PIC18F26K42T-I/MX - 8-bit 64MHz 64KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F26K42T-I/MX ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.75 | $2.75 |
| 10 | $2.47 | $24.70 |
| 100 | $2.12 | $212.00 |
| 500 | $1.86 | $930.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.62 | $1,620.00 |
PIC18F26K42T-I/MX Overview
What is a PIC18F microcontroller? An 8-bit PIC microcontroller is a RISC-based, Harvard-architecture embedded controller that combines a CPU core with Flash, RAM, EEPROM, and on-chip peripherals on a single die. PIC18 microcontrollers sit in the mid-range of Microchip's 8-bit portfolio (between baseline PIC10/PIC12/PIC16 and 16-bit PIC24/dsPIC), offering higher performance, more memory, and richer peripherals than entry-level families while retaining the PIC ecosystem's MPLAB X toolchain and XC8 compiler. PIC MCUs are widely used in consumer, industrial, and automotive nodes where deterministic 8-bit control, low power, and broad peripheral integration matter more than raw processing throughput.
Key features of the PIC18F26K42 include Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) such as CWG, NCO, and CCL, a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller for CPU-offloaded data movement, vectored interrupts for deterministic response, a 12-bit ADC2 with computation, and Microchip's eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology with multiple power-managed modes for battery-friendly operation. The 28-pin UQFN (6x6) package exposes all standard peripherals on a compact footprint, suitable for space-constrained PCBs.
Architecturally the PIC18F26K42 uses a 16-bit instruction word with an 8-bit data path and a 31-level hardware stack, which gives C compilers an efficient target. The peripheral set includes multiple 16-bit timers, capture/compare/PWM, I2C, SPI, UART with LIN, and USB-ready timers, enabling the device to act as a single-chip solution for sensor interfacing, motor control, lighting, and human-machine interface nodes.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, low-power wireless sensor hubs, industrial control panels, home appliances, LED lighting controllers, and battery-powered handheld instruments. The XLP feature set makes it well-suited to energy-harvesting or coin-cell powered products where idle current directly determines battery life.
When designing with the PIC18F26K42, plan decoupling with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor on each VDD/VSS pair close to the package, keep analog and digital grounds separated to a single-point join, and verify that the chosen debugger/programmer (PICkit 4, MPLAB SNAP, ICD 4) supports the device in MPLAB X before committing the schematic. Engineers should also evaluate the PIC18F26K42-I/MX (tray) variant if not requiring tape-and-reel.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F26K42T-I/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 PIC18F26K42T-I/MX (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Program Memory (Flash), Operating Temperature, Comparators.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26K42-I/MX
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K42T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F25K83T-I/MX
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.82 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K40T-I/MX
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26Q10T-I/MX
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26K42-E/MX
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K42T-I/MX Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC18FxxK42 |
| Core | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB |
| RAM | 4 KB |
| EEPROM | 1 KB |
| Max CPU Frequency | 64 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC2 with computation |
| DAC | 5-bit DAC |
| Comparators | Yes |
| PWM Channels | Multiple PWM outputs (see datasheet) |
| DMA | Yes |
| Vector Interrupts | Yes |
| Communication | I2C, SPI, UART (with LIN) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, "I" grade) |
| Package | 28-pin UQFN-EP (6x6 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount, Tape & Reel |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Low-Power Feature | XLP (eXtreme Low Power) |
PIC18F26K42T-I/MX Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA5 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | RB0 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 11 | RB1 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 12 | RB2 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 13 | RB3 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 14 | RB4 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 15 | RB5 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 16 | RB6 — Digital I/O / ICS programming clock |
| Pin 17 | RB7 — Digital I/O / ICS programming data |
| Pin 18 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | RC0 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 21 | RC1 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 22 | RC2 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 23 | RC3 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 24 | RC4 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 25 | RC5 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 26 | RC6 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 27 | RC7 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 28 | MCLR — Master clear / reset input |
Typical Applications
PIC18F26K42T-I/MX is suitable for 6 applications: IoT Sensor Node / Wireless Sensor Hub, Industrial Control Panels, LED Lighting Controllers, Home Appliance Controllers, Battery-Powered Handheld Instruments, Automotive Body Electronics (Sub-Nodes).
IoT Sensor Node / Wireless Sensor Hub
The PIC18F26K42T-I/MX suits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes thanks to its XLP low-power modes, 4 KB RAM, and 64 KB Flash. The 12-bit ADC2 captures analog sensor data while DMA offloads transfers without waking the CPU, extending sleep current and battery life. UART/SPI connect directly to wireless modules such as the MRF24WG0MA or RN4870. Compared with discrete analog front ends, the integrated peripherals reduce BOM and PCB area for compact sensor packages.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panels
The PIC18F26K42T-I/MX is well-suited for industrial HMI and control panels where deterministic response and rich peripherals are critical. Vector interrupts deliver fast, prioritized responses to keypad, encoder, and fieldbus events, while the 12-bit ADC2 with computation handles 4-20 mA analog inputs. UART with LIN support interfaces to industrial sensor clusters. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature range enables operation in factory cabinets without additional thermal management.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC18F26K42T-I/MX drives multi-channel LED lighting controllers using its PWM outputs and Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs). The CWG and NCO modules generate high-resolution dimming signals without CPU load, while DMA updates brightness setpoints in the background. The 5-bit DAC and comparators support analog dimming interfaces and over-temperature protection. The 64 MHz CPU and 4 KB RAM enable full-color mixing algorithms and DMX/RDM-style protocol stacks in a single chip.
Recommended
Home Appliance Controllers
The PIC18F26K42T-I/MX serves as a main controller in home appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and HVAC thermostats. Its 64 KB Flash holds full application logic plus capacitive-touch libraries, while the 4 KB RAM supports display buffering and menu navigation. The 12-bit ADC2 reads temperature and humidity sensors directly, and the PWM outputs drive motor-control MOSFETs or triacs. Vector interrupts ensure precise timing for motor commutation and safety shutdowns.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Handheld Instruments
The PIC18F26K42T-I/MX is ideal for handheld measurement instruments powered by 2xAA or Li-ion cells thanks to its wide 2.3-5.5V supply range and XLP modes with sub-uA sleep currents. The 12-bit ADC2 captures sensor signals from load cells, thermocouples, or photodiodes with sufficient resolution for many meter classes. DMA transfers ADC samples to RAM while the CPU stays asleep, periodically waking only to update the display. EEPROM stores calibration data permanently.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Sub-Nodes)
The PIC18F26K42T-I/MX is suitable for automotive body-electronics sub-nodes such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, or interior lighting hubs in non-safety-critical applications. The UART-with-LIN interface connects to body LIN bus networks, while PWM outputs drive LED drivers and small DC motor bridges. The 12-bit ADC2 reads potentiometer positions and current-sense amplifiers. Note: For under-hood or safety applications, choose the AEC-Q100 qualified PIC18F26K42-E/MX (extended temperature variant) instead.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F26K42T-I/MX — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26K42-I/MX | PIC18F26K42T-I/SS | PIC18F25K83T-I/MX | PIC18F26K40T-I/MX | PIC18F26Q10T-I/MX | PIC18F26K42-E/MX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-UQFN-EP (6x6) | 28-UQFN-EP (6x6) - same | 28-SSOP - different package | 28-UQFN-EP (6x6) - same | 28-UQFN-EP (6x6) - same | 28-UQFN-EP (6x6) - same | 28-UQFN-EP (6x6) - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 2 KB | 3 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB |
| EEPROM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Max CPU Frequency | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC2 with computation | 12-bit ADC2 with computation | 12-bit ADC2 with computation | 12-bit ADC2 with computation | 10-bit ADC | 12-bit ADC2 with computation | 12-bit ADC2 with computation |
| DMA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
Key Differentiators
- Tape-and-reel format optimized for high-volume SMT production (vs PIC18F26K42-I/MX)
- K42 family with DMA, vector interrupts, and 12-bit ADC2 (vs PIC18F26K40T-I/MX)
- Larger Flash and RAM versus K83 family (vs PIC18F25K83T-I/MX)
- Newer Q10 family upgrade path available (vs PIC18F26Q10T-I/MX)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD/VSS pin pair (Pin 18 VDD and Pin 9/19 VSS), keeping loop area under 2 mm to minimize switching transients. Add a bulk 10 uF ceramic or tantalum on the main supply rail if the source is more than 25 mm away. For battery applications, exploit XLP Sleep (sub-uA) and Doze modes; configure unused peripherals to OFF via the PMD registers to avoid leakage current. Estimated: each enabled unused peripheral can add 50-200 uA to idle current, easily shortening battery life by an order of magnitude.
Solder the exposed thermal pad (EP) of the 28-UQFN package to a continuous ground pour. The EP provides the primary thermal dissipation path and a low-impedance ground return for the digital core. Thermal via array (typically 9-16 vias, 0.3 mm diameter, 0.5 mm pitch) directly under the pad connects the top-side ground pour to an internal ground plane, dropping theta-JA by 30-40%. For UQFN-28, also keep analog signals (ADC inputs, VREF+) away from high-frequency switching nodes like PWM outputs and clock traces.
Do not leave MCLR floating; tie it to VDD via a 10 kohm pull-up and add a 100 nF cap to ground for noise immunity. Configure MCLR as a digital input only when not used, since unintended resets are a common source of field returns. Also remember that the K42 family uses an updated interrupt controller and register map versus the K40 family - migrating code from K40 to K42 requires not just recompilation but a review of the SFR definitions. Use MCC (MPLAB Code Configurator) to regenerate peripheral drivers when changing families.
When using the 12-bit ADC2 to its full resolution, follow Microchip's analog layout guidelines: route analog and digital grounds as separate pours that join at a single point near the MCU's VSS pin. Use a star-ground topology at the device's VSS pin, and bypass AVdd separately from Vdd if using separate analog supply pins. Place the ADC input traces short and away from PWM and clock lines; add a small RC filter (10 ohm + 100 pF) on fast-moving analog inputs to limit sampling-charge kickback. Estimated: noise coupling from a digital trace within 5 mm of an ADC track can degrade ENOB by 1-2 bits.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Standard industrial temperature -40C to +85C; not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC18F26K42-E/MX for automotive-grade qualification.
