PIC18F4515-E/ML - 8-bit 48KB Flash MCU, 44-VQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F4515-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.2 | $7.20 |
| 10 | $6.55 | $65.50 |
| 100 | $5.8 | $580.00 |
| 500 | $5.05 | $2,525.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.4 | $4,400.00 |
PIC18F4515-E/ML Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory (Flash), data RAM, EEPROM, and a rich set of peripherals (ADC, timers, communication ports) on one die. PIC18F devices specifically target mid-range embedded applications with C-friendly architecture (linear program memory, hardware multiply, hardware stack), placing them in the hierarchy MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor. The nanoWatt Technology dynamic power-management modes in this family minimize active and sleep currents, extending battery life in low-duty-cycle applications.
Key differentiating features include a 10-bit ADC with up to 13 channels, enhanced CCP modules, a programmable 16-bit timer, an enhanced USART supporting RS-485/RS-232, an MSSP port for SPI and I2C (master/slave), dual analog comparators, a 32 kHz secondary oscillator for real-time-clock use, fail-safe clock monitor, and a separate RC-oscillator watchdog timer. The enhanced instruction set adds 8x8 hardware multiply in a single cycle, table read/write to Flash, and a 31-level hardware stack. The Extended (-E) temperature grade supports -40C to +125C operation.
The 44-pin VQFN with exposed pad offers a compact footprint while exposing a thermal pad that, when soldered to the PCB ground plane, dramatically lowers theta_JA and improves continuous full-speed operation. The MPLAB ICD and PICkit debuggers program Flash and provide in-circuit breakpoints through the standard ICSP interface, enabling firmware iteration without removing the chip.
Typical applications include industrial automation (sensor conditioning with on-chip ADC, Modbus RS-485 node), automotive body and HVAC controls (AEC-Q100 equivalent Extended temp grade), medical low-power instrumentation (sleep-mode sensor reading), consumer appliances (user interface + motor/relay control), and USB-free embedded networking using enhanced USART. The combination of large Flash, 10-bit ADC, and nanoWatt modes also suits data loggers and remote sensor transmitters.
A design consideration: the extended -E temperature variant is intended for harsh environments but operates at slightly different DC characteristics than the -I industrial grade; verify oscillator stability and ADC linearity across the full -40C to +125C range during validation, and place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD/VSS pair.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F4515-E/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 PIC18F4515-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash), Timers, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F4515-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4410-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.36 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4455-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4450-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F46K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.08 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4458-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4480-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4515-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 48 KB (24K x 16) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 25 MIPS at 5V |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +125C (Extended, -E) |
| Package | 44-pin VQFN (ML) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 13 channels |
| Internal Oscillator | 31 kHz to 8 MHz with 4x PLL |
| Hardware Multiplier | 8x8 single-cycle |
| Stack Depth | 31 levels hardware |
| Communication | Enhanced USART, MSSP (SPI/I2C) |
| Timers | 16-bit and 8-bit timers; Enhanced CCP |
| Comparators | 2x analog comparators |
| Watchdog | Yes, with separate RC oscillator |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F4515-E/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RG0 — Digital I/O port G bit 0 |
| Pin 2 | RG1 — Digital I/O port G bit 1 |
| Pin 3 | RG2 — Digital I/O port G bit 2 |
| Pin 4 | RG3 — Digital I/O port G bit 3 |
| Pin 5 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset) input |
| Pin 6 | RG4 — Digital I/O port G bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA0 — Digital I/O port A bit 0 / AN0 |
| Pin 10 | RA1 — Digital I/O port A bit 1 / AN1 |
| Pin 11 | RA2 — Digital I/O port A bit 2 / AN2 |
| Pin 12 | RA3 — Digital I/O port A bit 3 / AN3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 13 | RA4 — Digital I/O port A bit 4 / AN4 |
| Pin 14 | RA5 — Digital I/O port A bit 5 / AN5 / SS |
| Pin 15 | RE0 — Digital I/O port E bit 0 / AN6 / RD |
| Pin 16 | RE1 — Digital I/O port E bit 1 / AN7 / WR |
| Pin 17 | RE2 — Digital I/O port E bit 2 / AN8 / CS |
| Pin 18 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | AVDD — Analog positive supply |
| Pin 21 | AVSS — Analog ground reference |
| Pin 22 | OSC1 — Oscillator input / CLKIN |
| Pin 23 | OSC2 — Oscillator output / CLKOUT |
| Pin 24 | RC0 — Digital I/O port C bit 0 |
| Pin 25 | RC1 — Digital I/O port C bit 1 |
| Pin 26 | RC2 — Digital I/O port C bit 2 / CCP1 |
| Pin 27 | RC3 — Digital I/O port C bit 3 / SCL |
| Pin 28 | RC4 — Digital I/O port C bit 4 / SDA |
| Pin 29 | RC5 — Digital I/O port C bit 5 / SDO |
| Pin 30 | RC6 — Digital I/O port C bit 6 / TX |
| Pin 31 | RC7 — Digital I/O port C bit 7 / RX |
| Pin 32 | RB0 — Digital I/O port B bit 0 / INT0 |
| Pin 33 | RB1 — Digital I/O port B bit 1 / INT1 |
| Pin 34 | RB2 — Digital I/O port B bit 2 |
| Pin 35 | RB3 — Digital I/O port B bit 3 |
| Pin 36 | RB4 — Digital I/O port B bit 4 |
| Pin 37 | RB5 — Digital I/O port B bit 5 |
| Pin 38 | RB6 — Digital I/O port B bit 6 / PGC |
| Pin 39 | RB7 — Digital I/O port B bit 7 / PGD |
| Pin 40 | RD0 — Digital I/O port D bit 0 |
| Pin 41 | RD1 — Digital I/O port D bit 1 |
| Pin 42 | RD2 — Digital I/O port D bit 2 |
| Pin 43 | RD3 — Digital I/O port D bit 3 |
| Pin 44 | RD4 — Digital I/O port D bit 4 |
Typical Applications
PIC18F4515-E/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Conditioning & Data Logger, Automotive Body & HVAC Control, Medical Point-of-Care Diagnostic Instrument, Consumer Appliance User Interface & Relay Control, Remote Sensor Transmitter & Wireless Node, Educational Trainer & Development Platform.
Industrial Sensor Conditioning & Data Logger
The PIC18F4515-E/ML is well suited to industrial sensor-conditioning nodes because it integrates a 10-bit ADC with up to 13 channels for direct connection to RTD, thermistor, and 4-20 mA front-ends. Its 48 KB Flash easily holds calibration tables, Modbus RTU stacks, and EEPROM-backed configuration. The nanoWatt sleep modes drop current below 100 nA in sleep, enabling battery-powered remote transmitters that wake on timer or interrupt; the 31 kHz to 8 MHz internal oscillator eliminates external crystals in many nodes.
Recommended
Automotive Body & HVAC Control
The Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade and AEC-Q100 equivalent qualification on similar PIC18F parts make the PIC18F4515-E/ML a strong fit for under-dash body controllers, HVAC blend-door actuators, and instrument-panel sub-modules. Its enhanced USART supports LIN bus (when paired with an external LIN transceiver) and the MSSP drives SPI-controlled motor pre-drivers. The 44-VQFN with exposed pad handles continuous switching currents while keeping the thermal resistance below 30 C/W on a 4-layer PCB.
Recommended
Medical Point-of-Care Diagnostic Instrument
Battery-powered medical devices such as glucose meters, pulse oximeters, and handheld analyzers benefit from the PIC18F4515-E/ML's nanoWatt Technology sleep modes and 10-bit ADC for direct photodiode or electrochemical-sensor readout. The 48 KB Flash stores protocol stacks (USB HID via external transceiver) and on-board firmware-upgrade bootloaders, while 3,398 bytes of RAM hold acquisition buffers. IEC 60730 Class B safety libraries are available from Microchip for home-healthcare appliances.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance User Interface & Relay Control
Washing machines, dishwashers, and induction cooktops use the PIC18F4515-E/ML to drive 7-segment or graphical LCD displays, scan keypads, and control triac-gated relays. Its 36 I/O pins accommodate up to 32-button matrices plus multiple status LEDs, while the Enhanced CCP modules generate zero-cross timing for triac firing. The 16-bit timer with gate control measures motor RPM and water level, and the MSSP drives I2C EEPROM for fault-log retention across power cycles.
Recommended
Remote Sensor Transmitter & Wireless Node
Wireless sensor nodes (LoRa, Sub-GHz proprietary, Zigbee host) benefit from the PIC18F4515-E/ML's low sleep current, 10-bit ADC, and ability to host a UART-attached radio module. The 48 KB Flash fits LoRaWAN Class A/C stacks for end-device firmware, while nanoWatt modes and the 32 kHz secondary oscillator keep the average current below 5 uA in duty-cycled reporting. The MSSP in SPI mode drives SX1276/SX1262 transceivers at up to 10 MHz clock.
Recommended
Educational Trainer & Development Platform
Universities and makerspace labs use PIC18F4515-E/ML on trainer boards because the 44-VQFN exposed-pad package exercises fine-pitch soldering skills while the PICkit 5 debugger provides single-step C debugging via ICSP. The 48 KB Flash holds full TCP/IP stacks via MPLAB Harmony, and the rich peripheral set (ADC, USART, MSSP, CCP, comparators) lets a single chip demonstrate almost every MCU subsystem. Low cost, MPLAB X IDE support, and extensive application notes make it a teaching staple.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F4515-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F4515-I/ML | PIC18F4410-I/ML | PIC18F4455-I/ML | PIC18F4450-I/ML | PIC18F46K22-I/ML | PIC18F4458-I/ML | PIC18F4480-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | VQFN-44 (ML) | VQFN-44 (ML) | VQFN-44 (ML) | VQFN-44 (ML) | VQFN-44 (ML) | VQFN-44 (ML) | VQFN-44 (ML) | VQFN-44 (ML) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 48 KB | 48 KB | 32 KB | 24 KB | 24 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| ADC Channels | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 28 | 13 | 8 |
| USB Peripheral | No | No | No | Yes (USB 2.0 FS) | Yes (USB 2.0 FS) | No | Yes (USB 2.0 FS) | No (CAN instead) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
| Maximum MIPS | 25 MIPS at 5V | 25 MIPS at 5V | 25 MIPS at 5V | 25 MIPS at 5V | 25 MIPS at 5V | 16 MIPS at 5V | 25 MIPS at 5V | 25 MIPS at 5V |
| Drop-in Compatibility | Baseline (this part) | 100% (same die) | 90% (Flash 32K vs 48K) | 80% (Flash 24K + USB) | 80% (Flash 24K + USB) | 90% (Flash 64K, slower) | 80% (Flash 32K + USB) | 70% (Flash 16K + CAN) |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade on a 48 KB Flash 44-VQFN part (vs PIC18F4515-I/ML)
- 48 KB Flash at 25 MIPS in 44-VQFN without USB overhead (vs PIC18F4455-I/ML)
- Most Flash in PIC18F2X1X/4X1X family without stepping to K-series (vs PIC18F4410-I/ML)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD = 5V and 25 MIPS active current ~16 mA, the PIC18F4515-E/ML draws ~80 mW in active mode and drops below 1 uA in sleep. Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD/VSS pin pair and a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the AVDD rail to stabilize the ADC. The exposed thermal pad must be soldered to a 4-layer PCB ground plane for rated thermal resistance; otherwise junction temperature may exceed 125C at full load.
Route the ICSPDAT (PGD/RB7) and ICSPCLK (PGC/RB6) signals as short, noise-isolated traces to a 6-pin header, and add 4.7 kohm pull-ups on both lines to prevent unintended entry into programming mode. Keep the analog signals AN0-AN5 and AVSS/AVDD traces away from switching nodes (relay coils, PWM outputs) by at least 3x trace width to preserve 10-bit ADC accuracy. The exposed thermal pad requires a 1:1 thermal-via array (0.3 mm holes, 1 mm pitch) to inner ground plane.
Do not exceed the absolute maximum ratings of 7V on VDD or -0.3V on any pin relative to VSS. The MCLR pin must use the dedicated internal pull-up configuration register (CONFIG3H) and a 4.7-10 kohm external pull-up to VDD; floating MCLR causes intermittent resets. The internal oscillator block requires the OSCCON register to be configured in software for the desired frequency and PLL mode - leaving it at default INTIO2 may not match the datasheet MIPS table. Always clear the GIE bit before entering sleep to prevent immediate wake from pending interrupts.
When driving long cables from the enhanced USART in RS-485 mode, add 100 ohm termination at both ends of the differential pair and route the TX/RX differential traces with controlled 100 ohm differential impedance over a continuous reference plane. The MSSP SPI bus must not exceed 10 MHz bus clock at 5V VDD; at 3.3V the maximum is 6.6 MHz. Use series 33 ohm damping resistors near the source if the SPI cable length exceeds 50 mm.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip substance declaration; the -E extended temperature grade targets automotive-style environments but is not formally AEC-Q100 qualified. Halogen-free matte-tin finish on VQFN per IPC JEDEC J-STD-020.
