PIC18F26K42T-I/SS - 8-bit 64MHz MCU 64KB Flash 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F26K42T-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.87 | $3.87 |
| 10 | $3.48 | $34.80 |
| 100 | $3.05 | $305.00 |
| 500 | $2.62 | $1,310.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.3 | $2,300.00 |
PIC18F26K42T-I/SS Overview
A PIC18 microcontroller is an 8-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) device from Microchip's PIC family, widely used in embedded control. In the broader taxonomy, a PIC18 belongs to: 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The K42 family specifically targets low-power XLP (eXtreme Low Power) applications with the addition of core-independent peripherals that allow hardware events to run without CPU intervention, lowering average current consumption and enabling deterministic response times.
Key features include 25 I/O pins, two I2C/SPI/I2S peripherals, two UART modules with LIN support, one 12-bit differential ADC with computation, one 8-bit DAC, two 10-bit PWM modules with complementary outputs and dead-band control, two DMA channels, two comparators, an 8-bit timer, three 16-bit timers, and a 256-byte EEPROM-like data EEPROM. The device also includes a windowed watchdog timer, CRC/SCAN and Zero-Cross Detect for robust industrial and consumer designs.
The architecture is built around an enhanced PIC18 Harvard CPU with a 16-bit instruction word, a hardware multiplier and a vectored interrupt controller supporting single or dual priority. The K42 family introduces a DMA engine and Memory Access Partition (MAP) for bootloader write protection, allowing flexible firmware updates without external supervisors.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, home appliances, motor control, LED lighting, battery-powered metering and automotive body modules. The wide 2.3V-5.5V supply range and on-board peripherals simplify designs where dedicated gate-driver ICs and external ADCs would otherwise be needed.
When designing with this part, ensure the VDD/VSS pins are properly decoupled with 100nF + bulk capacitors placed within 3mm of each pin pair. Verify that high-current I/O transitions do not cause VDD droop below the brown-out threshold of 2.0V, and reserve the high-speed oscillator pins (OSC1/OSC2 or OSCIO) for short traces to maintain signal integrity.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, pinout data and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, giving engineers a complete decision-ready view of the PIC18F26K42T-I/SS.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F26K42T-I/SS — 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/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Comparators, DAC, Data SRAM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26K42-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K42-E/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26K42T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26K40T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.94 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K22T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26Q43T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26K42T-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16 words) |
| Data SRAM | 4 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 1 KB |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 64 MHz |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| Package | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm body width) |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 24 channels (differential capable) |
| DAC | 8-bit, 1 channel |
| PWM Modules | 2 x 10-bit with complementary outputs |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit, 3 x 16-bit |
| DMA Channels | 2 |
| Communication | 2x I2C/SPI/I2S, 2x UART (LIN) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 |
PIC18F26K42T-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/ANA0/C1IN0+/C2IN0+/SRI — Bidirectional I/O, ADC analog input, comparator input |
| Pin 2 | RA1/ANA1/C1IN1-/C2IN1- — Bidirectional I/O, ADC analog input, comparator input |
| Pin 3 | RA2/ANA2/C1IN0-/C2IN0-/VREF- — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, comparator negative reference |
| Pin 4 | RA3/ANA3/C1IN1+/VREF+ — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, comparator positive reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4/ANA4/T0CKI/C1OUT — Bidirectional I/O, Timer0 clock input, comparator output |
| Pin 6 | RA5/MCLR — Bidirectional I/O, master clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — Bidirectional I/O, oscillator output or clock output |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — Bidirectional I/O, oscillator input or external clock |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply voltage 2.3V to 5.5V |
| Pin 11 | RB4/ANB4/SDA2/SDI2 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, I2C2 data or SPI2 data in |
| Pin 12 | RB5/ANB5/RX2/CK2 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, UART2 RX or SPI2 clock |
| Pin 13 | RB6/ANB6/TX2/CK2 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, UART2 TX or SPI2 clock |
| Pin 14 | RB7/ANB7/SDA2/SDO2 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, I2C2 or SPI2 data out |
| Pin 15 | RC0/ANC0/SCL1/SCK1 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, I2C1 clock or SPI1 clock |
| Pin 16 | RC1/ANC1/SDA1/SDI1 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, I2C1 data or SPI1 data in |
| Pin 17 | RC2/ANC2/SDA1/SDO1 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, I2C1 or SPI1 data out |
| Pin 18 | RC3/ANC3/SCL1/SCK1 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, I2C1 clock or SPI1 clock |
| Pin 19 | RC4/ANC4/SDA2/SDI2 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, I2C2 data or SPI2 data in |
| Pin 20 | RC5/ANC5 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC analog input |
| Pin 21 | RC6/ANC6/TX1/CK1 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, UART1 TX or SPI1 clock |
| Pin 22 | RC7/ANC7/RX1/DT1 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, UART1 RX or SPI1 data |
| Pin 23 | RB0/ANB0/CCP4/SRI — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, CCP4 PWM output |
| Pin 24 | RB1/ANB1/CCP5 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, CCP5 PWM output |
| Pin 25 | RB2/ANB2/CANTX/SDA1 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, I2C1 data |
| Pin 26 | RB3/ANB3/CANRX/SCL1 — Bidirectional I/O, ADC, I2C1 clock |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply voltage 2.3V to 5.5V |
Typical Applications
PIC18F26K42T-I/SS is suitable for 8 applications: IoT Sensor Node, Home Appliance Control Board, LED Lighting Controller, Battery-Powered Metering, Industrial Sensor Hub, Automotive Body Module, Consumer Touch Interface, Portable Medical Monitor.
IoT Sensor Node
The PIC18F26K42T-I/SS is ideal for IoT sensor nodes due to its eXtreme Low Power (XLP) design and 2.3V to 5.5V supply range. Its 25 I/O pins and 12-bit ADC (with differential capability) allow direct interface to temperature, humidity and gas sensors without external signal conditioning. The 64MHz CPU performs sensor fusion in microseconds before returning to sleep, while DMA offloads data movement between ADC and RAM, keeping the CPU idle and dropping average current to single-digit uA for battery life measured in years on a coin cell.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Board
For washing machines, refrigerators and air-conditioner control boards the PIC18F26K42T-I/SS delivers deterministic motor control and user-interface handling in a single chip. The two 10-bit PWM modules with complementary outputs and dead-band control drive half-bridges for low-voltage BLDC or triac-controlled AC loads, while the integrated 8-bit DAC sets reference voltages for comparators used in zero-cross detection. Two UARTs with LIN support and two I2C/SPI ports allow simultaneous connection to a user-interface keypad and a sensor hub.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC18F26K42T-I/SS excels in tunable-white and RGBW LED controllers where smooth PWM dimming and accurate colour mixing are required. Its two 10-bit PWM channels with 64MHz time-base produce 1024-step resolution at 62.5kHz carrier frequency, eliminating visible flicker while remaining above the audible noise band. DMA-driven PWM updates keep colour transitions jitter-free, and the 8-bit DAC provides a programmable reference for constant-current LED driver ICs such as the MCP1650.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Metering
In electricity, water and gas meters the PIC18F26K42T-I/SS combines a 12-bit differential ADC for accurate sensor reading with XLP sleep currents below 50nA, extending battery life past 10 years on a single lithium cell. The 1KB EEPROM logs metering data without external memory, while DMA moves ADC results directly to RAM without waking the CPU. The windowed watchdog and CRC/SCAN modules detect fault conditions and firmware corruption, meeting utility-meter reliability standards.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hub
As an industrial 4-20mA sensor hub, the PIC18F26K42T-I/SS uses its 12-bit ADC to digitize multiple analog field signals and re-emits them as digital data over RS-485 using one of its UARTs. The two comparators detect out-of-range sensor faults while DMA continuously streams ADC data to RAM, offloading the CPU. Wide 2.3V to 5.5V supply tolerance allows direct 24V industrial-bus operation with a simple LDO, and the -40C to +85C industrial temperature range meets IEC 60068 environmental standards.
Recommended
Automotive Body Module
The PIC18F26K42T-I/SS supports automotive body-electronics modules such as interior lighting controllers, seat-position memory and HVAC blend-door control, where 5V-tolerant digital I/O and LIN bus connectivity are required. Two UARTs implement LIN 2.x slave communication, the 12-bit ADC reads NTC temperature sensors for HVAC, and the PWM modules drive servo motors. For under-hood or safety-critical applications upgrade to the AEC-Q100 qualified PIC18F26K42-E/SS variant in the same 28-SSOP footprint.
Recommended
Consumer Touch Interface
In consumer appliances with capacitive touch keys the PIC18F26K42T-I/SS uses the mTouch peripheral (via charge-time-measurement on the ADC) to handle up to 25 touch channels, replacing mechanical switches. The DMA and CLC peripherals debounce and route signals in hardware, freeing the CPU to run user-interface logic on a small OLED or segment LCD driven by the integrated 8-bit DAC. Low current draw in idle makes the device suitable for plug-in appliances meeting 0.5W standby regulations.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitor
Battery-powered pulse-oximeter and portable ECG front-ends use the PIC18F26K42T-I/SS for its low-noise 12-bit ADC and XLP sleep modes. DMA continuously streams ADC samples to RAM at up to 100ksps while the CPU performs heart-rate calculations, then returns to sleep between bursts to extend battery life. The 1KB EEPROM stores device calibration constants, while UART outputs data to a Bluetooth Low Energy module. For medical-grade designs ensure IEC 60601 isolation barriers are implemented externally.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F26K42T-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26K42-I/SS | PIC18F26K42-E/SS | PIC18F26K40T-I/SS | PIC18F26K22T-I/SS | PIC18F26Q43T-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 16 MHz | 64 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| SRAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 3.8 KB | 4 KB |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 10-bit | 12-bit |
| DMA Channels | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| DAC | 8-bit | 8-bit | 8-bit | 5-bit | None | 8-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated 12-bit ADC with computation and DMA offload (vs PIC18F26K22T-I/SS)
- Two DMA channels for autonomous peripheral operation (vs PIC18F26K40T-I/SS)
- 8-bit DAC and zero-cross detect for power control (vs PIC18F26K40T-I/SS)
- Core-independent peripherals (CLC, DSM) reduce CPU load (vs PIC18F26K22T-I/SS)
Design Notes
The PIC18F26K42T-I/SS features eXtreme Low Power (XLP) modes including Sleep, Doze and Idle, with nanoWatt XLP BOR disabled currents measured below 50nA typical. To achieve this, disable unused peripherals via PMD registers, switch the system clock to LFINTOSC (31kHz) before Sleep, and ensure the ADC is fully powered down with ADCON1bits.ADPWR = 0. A 100nF decoupling capacitor must be placed within 3mm of each VDD/VSS pin pair to suppress switching-induced voltage drops that would otherwise trigger brown-out resets.
For reliable 5V operation in the 28-SSOP package, route a solid ground plane on the top layer directly under the device and stitch it with vias to a lower-layer ground plane. Keep VDD traces short and wide (>= 0.3mm) to minimize voltage drops at peak CPU current. Place the ICSP programming header (PGED/PGEC) within 50mm of the chip, with no series resistors on those lines during development. The MCLR pin requires a 10kohm pull-up and a 100nF capacitor to VDD to provide a clean reset ramp on power-up.
Three pitfalls are most common when migrating from older PIC18 devices: (1) the K42 family reconfigures PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) registers - any firmware ported from K22 or K40 must remap I/O functions; (2) the ADC is now 12-bit with computation, requiring ADCON0/ADCON1/ADCON2/ADCON3 setup that differs from 10-bit parts; (3) configuration-word settings such as WDTE, BOREN and LVP are now defined in CONFIG1/2/3/4/5 - leave LVP disabled (LVP = OFF) in production to free the RB5 pin as general-purpose I/O. Estimated: these are common porting issues documented in Microchip AN2644 migration guide.
When using the internal 64MHz HFINTOSC, do not assume the oscillator is jitter-free for time-critical protocols. For UART baud rates above 115200 baud, enable the auto-baud feature or use an external crystal. For SPI communication above 8MHz, keep SCK traces shorter than 25mm and place a 33ohm series-termination resistor at the master output to dampen ringing. The I2C peripheral supports SMBus levels up to 5.5V, but external pull-ups sized for 400kHz Fast-Mode operation are recommended for reliable multi-master behaviour.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. For AEC-Q100 automotive qualification use the -E/SS extended-temperature variant. PIC18F26K42T-I/SS is industrial-grade (-40C to +85C) only.
