PIC18F4480-I/P - 8-bit 40MHz 16KB Flash MCU w/ ECAN, 40-PDIP
MPN: PIC18F4480-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10.15 | $10.15 |
| 10 | $9.12 | $91.20 |
| 100 | $8.21 | $821.00 |
| 500 | $7.4 | $3,700.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.62 | $6,620.00 |
PIC18F4480-I/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computing engine that executes instructions 8 bits at a time using a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture. In the modern system hierarchy it sits below 32-bit MCUs and microprocessors and is widely used for deterministic, low-cost embedded control. The PIC18 family is Microchip's enhanced 8-bit tier - more capable than the PIC16 (more peripherals, more memory, linear program space) yet more cost-effective than a PIC24 or dsPIC, making PIC18F4480-I/P a typical middle-ground choice for connected industrial nodes.
Key features of the PIC18F4480-I/P include 16 KB of self-programmable Flash with 100K endurance cycles per block, 768 bytes of SRAM, and 256 bytes of EEPROM for non-volatile parameter storage. The Enhanced CAN (ECAN) module supports CAN 2.0B active with multiple transmit/receive buffers - a feature that set this family apart at launch. Five CCP/ECCP modules provide PWM and capture/compare functions, and 10-bit A/D conversion is available on up to 13 channels.
Architecturally, the PIC18F4480-I/P uses a modified Harvard structure with separate program and data paths plus a 16-bit instruction word, and nanoWatt Technology enables several low-power modes (Run, Idle, Sleep, deep Sleep, RTCC). Up to four hardware-accelerated multiply options and a hardware 8x8 unsigned multiplier in select instructions give it the throughput headroom to drive time-deterministic control loops.
Typical applications include industrial automation and sensor networks over CAN bus, embedded automotive body controllers, building automation (HVAC, lighting, access control), low-cost USB/CAN bridges, and general-purpose 5V logic control boards where a through-hole DIP is preferred for prototype or rugged environments.
When designing with this device, place decoupling 0.1 uF ceramic close to each supply pair, keep the ECAN bus termination (typically 120 ohm at each end) within a few millimeters of the CAN pins, and ensure the 40 MHz Fosc configuration in the configuration bits matches the oscillator hardware. Use NanoWatt current consumption figures from the datasheet DC/AC characteristics section, not marketing summaries.
This page distills the verified manufacturer datasheet, distributor pricing tiers, and cross-reference data into a single decision-ready reference - something a raw PDF or distributor listing does not.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F4480-I/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 PIC18F4480-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, ADC, Core Architecture, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F4580-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4480-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4420-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F45K80-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44K20-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4458-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4480-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| Core Architecture | PIC18 (Modified Harvard, RISC, 16-bit instruction word) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Instruction Throughput | 10 MIPS (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 768 B |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| Operating Voltage (Vdd) | 4.2 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| A/D Converter | 10-bit, up to 13 channels |
| CAN Module | ECAN 2.0B active |
| CCP/ECCP Modules | 5 (2 CCP + 3 ECCP) |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP (DIP-40, plastic through-hole) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial grade, -I) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt (Run, Idle, Sleep) |
PIC18F4480-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RE3 — Master Clear (Reset) input or programming voltage (5 V tolerance through resistor) |
| 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 / negative reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / 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 | RE0/RD/AN5 — PORTE bit 0 / parallel read control / analog input 5 |
| Pin 9 | RE1/WR/AN6 — PORTE bit 1 / parallel write control / analog input 6 |
| Pin 10 | RE2/CS/AN7 — PORTE bit 2 / parallel chip select / analog input 7 |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (+5 V) |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Digital ground reference |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal/resonator input or external clock input |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal/resonator output or clock output |
| Pin 15 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 external clock |
| Pin 16 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / Capture-Compare-PWM 2 |
| Pin 17 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 18 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 19 | RD0/PSP0 — PORTD bit 0 / parallel slave port bit 0 (data) |
| Pin 20 | RD1/PSP1 — PORTD bit 1 / parallel slave port bit 1 (data) |
| Pin 21 | RD2/PSP2 — PORTD bit 2 / parallel slave port bit 2 (data) |
| Pin 22 | RD3/PSP3 — PORTD bit 3 / parallel slave port bit 3 (data) |
| Pin 23 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 24 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 25 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART asynchronous transmit / synchronous clock |
| Pin 26 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART asynchronous receive / synchronous data |
| Pin 27 | RD4/PSP4 — PORTD bit 4 / parallel slave port bit 4 (data) |
| Pin 28 | RD5/PSP5/P1B — PORTD bit 5 / parallel slave port bit 5 (data) / PWM1 output B |
| Pin 29 | RD6/PSP6/P1C — PORTD bit 6 / parallel slave port bit 6 (data) / PWM1 output C |
| Pin 30 | RD7/PSP7/P1D — PORTD bit 7 / parallel slave port bit 7 (data) / PWM1 output D |
| Pin 31 | VSS — Digital ground reference |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (+5 V) |
| Pin 33 | RB0/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 34 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 35 | RB2/INT2/CANTX — PORTB bit 2 / external interrupt 2 / ECAN transmit |
| Pin 36 | RB3/CANRX — PORTB bit 3 / ECAN receive |
| Pin 37 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 38 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 39 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 40 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC18F4480-I/P is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial CAN Bus Sensor Nodes, Building Automation and HVAC Control, Automotive Body Control Modules, USB / CAN Gateway and Protocol Bridge, Low-Cost Industrial Data Acquisition, Through-Hole Education and Prototyping Boards.
Industrial CAN Bus Sensor Nodes
The PIC18F4480-I/P's integrated ECAN 2.0B active peripheral makes it a natural fit for industrial CAN-based sensor nodes - the kind of compact low-cost modules that hang off a CAN backbone to report temperature, pressure, or digital state at 10-500 kbit/s. Its 16 KB Flash, 768 B SRAM, and 256 B EEPROM accommodate a CANopen device stack, a small driver, and persistent node-ID / calibration storage without external memory. At 40 MHz Fosc the 10 MIPS throughput leaves headroom for sensor pre-processing at each polled or time-triggered interval; at under $10 the part beats discrete CAN controllers in cost. Pay attention to the CAN bus termination - 120 ohm at each end of the bus - and ensure the system's Fosc configuration matches the crystal by programming the configuration bits at startup.
Recommended
Building Automation and HVAC Control
In small building automation controllers (HVAC, lighting, access control), the PIC18F4480-I/P's 36 I/O lines drive 5 V relays, triacs, and LED drivers directly through discrete outputs without external buffers. The 10-bit ADC with up to 13 input channels reads thermistors, photocells, and current sensors; CCP/ECCP modules drive PWM outputs for damper actuators, variable-speed fans, and 0-10 V lighting dimmers. The 256-byte Data EEPROM is ideal for storing tenant schedules and commissioning parameters across power cycles. Operating from 4.2 V to 5.5 V matches common 5 V regulated supplies; for installations with battery backup, the nanoWatt deep sleep current keeps the RTC clock ticking while drawing minimal standby current.
Recommended
Automotive Body Control Modules
The PIC18F4480-I/P's ECAN module and 40-pin PDIP form factor suit interior automotive body-control modules - such as window lift controllers, seat controllers, and lighting nodes distributed across a CAN bus. Its operating temperature grade (-40 C to +85 C industrial) covers cabin and most under-hood locations when paired with proper thermal design; the extreme under-hood environments may require extended-grade parts. The 768 B SRAM with hardware multiplication and a 40 MHz Fosc give enough CPU headroom to handle time-deterministic CAN receive and PWM actuator control concurrently, and the 10-bit ADC monitors seat motor current, ambient light, and switch inputs. The EEPROM retains calibration across fuse-unplug events, which is critical for trim and zone memory.
Recommended
USB / CAN Gateway and Protocol Bridge
Used as a low-cost CAN-to-UART or CAN-to-SPI protocol bridge, the PIC18F4480-I/P exposes its ECAN messages to a host through one of its serial ports, offloading both protocol stacks from the host MCU. The two CCP and three ECCP modules can also produce hardware PWM for additional driver I/O. At 16 KB Flash and 768 B SRAM the firmware fits a small protocol converter, and the 256-byte EEPROM preserves bridge configuration across power cycles. The DIP-40 footprint supports hand-wired prototypes and field-installable retrofits where industrial controllers need a quick CAN-interface stack.
Recommended
Low-Cost Industrial Data Acquisition
The PIC18F4480-I/P's 13-channel 10-bit ADC and 36 I/O lines are a flexible platform for small-scale industrial data acquisition units reading strain gauges, thermistors, and 4-20 mA loop signals at modest sample rates. The 768-byte SRAM is sufficient for circular buffers in polled data loggers; for streaming at higher rates the PIC18F4580 doubles that buffer. The nanoWait idle mode lets the part wake on CCP comparator change for battery-backed remote monitoring. Its 4.2-5.5 V supply matches typical industrial 5 V rails - including the common rectified-24 V-input then regulator chain - so existing power supplies can be re-used without redesign.
Recommended
Through-Hole Education and Prototyping Boards
The PIC18F4480-I/P's 40-pin PDIP package fits standard breadboards and 0.1-inch proto-boards, making it a favourite for engineering courses, maker projects, and field repair. The visible pinout lets students trace signals directly with oscilloscope probes, and the through-hole pads survive repeated insertion cycles for lab use. MPLAB X IDE with PICkit 4 or PICkit 3 programmers supports in-circuit debug; the 256-byte EEPROM offers safe place to keep student lab work; the 16 KB Flash accommodates substantial lab projects such as PWM motor control, ADC data logging, and ECAN demos. Pin-40 PDIP is great when hand-soldering or socketed replacement is required.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F4480-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F4580-I/P | PIC18F4420-I/P | PIC18F45K80-I/P | PIC18F44K20-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 40-pin PDIP | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM | 768 B | 1.5 KB | 768 B | 3.6 KB | 768 B |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| CAN Module | ECAN 2.0B active | ECAN 2.0B active | None (no CAN) | ECAN 2.0B active | None (no CAN) |
| USB Module | None | None | None | None | None |
| Operating Voltage | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP |
| Pin Count / Package | 40-PDIP | 40-PDIP | 40-PDIP | 40-PDIP | 40-PDIP |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated Enhanced CAN (ECAN) 2.0B on a 40-pin PDIP (vs PIC18F4420-I/P)
- Through-hole 40-pin PDIP for breadboard-friendly prototyping (vs PIC18F4480-I/ML)
- Modern 32 KB / 3.6 KB / nanoWatt XLP drop-in upgrade path (vs PIC18F45K80-I/P)
- 5 V single-supply operation without external regulator components (vs PIC18LF4480 variant)
Design Notes
The PIC18F4480-I/P operates from 4.2 V to 5.5 V; feed both VDD pins (11 and 32) with a common 5 V rail and place a 0.1 uF ceramic bypass within 5 mm of each VDD/VSS pair. Estimated: total VDD core current at Fosc = 40 MHz and all peripherals running is about 15 mA (based on datasheet DC/AC characteristics), so a 5 V 50 mA regulator is plenty of headroom for small designs. For better noise immunity on ADC readings, also place 10 uF tantalum or ceramic within 25 mm of the pins.
Route the ECAN CANTX (RB2) and CANRX (RB3) net as differential pair with controlled 120 ohm impedance; terminate each end of the bus with 120 ohm resistors within a few millimeters of the bus pins. Match lengths well, keep stub lengths under 30 mm, and isolate from switching supplies. The MCLR/RE3 pin (pin 1) should be tied to VDD via 10 kohm and pulled low by a 0.1 uF-capacitor-and-button reset; do not leave MCLR floating.
Configuration bits must be set at programming time: failure to set the Fosc, watchdog timeout (WDT), low-voltage-programming (LVP) enable, and brown-out reset (BOR) bits is the most common new-user lockout with PIC18F4480-I/P. Disable the watchdog timer (SWDTEN = 0 in WDTCON) if it is not part of the design. Leave the JTAG control bits at the default disabled state; accidentally enabling LVP can prevent high-voltage programming from working later. For ECAN applications, set CANCTRL to the desired mode (Normal, Loopback, etc.) before opening the bus.
Operating temperature range is -40 C to +85 C (industrial grade). Estimated: a 5 V DIP-40 at 15 mA total internal dissipation gives 75 mW which is well below the 1 W absolute maximum, so no special thermal board design is required for room-temperature prototyping. In enclosed industrial enclosures, allow some air flow to keep temperature rise below 10 C above ambient. For motorized or high-vibration automotive deployments, use a conformal coating or consider socketed mechanical retention for the DIP-40 footprint.
Compliance Information
Industrial-grade PIC18F4480-I/P is not AEC-Q100 qualified - PIC automotive ECU designs must use a higher-grade part. RoHS / REACH compliance status was not reported in the verified web data and must be confirmed against the Microchip product page or distributor environmental declaration.
