PIC18F448-E/P - 8-bit MCU 16KB Flash CAN 40-DIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F448-E/P ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.1 | $9.10 |
| 10 | $8.05 | $80.50 |
| 100 | $7.1 | $710.00 |
| 500 | $6.3 | $3,150.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.8 | $5,800.00 |
PIC18F448-E/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a programmable single-chip computer that processes data in 8-bit words and integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, volatile data memory, and programmable peripherals. PIC18F parts sit in the PIC18 family, which is Microchip's enhanced 8-bit architecture built on a modified Harvard core with hardware multiplier and 16-bit instruction word, and the broader PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) family above it is one of the foundational microcontroller lineages in modern embedded design.
Key features include 25 MIPS peak throughput at 40 MHz, an internal 8 MHz oscillator with PLL options, 10-bit ADC up to 8 channels, a USART with LIN support, MSSP for SPI/I2C, two analog comparators, four timer modules, and a 10-channel PWM. The integrated ECAN module supports CAN 2.0B with eight transmit/receive mailboxes, enabling robust automotive and industrial networking without an external CAN controller.
The architecture combines the standard PIC18 instruction set with a hardware multiply routine in 8 cycles, a 31-level hardware stack, and a 16-bit wide program memory bus that lets the CPU fetch data from program memory in one cycle. The device has 36 digital I/O pins and on-chip debug via ICD, and runs from 4.2 V to 5.5 V (typical 5 V supply), reflecting its industrial-grade origin.
Typical applications include automotive body and chassis CAN nodes, industrial CAN-based sensor and actuator nodes, building automation gateways, HVAC controllers, and embedded HMI panels that benefit from the 40-pin through-hole format for prototype and retrofit designs.
When designing with this device, ensure your compiler selection migrates cleanly because the -E suffix marks the Extended temperature grade; the standard PIC18F448-I/P remains the commercial-grade alternative and is generally interchangeable electrically but should be selected against your ambient derating.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and engineering design notes drawn from the manufacturer datasheet, so you can verify a board revision without re-deriving every spec.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F448-E/P — 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 PIC18F448-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Timers, RoHS Status, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F4480-E/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F448-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F458-I/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$7.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4420-E/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4320-I/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F448-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC (8-bit, Harvard) |
| Family | PIC18F |
| Core Clock Frequency | 40 MHz max |
| Program Memory | 16 KB (8K x 16) Flash (Enhanced) |
| RAM | 768 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Supply Voltage | 4.2 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (Extended "-E") |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP (0.600"/15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP-40) |
| Digital I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 8 channels |
| CAN Module | ECAN (CAN 2.0B), 8 mailboxes |
| UART/USART | 1 x USART with LIN |
| SPI/I2C | MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Timers | 4 modules |
| Comparators | 2 analog |
| PWM Channels | Up to 10 channels |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (current Microchip product) |
PIC18F448-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (Reset) input or programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 / CANRX |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 / CANTX |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 / VREF- |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/TOCKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4 — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 8 | OSC1 — Crystal/resonator input |
| Pin 9 | OSC2 — Crystal/resonator output |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 17 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 18 | RD0/PSP0 — PORTD bit 0 / Parallel Slave Port bit 0 |
| Pin 19 | RD1/PSP1 — PORTD bit 1 / Parallel Slave Port bit 1 |
| Pin 20 | RD2/PSP2 — PORTD bit 2 / Parallel Slave Port bit 2 |
| Pin 21 | RD3/PSP3 — PORTD bit 3 / Parallel Slave Port bit 3 |
| Pin 22 | RD4/PSP4 — PORTD bit 4 / Parallel Slave Port bit 4 |
| Pin 23 | RD5/PSP5 — PORTD bit 5 / Parallel Slave Port bit 5 |
| Pin 24 | RD6/PSP6 — PORTD bit 6 / Parallel Slave Port bit 6 |
| Pin 25 | RD7/PSP7 — PORTD bit 7 / Parallel Slave Port bit 7 |
| Pin 26 | VSS — Ground (digital) |
| Pin 27 | VDD — Positive supply (digital, 5 V) |
| Pin 28 | RB0/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 29 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 30 | RB2/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 31 | RB3/INT3 — PORTB bit 3 / External interrupt 3 |
| Pin 32 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 33 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 34 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 / ICPGC |
| Pin 35 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 |
| Pin 36 | RE0/RD — PORTE bit 0 / Parallel Slave Port read |
| Pin 37 | RE1/WR — PORTE bit 1 / Parallel Slave Port write |
| Pin 38 | RE2/CS — PORTE bit 2 / Parallel Slave Port chip select |
| Pin 39 | AVDD — Analog positive supply |
| Pin 40 | AVSS — Analog ground |
Typical Applications
PIC18F448-E/P is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial CAN-Based Sensor Node, Automotive Body and Chassis CAN Nodes, Building Automation Gateway Node, Embedded HMI / Control Panel Front End, DC Motor and Stepper Driver Controller, Engine Control Module Auxiliary / Sensor Front End, Test and Measurement CAN Bus Probe.
Industrial CAN-Based Sensor Node
The PIC18F448-E/P is well suited as the brain of an industrial 4-20 mA sensor that talks to a CAN bus. The integrated ECAN 2.0B module with eight mailboxes can transmit readings directly, removing the need for an external controller. The 10-bit ADC inputs analog process signals from sensor front ends, the 36 digital I/O drive LEDs, relays, and keypads, and the -40 to +125 C Extended temperature range handles factory ambient heat. Power consumption stays manageable for always-on nodes because the 5 V supply and ECAN backbone draw modest current.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Chassis CAN Nodes
The device targets 5 V automotive body and chassis ECAN nodes such as door modules, HVAC controls, mirror controllers, and seat controllers. The ECAN module handles bus arbitration, error handling, and acceptance filtering per CAN 2.0B so messages from competing nodes do not overload the firmware. With 16 KB Flash, 768 B RAM, and 256 B EEPROM, the device can store node calibration constants such as trim values and DTC buffers in non-volatile memory. The 40-pin PDIP through-hole form factor suits legacy bus networks and field retrofit scenarios where sockets are preferred over reflow.
Recommended
Building Automation Gateway Node
The PIC18F448-E/P can bridge BACnet, Modbus-equivalent, or proprietary sensor data onto a CAN backbone inside large commercial buildings. Its USART supports a secondary RS-485 link to legacy thermostats while ECAN drives the backbone, and the MSSP provides SPI/I2C for local sensor and EEPROM peripherals. 768 bytes of RAM handle small protocol buffers, and the firmware fits within the 16 KB Flash envelope. Extended temperature means the device survives plant rooms, attic plenums, and rooftop enclosures.
Recommended
Embedded HMI / Control Panel Front End
Front-panel HMIs and control panels benefit from the PIC18F448-E/P's 36 digital I/O lines, the 10-bit ADC for reading potentiometers and analog inputs, and the 10-channel PWM for backlight, LED, and indicator dimming. The MSSP supports SPI to drive character or graphic LCDs and I2C to scan keypads with a port-expander. The 40-pin PDIP package eases hand-wired prototype panels and field serviceability, while the 5 V supply matches common LCD bias rails. ECAN provides connectivity to the host controller or supervisory PLC.
Recommended
DC Motor and Stepper Driver Controller
The PIC18F448-E/P is a low-cost controller for small DC-motor and stepper subsystems whose commands must arrive over CAN. The ECAN module receives motion commands from a master controller, while PWM channels (up to 10) drive H-bridge gate drivers or stepper coil drivers. Two analog comparators provide overcurrent fault detection, and timers measure tachometer feedback without burdening the CPU. The Extended temperature grade keeps the device functional in enclosed motor housings.
Recommended
Engine Control Module Auxiliary / Sensor Front End
Even though the device cannot drive full engine control, it is well suited as the analog front-end for sub-systems that feed main ECMs over CAN. Analog sensors are sampled by the 10-bit ADC and translated into CAN frames by the on-chip ECAN. Two analog comparators handle threshold detection of crank, knock, or oil-pressure sensors. 16 KB Flash holds scale-and-translate tables, while 256 B EEPROM stores calibration per motor batch. -40 to +125 C range handles under-hood compartments.
Recommended
Test and Measurement CAN Bus Probe
The PIC18F448-E/P is a self-contained CAN probe for development benches and field diagnostics. ECAN captures traffic and stores it in RAM, while the USART streams the data to a PC over RS-232 for log analysis. The 10-bit ADC samples the bus during debugging for analog integrity checks, and MSSP drives a small character LCD for headless test stands. ECAN 2.0B compatibility lets the probe decode standard and extended identifiers used in commercial fleets, while 40-pin PDIP simplifies hand-soldered lab prototypes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F448-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F4480-E/P | PIC18F448-I/P | PIC18F458-I/P | PIC18F4420-E/P | PIC18F4320-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP | 40-pin PDIP - same | 40-pin PDIP - same | 40-pin PDIP - same | 40-pin PDIP - same | 40-pin PDIP - same |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB |
| RAM | 768 B | 768 B | 768 B | 1536 B | 768 B | 768 B |
| CAN Module | ECAN 2.0B | ECAN 2.0B | ECAN 2.0B | ECAN 2.0B | ECAN 2.0B | None |
| Core Frequency | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated ECAN 2.0B controller (vs no CAN module) (vs PIC18F4320-I/P)
- Extended -40 to +125 C temperature grade (vs PIC18F448-I/P)
- Same 40-pin PDIP pinout as larger family (vs PIC18F458-I/P (32 KB Flash variant))
Design Notes
Estimated: at 40 MHz core and 5.0 V supply, the PIC18F448-E/P core current can reach ~15 mA in active mode; with 768 B RAM and 16 KB Flash typical, expect between 8-15 mA. Place a 100 nF decoupling cap within 5 mm of every VDD/AVDD pair and a 10 uF bulk cap near the package. For mixed-signal designs, separate AVDD from VDD with a ferrite bead to limit digital noise coupling into the analog rails. Brown-out Reset (BOR) should be left enabled to avoid code execution past 4.2 V.
Keep the oscillator traces short: OSC1 and OSC2 must be routed within a few mm of the MCU and confined over a local ground pour. The 40-pin PDIP has generous lead pitches (2.54 mm/0.1"), so signal integrity is straightforward, but the ECAN bus still requires a 120 Ω termination at each end and a transceiver such as the MCP2551 for CAN compliance. Use 4-layer boards only when the device sits near switching regulators; for can-only nodes 2-layer stack-up with good ground is acceptable.
The Extended -40 to +125 C grade is designed for industrial environments. In open-air DIP-40 layouts, the package dissipates roughly 1 W without a heatsink in still air; for sealed enclosures, derate to approximately 0.5 W. Provide vent paths or convection gaps and route thermal mass around the package leads. Although the device itself does not generate significant heat, its analog performance benefits from stable junction temperature.
Configuration word programming: leaving the oscillator mode set to HS instead of XT for low-frequency crystals causes a clock fault on startup. Always clear the watchdog in long-loop firmware and configure BOR for 4.2 V in 5 V systems. ECAN bit-timing must be set per the bus speed, and unused mailboxes should be discarded or cleared in the interrupt service routine to avoid spurious message flags.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page (current production). Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive drop-ins consider PIC18F4580-I/P or PIC18F26K80 series.
