PIC18F448-E/PT - 8-Bit 40MHz 16KB Flash MCU w/ CAN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F448-E/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.45 | $7.45 |
| 10 | $6.85 | $68.50 |
| 100 | $5.95 | $595.00 |
| 500 | $5.2 | $2,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.65 | $4,650.00 |
PIC18F448-E/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, working RAM, data EEPROM and peripheral interfaces on one silicon die. The PIC18F is Microchip's enhanced 8-bit architecture that adds 16-bit instructions, hardware multiply, a 31-level stack and linear data memory addressing to the classic PIC baseline, enabling C compilers (MPLAB XC8) and complex protocol stacks such as CANopen, J1939 and DeviceNet to run efficiently. The CAN module makes the PIC18F448 especially well-suited to in-vehicle networks, industrial fieldbus nodes and any distributed control system requiring deterministic multi-drop serial communication.
Key features include Full CAN 2.0B active/passive compliance with 3 transmit buffers, 2 receive buffers, 6 acceptance filters and 2 filter masks, supporting bit rates up to 1 Mbps. The 8-channel 10-bit ADC delivers up to 100 ksps conversion, and the 5 PWM outputs (10-bit resolution) support motor-control and lighting. Self-programming allows field firmware updates through the ICSP interface, and the ICD (In-Circuit Debugger) pins enable real-time emulation with the MPLAB ICD 5. Five timer modules provide Capture/Compare/PWM functionality for event timing and waveform generation.
Typical applications include CAN nodes in automotive body and chassis ECUs, industrial sensor hubs on CANopen or DeviceNet, building automation gateways, HVAC control boards and motor-control front-ends where deterministic serial communication is required alongside general-purpose digital and analog I/O. The extended temperature grade enables under-hood and outdoor deployments where commercial-grade parts are unsuitable. The 16KB Flash is ample for protocol stacks plus application code in tightly written C.
When designing with this device, note that the PIC18F448 has been succeeded by the PIC18F4480 (with 32KB Flash and 10-bit ADC improvements) and is itself a recommended replacement for the older PIC18F448-I/PT industrial grade variant. The TQFP-44 footprint is shared across the PIC18F248/258/448/458 family and several newer K-series parts, easing PCB reuse. Ensure the ICSP/ICD pins are routed to a 6-pin header for production programming and in-field firmware updates.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F448-E/PT — 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/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Communication, I/O Pins, Package, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F458-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F448-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4480-E/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4480-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F458-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F448-E/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18F (8-bit RISC, enhanced) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| RAM | 768 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| I/O Pins | 34 digital I/O |
| Package | TQFP-44 (PT), 10x10 mm, 1.0 mm height |
| CAN Module | Full CAN 2.0B, 3 TX buffers, 2 RX buffers, 6 filters, 2 masks |
| ADC | 8 channels, 10-bit |
| PWM Channels | 5 (10-bit resolution) |
| Timers | 5 (Timer0-4, including 16-bit) |
| Communication | USART, MSSP (SPI / I2C), CAN, PSP |
| Temperature Grade | Extended (-40C to +125C, automotive) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (TQFP) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Pb-free) |
| In-Circuit Debug | ICD via ICSP (2-wire) |
PIC18F448-E/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage / digital I/O RE3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / analog input 2 / ADC negative reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Oscillator output / clock output / PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Oscillator input / clock input / PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 13 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 output |
| Pin 14 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 (PWM) output |
| Pin 15 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 16 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 17 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 18 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART synchronous clock |
| Pin 19 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART synchronous data |
| Pin 20 | RB0/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 21 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 22 | RB2/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 23 | RB3/INT3/CCP2 — PORTB bit 3 / external interrupt 3 / CCP2 alt |
| Pin 24 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 25 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 26 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock (ICD clock) |
| Pin 27 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data (ICD data) |
| Pin 28 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 29 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 30 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 31 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 32 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 33 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 34 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 35 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 |
| Pin 36 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 37 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 38 | RE0/RD — PORTE bit 0 / Parallel Slave Port read |
| Pin 39 | RE1/WR — PORTE bit 1 / Parallel Slave Port write |
| Pin 40 | RE2/CS — PORTE bit 2 / Parallel Slave Port chip select |
| Pin 41 | RF0 — PORTF bit 0 |
| Pin 42 | RF1 — PORTF bit 1 |
| Pin 43 | RF2 — PORTF bit 2 |
| Pin 44 | RF3 — PORTF bit 3 |
Typical Applications
PIC18F448-E/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive CAN Body Control Module, Industrial CANopen Sensor Hub, Building Automation Gateway, Brushless DC Motor Control Front-End, Medical Device CAN Node, Agricultural Vehicle Telematics.
Automotive CAN Body Control Module
The PIC18F448-E/PT is purpose-built for in-vehicle CAN networks thanks to its integrated Full CAN 2.0B peripheral with 3 transmit and 2 receive buffers, 6 acceptance filters and 2 masks that handle bit rates up to 1 Mbps on a CAN 2.0B bus. In a body-control module (BCM) it reads door/window switches on PORTA-B and drives lighting FETs via its 5 PWM channels while filtering CAN traffic addressed to its node. The Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade handles under-dash thermal stress, and the 16 KB Flash plus 768 B RAM fits J1939 address-claim and basic diagnostic handlers. The TQFP-44 (10x10 mm) package is small enough for distributed nodes behind the dashboard, and ICSP/ICD on RB6/RB7 enables production programming and in-vehicle firmware updates without depaneling the ECU.
Recommended
Industrial CANopen Sensor Hub
On a CANopen network (CiA 401 for digital/analog I/O and CiA 402 for drives) the PIC18F448-E/PT acts as a slave-node MCU: its Full CAN 2.0B peripheral off-loads bus arbitration and filtering from the CPU, leaving the 10 MIPS core to run the CANopen stack, PDO/SDO handlers and the application-layer object dictionary. The 8-channel 10-bit ADC reads analog sensor inputs (pressure, temperature, level) and the 34 digital I/O scan discrete field signals. The 16 KB Flash holds the CANopen library plus application state machine, and the 768-byte RAM is sufficient for PDO mapping tables. Extended temperature grade permits cabinet-free mounting near motors and process equipment, and the TQFP-44 footprint is shared across the PIC18F248/258/448/458 family, simplifying PCB variants for I/O density scaling.
Recommended
Building Automation Gateway
In building-automation gateways bridging CAN (sub-net of HVAC or elevator controllers) to a BACnet or Modbus backbone, the PIC18F448-E/PT handles the CAN side at up to 1 Mbps while the USART provides a Modbus RTU channel and the MSSP drives an I2C sensor bus (temperature, CO2). Its 5 timers support HVAC scheduling tick generation and watchdog supervision, and the 256-byte EEPROM stores non-volatile configuration (zone setpoints, schedules) without external memory. The Extended temperature grade lets the gateway live in mechanical rooms or rooftop unit housings. Its 16 KB Flash fits a CAN-to-Modbus translation table plus diagnostics, and the TQFP-44 footprint keeps the gateway PCB small enough for DIN-rail enclosures.
Recommended
Brushless DC Motor Control Front-End
Sensorless or Hall-sensor BLDC motor pre-drivers use the PIC18F448-E/PT to generate 6-step or sinusoidal commutation via its 5 PWM channels (10-bit resolution) and capture back-EMF timing on the ADC. The CAN peripheral streams real-time motor telemetry (RPM, current, temperature) back to a central controller on an industrial CANopen or automotive CAN bus. The 8-channel 10-bit ADC samples phase currents and bus voltage simultaneously with the PWM update, and the 40 MHz clock provides 100 ns PWM resolution for low-noise torque control. Extended temperature grade tolerates the motor housing thermal envelope, and the 16 KB Flash fits an FOC or trapezoidal commutation state machine plus current PI controller. The same TQFP-44 PCB can host the PIC18F458-E/PT variant when extra Flash is needed for sensorless observers.
Recommended
Medical Device CAN Node
Distributed medical systems (patient monitors, infusion pumps, anesthesia carts) use CAN for deterministic intra-rack communication between sensor pods and a central display. The PIC18F448-E/PT's Full CAN 2.0B peripheral ensures message latency under 1 ms, while its 8-channel 10-bit ADC reads SpO2, temperature and pressure transducer outputs. The Extended temperature grade supports the warm operating environment inside equipment enclosures. The 16 KB Flash fits a CANopen Medical Device profile stack plus alarm handling, and the 256-byte EEPROM retains calibration constants across sterilization cycles. ICSP/ICD on RB6/RB7 allows in-factory firmware updates and field servicing. The TQFP-44 package is small enough for compact patient-side modules, and pin compatibility with PIC18F4480-E/PT gives a clear upgrade path when more memory is needed.
Recommended
Agricultural Vehicle Telematics
Tractors, harvesters and irrigation systems use CAN (J1939) to broadcast engine RPM, hydraulic pressure, GPS-blended position and implement status to a telematics logger. The PIC18F448-E/PT serves as a CAN-to-UART bridge: the Full CAN 2.0B peripheral parses J1939 PGNs from the vehicle bus and forwards decoded values over its USART to a cellular or satellite modem. The 5 timers wake the MCU periodically to scan sensors and transmit status, and the 8-channel 10-bit ADC reads analog cabin and implement sensors. Extended temperature grade handles engine-bay and outdoor cabinet deployment, and the 16 KB Flash holds a J1939 PGN decoder plus transmit scheduler. The TQFP-44 footprint is shared with PIC18F458-E/PT, enabling a memory-upgraded variant for richer J1939 SPN decoding.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F448-E/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F458-E/PT | PIC18F448-I/PT | PIC18F4480-E/PT | PIC18F4480-I/PT | PIC18F458-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | TQFP-44 (PT) 10x10 mm | TQFP-44 (PT) 10x10 mm - same | TQFP-44 (PT) 10x10 mm - same | TQFP-44 (PT) 10x10 mm - same | TQFP-44 (PT) 10x10 mm - same | TQFP-44 (PT) 10x10 mm - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | PIC18F 8-bit RISC | PIC18F 8-bit RISC | PIC18F 8-bit RISC | PIC18F 8-bit RISC | PIC18F 8-bit RISC | PIC18F 8-bit RISC |
| Flash | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| RAM | 768 B | 1536 B | 768 B | 1536 B | 1536 B | 1536 B |
| CAN Module | Full CAN 2.0B | Full CAN 2.0B | Full CAN 2.0B | Full CAN 2.0B (enhanced) | Full CAN 2.0B (enhanced) | Full CAN 2.0B |
| Temperature Grade | Extended -40C to +125C | Extended -40C to +125C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Extended -40C to +125C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C |
| I/O Pins | 34 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 36 | 34 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated Full CAN 2.0B with 6 acceptance filters (vs PIC18F4480-E/PT)
- Extended -40C to +125C automotive temperature grade as standard (vs PIC18F448-I/PT)
- Recommended Microchip successor with double Flash/RAM (vs PIC18F4480-E/PT)
- Proven PIC18F instruction set compatibility across decades (vs Cross-brand 8-bit CAN MCUs)
Design Notes
Decouple both VDD pins (11 and 32) with 100 nF X7R ceramic capacitors placed within 5 mm of each VDD pin, plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum-polymer on the supply rail. The PIC18F448-E/PT draws approximately 15-25 mA at 40 MHz with all peripherals active; budget for 30 mA peak to allow CAN TX current spikes. Add a ferrite bead on VDD if the supply also feeds a switching CAN transceiver (e.g. MCP2551) to prevent bus noise from coupling into the analog AVdd/AVss reference used by the ADC.
When migrating PIC18F448-E/PT code to PIC18F4480-E/PT, recompile and verify that peripheral register addresses have not shifted - the ADC result registers, USART baud-rate generator bits and CAN filter SFR locations were reorganized in the 4480 silicon revision. Use the MPLAB X IDE Device Family Packs (DFP) and re-run the MPLAB C18 vs XC8 migration guide for legacy register names. Always issue a config-word reset on the new device so unused peripherals default to low-power states. The 4480 is not bit-for-bit identical at the SFR level.
Route the CAN TX/CAN RX pair (RC6/RC7, pins 25/26) as a 100 ohm differential microstrip matched to 1 ns rise time, with the MCP2551 placed within 25 mm of the MCU to keep stubs short. Add a 6-pin ICSP header (MCLR/VPP, VDD, VSS, PGC, PGD, and a no-connect or AUX pin) at the board edge for in-circuit programming and ICD debug, with PGC and PGD traces kept short and parallel. Expose the MCLR pin through a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF cap to VSS for proper reset, leaving the ICSP header able to drive MCLR low during programming.
Keep the ADC analog inputs (RA0-RA5) on a separate analog ground island that joins the digital ground only at the VSS pins (12 and 31) of the MCU - this star-ground prevents digital switching currents from injecting noise into the ADC reference. Place the VREF+ and VREF- pins (RA3/RA2) close to a low-noise 5 V reference such as MCP1525 or REF3130 with 100 nF + 10 uF bypass. Sample the ADC at less than 100 ksps to stay within the acquisition window; oversampling faster than the datasheet spec causes inter-channel crosstalk.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualification implied by Extended -40C to +125C grade. RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. REACH SVHC compliant per Microchip declaration.
