PIC18F26Q43-E/SP - 64KB Flash 8-bit MCU 64MHz SPDIP-28 | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F26Q43-E/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.18 | $21.80 |
| 100 | $1.92 | $192.00 |
| 500 | $1.71 | $855.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.55 | $1,550.00 |
PIC18F26Q43-E/SP Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer whose internal data path and arithmetic logic unit are 8 bits wide; the PIC18 family extends the classic PIC mid-range architecture with a 16-bit instruction word, linear memory, and a C-friendly compiler model. The PIC18F26Q43 belongs to the PIC18-Q43 sub-family, which sits within Microchip's broader PIC18 product hierarchy (PIC10/12/16/18 family -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> semiconductor). Q43 devices are distinguished by high-resolution peripherals that operate independently of the CPU (so-called Core Independent Peripherals, or CIPs).
Key features of this device include a 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter with Computation (ADCC) that automates Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) touch sensing, averaging, filtering, oversampling and threshold detection. The chip also integrates a 5-bit DAC, two comparators, three 16-bit dual-output PWMs (six PWM channels), Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), CLC, Hardware Limit Timer (HLT), Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT), zero-cross detect (ZCD), and scan/CRC engine. Vectored interrupt handling with selectable high/low priority delivers fixed three-instruction-cycle latency. Six DMA controllers move data between peripherals and memory without CPU intervention.
Architecturally the device is implemented in CMOS with Microchip's eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology, supporting down to nanoWatt sleep currents. Communication is provided by multiple UARTs, SPI, and I2C modules; timers include 8/16-bit timer/counters suitable for capture, compare, and PWM. The 64MHz system clock is derived from an internal 64MHz HFINTOSC or an external crystal, with PLL options.
Typical applications include industrial automation, BLDC/PMSM motor control via the CWG and PWM peripherals, LED lighting drivers using the high-resolution PWM, capacitive touch user interfaces using the ADCC + CVD, USB-less consumer appliances, and general-purpose digital control loops. The wide 1.8V-5.5V VDD range simplifies battery-powered designs.
When designing, ensure the device's ICE/ICD pins are routed to an in-circuit debugger header, the VDD/VSS pair has at least 100nF of decoupling near each pin pair, and the MCLR pull-up is sized for the in-system capacitance to avoid spurious resets.
This page synthesizes distributor stock and pricing, drop-in Microchip alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers shorten their evaluation and BOM decision.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F26Q43-E/SP — 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 PIC18F26Q43-E/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Mounting Type, Operating Temperature Range, PWM Channels.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26Q43-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F25Q43-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K83-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26Q10-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26Q43-E/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 64 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB |
| Data SRAM | 4 KB |
| EEPROM | 1 KB |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC | 12-bit with Computation (ADCC), supports CVD touch |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| Comparators | 2 |
| PWM Channels | 6 (three 16-bit dual PWMs) |
| DMA Controllers | 6 |
| Timers | 8-/16-bit timer/counters (count per datasheet) |
| Communication | UART, SPI, I2C (multiple instances) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E = extended) |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (Skinny PDIP, through-hole) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
PIC18F26Q43-E/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — PORTA I/O / analog / RP-in |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — PORTA I/O / analog / RP-in |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — PORTA I/O / analog / RP-in |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — PORTA I/O / analog / RP-in |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — PORTA I/O / analog / RP-in |
| Pin 6 | RA5 — PORTA I/O / analog / RP-in |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — PORTA I/O / analog / RP-in |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — PORTA I/O / analog / RP-in |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | RB0 — PORTB I/O / interrupt-on-change / RP |
| Pin 11 | RB1 — PORTB I/O / interrupt-on-change / RP |
| Pin 12 | RB2 — PORTB I/O / interrupt-on-change / RP |
| Pin 13 | RB3 — PORTB I/O / interrupt-on-change / RP |
| Pin 14 | RB4 — PORTB I/O / interrupt-on-change / RP |
| Pin 15 | RB5 — PORTB I/O / interrupt-on-change / RP |
| Pin 16 | RB6 — PORTB I/O / ICSCLK / RP |
| Pin 17 | RB7 — PORTB I/O / ICSDAT / RP |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground reference (logic) |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8-5.5 V) |
| Pin 20 | RC0 — PORTC I/O / analog / RP-out |
| Pin 21 | RC1 — PORTC I/O / analog / RP-out |
| Pin 22 | RC2 — PORTC I/O / analog / RP-out |
| Pin 23 | RC3 — PORTC I/O / analog / RP-out (SCL1) |
| Pin 24 | RC4 — PORTC I/O / analog / RP-out (SDA1) |
| Pin 25 | RC5 — PORTC I/O / analog / RP-out |
| Pin 26 | RC6 — PORTC I/O / analog / RP-out (TX1) |
| Pin 27 | RC7 — PORTC I/O / analog / RP-out (RX1) |
| Pin 28 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset, active-low) with internal pull-up |
Typical Applications
PIC18F26Q43-E/SP is suitable for 6 applications: BLDC/PMSM Motor Control, Capacitive Touch User Interface, LED Lighting Driver, Industrial Sensor Node, Consumer Appliance Control, Battery-Powered IoT Edge Device.
BLDC/PMSM Motor Control
The PIC18F26Q43-E/SP's six 16-bit PWM outputs and on-chip Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) with programmable dead-band make it a strong fit for sensorless or Hall-sensor BLDC and PMSM motor control. The 12-bit ADCC samples phase currents at the PWM rate, two comparators trigger Hardware Limit Timer (HLT) shutdown on over-current, and six DMA channels move ADC results into memory without CPU load. Unlike discrete PWM-controller-plus-MCU solutions, this single-chip approach reduces BOM by 30-40% and shrinks board area for fans, pumps, and small appliance drives.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC18F26Q43-E/SP implements mTouch capacitive touch sensing directly in the 12-bit ADCC peripheral via Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) techniques, eliminating the dedicated touch IC that older PIC18 designs required. Hardware-averaged oversampling and threshold detection run in the background while the CPU executes UI logic, supporting up to 28 touch channels on the 28-pin variant. Compared to a software-only ADC touch loop, the ADCC approach reduces CPU wake events by roughly 5x and improves touch SNR, which is critical for white-goods and induction-cooktop front panels.
Recommended
LED Lighting Driver
The PIC18F26Q43-E/SP drives high-resolution LED strings with its 16-bit PWM channels capable of >14-bit effective resolution when combined with the CWG and CLC. The CWG produces center-aligned complementary outputs with hardware dead-band, avoiding shoot-through in external MOSFET half-bridges. The vectored interrupt controller guarantees sub-microsecond response on over-temperature faults, and the XLP nanoWatt sleep modes drop quiescent current below 100 nA for always-on battery-backed lighting. Compared to a 555-timer PWM, this approach adds dim-to-warm and color-mixing capability without extra ICs.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Node
The PIC18F26Q43-E/SP's wide 1.8-5.5 V VDD range and 64 KB Flash support industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered sensor nodes, RTU front-ends, and Modbus gateways. The on-chip 12-bit ADCC reads multiple analog channels with hardware averaging, while UART/SPI/I2C peripherals interface to digital sensors and isolated communication transceivers. The Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT) and CRC/Scan engine meet IEC 61508 SIL-1 firmware integrity requirements. Compared to ASIC sensor front-ends, this MCU approach reduces time-to-market and supports late-stage firmware updates via bootloader.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC18F26Q43-E/SP powers washing machines, dishwashers, induction cooktops, and microwave oven control boards, where its combination of capacitive touch, motor-control PWM, and safety timers replaces multiple discrete ICs. The CLC configurable logic cell implements safety interlocks in hardware, bypassing software for fault paths. The -40 C to +125 C extended temperature grade supports under-cabinet and laundry-room installations. Compared to legacy PIC16F designs, the Q43 cuts BOM by removing external touch ICs and reduces firmware complexity via DMA-driven peripheral loops.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Edge Device
The PIC18F26Q43-E/SP's XLP nanoWatt technology delivers sleep currents under 100 nA with retention RAM, making it suitable for battery-powered IoT edge nodes such as remote controls, smart locks, and wireless sensor tags. The WWDT and RTC wake the MCU only on real events, while DMA-driven ADCC sampling keeps average current below 5 uA in continuous-monitoring applications. The 1.8 V minimum VDD allows direct connection to a single CR2032 cell. Compared to low-power ARM Cortex-M0+ alternatives, the Q43 offers comparable sleep current with the simplicity of PIC18 assembly and XC8 toolchain support.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F26Q43-E/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26Q43-I/SP | PIC18F25Q43-I/SP | PIC18F26K83-I/SP | PIC18F26Q10-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SPDIP-28 (through-hole) | SPDIP-28 (same) | SPDIP-28 (same) | SPDIP-28 (same) | SPDIP-28 (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology (same brand) | Microchip Technology (same brand) | Microchip Technology (same brand) | Microchip Technology (same brand) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB |
| Data SRAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | — | 2 KB | 3.5 KB |
| EEPROM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| ADC / Touch Support | 12-bit ADCC with CVD touch + 6 DMA | 12-bit ADCC with CVD touch + 6 DMA | 12-bit ADCC with CVD touch + 6 DMA | 12-bit ADC, no CVD, no DMA | 12-bit ADC, no CVD, no DMA |
Key Differentiators
- 12-bit ADCC with built-in CVD capacitive touch sensing (vs PIC18F26K83-I/SP)
- Extended -40 C to +125 C operating range on E/SP variant (vs PIC18F26Q43-I/SP)
- Six DMA controllers and vectored interrupts (vs PIC18F26Q10-I/SP)
Design Notes
Place one 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD pin pair and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the main VDD rail. The PIC18F26Q43-E/SP's XLP nanoWatt sleep currents drop below 100 nA only if the MCLR pin pull-up is sized above 50 kohm and the BOR is enabled; otherwise leakage paths on floating I/O pins can keep Iq above 1 uA. Estimated: at 3.3 V VDD and -40 C the data sheet typical IDD is 5 uA/MHz active.
Route the 28-pin SPDIP footprint with 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) pin pitch and at least 8 mil traces to the ICSPDAT/ICSCLK pins (RB6/RB7) so the MPLAB ICD 4 or PICkit 4 debugger can attach without rework. Keep analog traces (ANx, DAC, ZCD) short and guarded by a ground pour to minimize ADC crosstalk. Estimated: the datasheet recommends 5 mm maximum trace length between the MCU and the analog source for full 12-bit SNR at 64 MHz.
Do not enable the JTAG pins on PORTB unless you are using a 4-wire JTAG debugger - the PIC18F26Q43-E/SP defaults to ICS on RB6/RB7 and freeing these for GPIO requires configuration-bit changes that lock out standard debuggers. Also avoid enabling the on-chip voltage regulator (PMSLP bit) above 5.5 V, which will exceed absolute-maximum ratings. Always tie MCLR high through a 10 kohm resistor and a 100 nF cap to ground for noise immunity.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH compliance per Microchip environmental statements. The -E temperature grade extends to +125 C but the part is not formally AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 designs use the Q43 automotive supplement or migrate to dsPIC33A.
