PIC18F26K42-E/MX - 8-Bit 64MHz MCU, 64KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F26K42-E/MX ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.55 | $25.50 |
| 100 | $2.12 | $212.00 |
| 500 | $1.78 | $890.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.55 | $1,550.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.35 | $4,050.00 |
PIC18F26K42-E/MX Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (SRAM), non-volatile storage (EEPROM), and a rich set of peripheral interfaces into one IC. Within the broader taxonomy it sits as: PIC18 core -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. Microchip's PIC18 architecture uses an enhanced RISC instruction set with hardware multiplier, 31-level stack, and C-friendly addressing, sitting between simpler PIC16 parts and the 16-bit dsPIC/PIC24 families.
Key features include 25mA source/sink per I/O, a 4x Direct Memory Access controller that offloads data movement between peripherals and memory, vectored interrupts for deterministic latency, and Microchip's eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology with deep-sleep currents measured in nanoamps. The CIP block lets designers build state machines, waveform generation, and signal conditioning without CPU intervention, freeing the core for application code. CRC/Scan, windowed watchdog, and a 32kHz low-power oscillator round out the safety and clocking features.
Typical applications include industrial sensor nodes, IoT edge devices, low-power battery-powered instrumentation, motor control (BLDC, stepper) using the PWM/CWG/CCP trio, touch/Proximity UI with the analog helper peripherals, and home appliances requiring long battery life and field-upgradable firmware. Designers use the MPLAB X IDE with the free XC8 compiler; code is debugged via ICD4 or PKOB4. The same K42 family offers 40/44/48-pin variants, allowing seamless migration when extra I/O is needed.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F26K42-E/MX — 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 PIC18F26K42-E/MX (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Comparators, DAC, Operating Temperature, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26K42T-E/MX
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26K42-I/MX
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K42-E/MX Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 (8-bit RISC, enhanced) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 64 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (64K x 8) |
| Data SRAM | 4 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 1 KB |
| Operating Voltage (Vdd) | 2.7 V to 5.5 V (F suffix); LF down to 1.8 V |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC2 (computation), multiple channels |
| DAC | 5-bit DAC |
| Comparators | Yes (multiple, selectable input sources) |
| DMA | 4-channel DMA controller |
| PWM / CWG / CCP / SMT | Yes (Core Independent Peripherals) |
| Vector Interrupts | Yes |
| Communication | UART, SPI, I2C (MSSP) |
| Low-Power Technology | XLP (eXtreme Low Power), nanoamp sleep currents |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (industrial / -E grade) |
| Package | 28-pin UQFN 6 x 6 mm (MX) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free) |
PIC18F26K42-E/MX Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/ANA0/INTC0 — GPIO / analog input / interrupt |
| Pin 2 | RA1/ANA1/INTC1 — GPIO / analog input / interrupt |
| Pin 3 | RA2/ANA2/INTC2 — GPIO / analog input / interrupt |
| Pin 4 | RA3/ANA3/INTC3/VREF+ — GPIO / analog input / Vref+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4/ANA4 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/ANA5 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — GPIO |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — GPIO |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 11 | RB0/ANB0 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 12 | RB1/ANB1 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 13 | RB2/ANB2 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 14 | RB3/ANB3 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 15 | RB4/ANB4 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 16 | RB5/ANB5 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 17 | RB6/ICSPCLK — GPIO / ICD clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/ICSPDAT — GPIO / ICD data |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — GPIO |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — GPIO |
| Pin 21 | RC2 — GPIO |
| Pin 22 | RC3 — GPIO |
| Pin 23 | RC4 — GPIO |
| Pin 24 | RC5 — GPIO |
| Pin 25 | RC6 — GPIO |
| Pin 26 | RC7 — GPIO |
| Pin 27 | RE3 — MCLR / GPIO |
| Pin 28 | EP — Exposed thermal pad (connect to VSS) |
Typical Applications
PIC18F26K42-E/MX is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Sensor Node with HMI, Battery-Powered IoT Edge Device, BLDC / Stepper Motor Control, Home Appliance Control Board, Touch / Capacitive Proximity UI, Automotive Body / Interior Module (non-safety), Portable Medical / Wellness Device.
Industrial Sensor Node with HMI
The PIC18F26K42-E/MX fits industrial sensor-node designs because it integrates a 12-bit ADC2 with computation and oversampling, plus 4 KB SRAM and 64 KB Flash for local signal processing. The ADC2 hardware oversampling reduces CPU load by accumulating samples automatically, freeing cycles for filtering. Vector interrupts give deterministic response on alarm thresholds. Combined with a UART/I2C front-end and the 28-UQFN 6x6mm footprint, designers can place the MCU directly under a sensor connector, shrinking PCB area. The -E extended -40C to +125C grade covers factory-floor thermal stress without derating. Migrating firmware from the K40 family is supported by identical peripheral register maps.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Edge Device
The PIC18F26K42-E/MX is well suited to battery-powered IoT endpoints thanks to Microchip's XLP technology with nanoamp-range sleep currents and a 32 kHz low-power oscillator. Sleep current measured in the datasheet at 50 nA typical with retention allows years of life from a CR2032 coin cell in duty-cycled sensor reporting. The 64 MIPS headroom lets the device wake, take ADC2 readings, push them over UART or I2C, and return to sleep within a few hundred microseconds. The small 28-UQFN 6x6mm package fits inside sealed IP67 enclosures typical for outdoor IoT. Firmware can be field-upgraded through UART-bootloader using the self-programmable Flash.
Recommended
BLDC / Stepper Motor Control
The PIC18F26K42-E/MX is an excellent fit for small BLDC or stepper motor control because the CIP block provides PWM, CCP, CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator with dead-band), and SMT timers that handle commutation and frequency measurement without CPU intervention. The 12-bit ADC2 samples back-EMF or current-sense at the exact centre of the PWM pulse, synchronized via hardware triggers. At 64 MHz the core reserves enough bandwidth for a velocity or torque PI loop while the peripherals manage the switching edges. The 28-UQFN package dissipates roughly 200 mW at full CPU load, well within thermal limits for fan or pump drives.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Board
The PIC18F26K42-E/MX is a strong choice for home appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and coffee machines where 8-bit cost-effectiveness, reliability, and long-life Flash endurance are required. The 64 KB Flash with 10k+ erase cycles stores application code plus a small bootloader for field updates. Vector interrupts guarantee deterministic response on over-current or water-level events. The CIP state-machine peripherals can manage user-interface button scans and LED multiplexing without CPU load. The 28-UQFN 6x6mm footprint leaves room for additional power-stage components on the same PCB.
Recommended
Touch / Capacitive Proximity UI
The PIC18F26K42-E/MX supports touch and proximity user interfaces thanks to its 12-bit ADC2 with computation, mTouch peripheral via dedicated hardware, and zero-crossing detect on comparators. The ADC2 can scan up to 25 channels at high speed, enabling multi-button sliders and wheels. The XLP sleep modes keep idle current low when no touch is detected. With 64 KB Flash the device holds full USB or Bluetooth stacks for tethered configurations. The 28-UQFN 6x6mm package fits beneath glass or plastic overlays in appliance and IoT wall-switch designs.
Recommended
Automotive Body / Interior Module (non-safety)
Although the -E/MX variant is industrial-grade and not AEC-Q100 qualified, the same K42 silicon in the -V automotive version supports body and interior automotive modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, and ambient lighting drivers. The 12-bit ADC2 with computation reads potentiometers and photodiodes for position and ambient light sensing, while the PWM/CWG block drives LED strings with smooth fades. LIN bus via UART handles in-cabin networking. Designers should select the PIC18F26K42-E/MX for industrial pre-production and migrate to the automotive-grade part for production deployments.
Recommended
Portable Medical / Wellness Device
The PIC18F26K42-E/MX serves portable medical and wellness devices like pulse oximeters, glucose meters, and digital thermometers because the 12-bit ADC2 with oversampling delivers clinical accuracy without an external ADC, while XLP sleep modes extend battery life across weeks of intermittent use. The DMA controller moves ADC samples to RAM without CPU intervention, leaving cycles for display refresh via SPI or I2C. The 64 KB Flash accommodates protocol stacks for Bluetooth Low Energy via an external module. The 28-UQFN footprint fits inside compact handheld enclosures. Designers should add a separate AEC-Q100 or IEC 60730-qualified part for production medical certification.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F26K42-E/MX — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26K42T-E/MX | PIC18F26K42-I/MX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-UQFN 6x6 mm (MX) | 28-UQFN 6x6 mm (MX) - same | 28-UQFN 6x6 mm (MX) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| SRAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB |
| EEPROM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Maximum Clock | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| Packaging Carrier | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tube |
| Pin-to-Pin Compatible | Yes | Yes (true drop-in) | Yes (true drop-in, narrower temp range) |
Key Differentiators
- Tape-and-reel packaging carrier without retooling PCB (vs PIC18F26K42-I/MX)
- Extended industrial temperature range (vs PIC18F26K42-I/MX)
- Compact 28-UQFN footprint for space-constrained designs (vs PIC18F26K42-I/SP)
Design Notes
Estimated: Land pattern should follow the 28-UQFN 6x6mm JEDEC MO-248 variation. The exposed pad (pin 28 in our list) MUST be soldered to the PCB and tied to VSS for thermal and electrical grounding. Missing this pad connection can raise junction-to-ambient thermal resistance from roughly 30 C/W to over 80 C/W and degrade ADC2 noise performance.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of VDD and a bulk 1-10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the same rail. For ADC2 reference stability add a 100 nF cap directly at VREF+ and minimize digital switching near the analog traces. The -E grade operates to 5.5 V but ADC accuracy is best at 3.3 V supply with separate quiet rail.
Never leave the MCLR pin (RC7/RE3 in this package variant) floating; tie through a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD to avoid spurious resets. Configure unused I/O as outputs low, not inputs, to prevent shoot-through and reduce sleep current. The K42 ICSP pins (RB6/RB7) double as GPIO but should be reserved for in-circuit debug access during development.
Route the external 32 kHz crystal traces short and symmetric, with ground guard ring, to minimize jitter on Timer1/RTC. For high-speed SPI to displays or flash memory, add 22-33 ohm series resistors and length-match CLK with MOSI/MISO within 5 mm. Place RF/wireless modules and their antennas away from the 12-bit ADC traces to prevent coupled noise on analog inputs.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip product page. The -E/MX variant is industrial extended temperature grade and is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive body modules select the automotive-grade part variant. Microchip reports CMRT/CMDR conflict-minerals status annually.
