PIC18F27J13-I/ML - 128KB Flash 8-bit MCU | Microchip QFN-28
MPN: PIC18F27J13-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.8 | $3.80 |
| 10 | $3.61 | $36.10 |
| 100 | $3.23 | $323.00 |
| 500 | $2.85 | $1,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.55 | $2,550.00 |
PIC18F27J13-I/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program and data memory, and peripherals such as ADC, timers, and communication interfaces. Within the broader semiconductor hierarchy, an MCU sits under microcontrollers, which themselves fall under integrated circuits and ultimately semiconductors. The PIC18F27J13 uses a RISC-based Harvard architecture, executing most instructions in a single cycle to deliver deterministic real-time control at low power.
Key features include 128KB Flash (64K x 16), 4KB RAM, an integrated 12-bit ADC with up to 13 channels, and the deep-sleep nanoWatt XLP mode that draws only nanoamp-level standby current. The device supports an operating voltage range from 2.15 V to 3.6 V (FindMyChip) and an extended 4.2 V to 5.5 V range (Chipdig listing) depending on configuration, and operates across an industrial temperature range of -40C to +85C. The QFN-28 package with 25 I/O pins supports compact PCB layouts where board area is critical.
The PIC18F27J13 uses a 16-bit wide instruction set with an 8-bit data path, optimizing code density while retaining the simplicity of an 8-bit core. It includes a 4x PLL for high-speed operation from low-frequency crystals and integrated peripherals such as UART, SPI, I2C, comparators, and PWM modules. This combination makes it well suited to mixed-signal embedded applications where both digital control and analog acquisition are required.
Typical applications include consumer electronics, industrial sensor nodes, portable medical devices, low-power IoT endpoints, and human-machine interface (HMI) controllers. The 12 MIPS throughput and 128KB code space support graphical UI libraries and protocol stacks, while XLP technology extends battery life in always-on products.
When designing with this device, ensure proper decoupling (100 nF + bulk) near VDD pins and follow QFN-28 thermal pad soldering guidelines to maximize heat dissipation and mechanical reliability.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a single-source reference for evaluating the PIC18F27J13-I/ML.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F27J13-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 PIC18F27J13-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Low-Power Technology, Core Architecture, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26J13-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26J53-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F27J13T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26J13T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F25J13-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F27J13-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 128 KB (64K x 16) |
| Data RAM | 4 KB |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| MIPS (Peak) | 12 MIPS |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.15 V to 3.6 V (XLP mode); 4.2 V to 5.5 V (extended) |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 13 channels |
| Package | QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, -I suffix) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP with deep-sleep mode |
| Communication Interfaces | UART, SPI, I2C |
| Timers/PWM | Multiple 8/16-bit timers with PWM |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F27J13-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 5 |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive power supply |
| Pin 11 | RB0/INT0 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 12 | RB1/INT1 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive power supply |
| Pin 21 | RC0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 22 | RC1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 23 | RC2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 24 | RC3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 25 | RC4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 26 | RC5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | RC6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 28 | RC7 — Digital I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC18F27J13-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Low-Power IoT Sensor Nodes, Industrial Sensor Interfaces, Consumer HMI Controllers, Portable Medical Monitoring, Battery Chargers & Power Management, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety).
Low-Power IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC18F27J13-I/ML fits IoT sensor nodes because its nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep mode draws nanoamp-level standby current, directly extending battery life in always-on wireless sensors. Its 128 KB Flash accommodates Zigbee, LoRaWAN, or BLE stack libraries without external memory, while 4 KB RAM handles modest buffering of sensor reads. Placed as the main MCU on a coin-cell or Li-ion powered PCB, the chip operates from 2.15 V to 3.6 V, eliminating the need for a boost regulator. Compared to Cortex-M0+ alternatives, the 8-bit PIC18 core simplifies firmware development for simple periodic-sampling applications such as temperature, humidity, or motion sensors.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interfaces
Industrial sensor interfaces benefit from the PIC18F27J13-I/ML's 12-bit ADC with up to 13 input channels, providing accurate conversion of analog transducer signals such as strain gauges, RTDs, and pressure sensors. The 12 MIPS throughput handles linearization math and Modbus RTU framing on UART in real time. With -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating, the MCU operates reliably in factory automation panels and field instrumentation. Compared to 10-bit ADC MCUs, the extra 2 bits of resolution reduce calibration effort in precision measurement loops such as load-cell weighing or flow metering.
Recommended
Consumer HMI Controllers
Consumer human-machine interface (HMI) controllers use the PIC18F27J13-I/ML because its 128 KB Flash stores small graphical libraries, button debouncing tables, and menu state machines for appliances and toys. The 4 KB RAM is sufficient for character-LCD frame buffers and short animation sequences. Operating from 2.15 V to 3.6 V, the MCU can run directly from two AA cells in cost-sensitive consumer products. Compared to lower-end PIC16 parts, the PIC18F27J13-I/ML provides the headroom to add UART/SPI/I2C peripherals for touch or LED driver ICs without firmware compromise.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring
Portable medical monitoring devices such as pulse oximeters, blood-pressure cuffs, and glucose meters leverage the PIC18F27J13-I/ML's combination of low-power deep-sleep, accurate 12-bit ADC for sensor signal acquisition, and ample code space for medical algorithms. The wide 2.15 V to 3.6 V operating range supports direct Li-ion or 2xAA battery operation, extending field-use runtime. Compared to 5V-only MCUs, the lower minimum supply voltage reduces battery-pack complexity in portable designs.
Recommended
Battery Chargers & Power Management
Battery charger and power-management subsystems use the PIC18F27J13-I/ML as a supervisory controller for charging profiles, cell-balancing algorithms in multi-cell packs, and user interface feedback (LEDs, beeps). Its 25 I/O pins support multiple status LEDs, sense inputs for current/voltage monitoring via the 12-bit ADC, and PWM control of switching FETs. The XLP deep-sleep mode keeps idle current under 100 nA, preserving battery shelf life. Compared to dedicated charger ICs, this MCU allows flexible programmable charging curves via firmware updates.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
Non-safety automotive body electronics such as interior lighting controllers, seat-position memory modules, and mirror-adjustment systems use the PIC18F27J13-I/ML in non-safety subsystems where AEC-Q100 is not required. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature range covers cabin-environment conditions, while the 12-bit ADC reads potentiometer positions and current-sensing shunts. For safety-critical applications, designers should instead select AEC-Q100 qualified parts from the PIC18F K-series Q84 family. The 128 KB code space supports CAN/LIN stack libraries for body networking.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F27J13-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26J13-I/ML | PIC18F26J53-I/ML | PIC18F27J13T-I/ML | PIC18F26J13T-I/ML | PIC18F25J13-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | QFN-28 (6x6 mm) | QFN-28 (6x6 mm) - same | QFN-28 (6x6 mm) - same | QFN-28 (6x6 mm) - same | QFN-28 (6x6 mm) - same | QFN-28 (6x6 mm) - same |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB |
| RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB |
| Max Clock Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| ADC | 12-bit, 13 ch | 12-bit, 13 ch | 12-bit, 13 ch | 12-bit, 13 ch | 12-bit, 13 ch | 12-bit, 13 ch |
| USB 2.0 OTG | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Supply Voltage | 2.15-3.6 V / 4.2-5.5 V ext | 2.15-3.6 V / 4.2-5.5 V ext | 2.15-3.6 V / 4.2-5.5 V ext | 2.15-3.6 V / 4.2-5.5 V ext | 2.15-3.6 V / 4.2-5.5 V ext | 2.15-3.6 V / 4.2-5.5 V ext |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash in PIC18F27J13 QFN-28 family (vs PIC18F26J13-I/ML)
- No USB peripheral, more I/O for non-USB designs (vs PIC18F26J53-I/ML)
- Wider 2.15-3.6 V supply range supports Li-ion direct connection (vs PIC18F25J13-I/ML)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD pin (pins 10 and 20) and a single bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum-polymer capacitor near the chip. For battery-powered designs targeting nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep, also place a 1 nF bypass on the MCLR/VPP pin to suppress noise that could wake the MCU unexpectedly. The PIC18F27J13 draws under 100 nA in deep-sleep mode, but improper decoupling can introduce spikes that appear as wake-up events.
The QFN-28 (6x6 mm) package has an exposed thermal pad that MUST be soldered to a PCB land of at least the same size as the pad itself, with thermal vias to an inner ground plane for heat dissipation. Skipping the thermal pad solder connection will cause the part to overheat at sustained loads and may lead to intermittent brown-out resets. QFN packages are also more sensitive to PCB flex than QFP, so place the MCU away from board edges, mounting screws, and high-stress connector regions.
Ensure the ICSP programming pins RB6/PGC (pin 17) and RB7/PGD (pin 18) are accessible in your layout - if your PCB design uses these pins for application functions, add 4.7 kohm pull-ups or test points so the programmer can drive them. The MCLR reset pin should NOT be left floating; tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor or use the internal MCLR configuration in the configuration bits. Lastly, verify the CONFIG bits for the oscillator mode and watchdog timer before locking the firmware, as these settings cannot be changed without a programmer.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive designs use AEC-Q100 qualified siblings like PIC18F26K83-I/SS or PIC18F26Q84-I/SP.
