18 8-bit, 64 MHz | PIC18 8-bit, 64 MHz | PIC18 8-bit, 64 MHz |
| Flash | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 2 KB | 4 KB | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| ADC | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 12-bit | 10-bit |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Key Differentiators
- 64 KB Flash + 4 KB RAM in 28-pin QFN (vs PIC18F25K40-I/ML)
- Wide 2.3V-5.5V operating voltage (vs PIC18LF26K40-I/ML)
- Rich Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) (vs PIC18F26K20-I/ML)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD with a 100 nF X7R ceramic placed within 3 mm of the pin, plus a bulk 1 uF-10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the same node. The 28-QFN ML package has separate VDD and VDDIO pins; both need their own 100 nF caps. For low-noise ADC performance, add a ferrite bead on VDDIO or use a separate LDO to power the analog rail. Estimated: at 64 MHz / 3.3V active current is roughly 8-12 mA typical per DS40001886; sleep current drops to <100 nA with WDT disabled.
The 28-QFN (ML) package has a center exposed thermal pad (EP) that must be soldered to a ground copper pour of at least 1 square inch for thermal dissipation and electrical performance. Use an array of thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pitch) connecting the EP to the inner ground plane. Route high-speed signals (SPI, ICSP) away from the ADC analog inputs and place the analog ground island directly under the analog pins. Refer to Microchip AN2451 for 8-bit MCU PCB layout guidelines.
Do NOT drive the ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK pins (RB6/RB7) with external peripherals during programming - this can lock out ICSP and require high-voltage reset to recover. The PIC18F26K40 has an internal voltage regulator that requires an external decoupling capacitor on the VDDCORE pin (refer to datasheet DS40001886 for cap value and routing). Configuration bits (CONFIG1-7) must be set correctly - especially the WDT, BOR, and oscillator settings - before code can execute reliably from reset.
The PIC18F26K40 ADC accuracy depends on clean VDD, low-impedance external Vref, and proper acquisition time programming. For 10-bit accuracy at 64 MHz ADC clock, use at least 8 us acquisition time for high-impedance sources (10 kohm+); use a buffer op-amp (e.g., MCP6002) for sources above 10 kohm. Place the Vref bypass cap (100 nF) directly at the Vref+ pin. When using the FVR (Fixed Voltage Reference), enable it at least 5 us before ADC conversion to settle.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade -40C to +85C. For AEC-Q100 qualified variants, select PIC18F26K40-E (extended grade) ordering code; the -I/ML industrial-grade version is not AEC-Q100 qualified.
