PIC18F4515-I/ML - 48KB Flash 8-bit MCU, 44-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F4515-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.5 | $6.50 |
| 10 | $5.85 | $58.50 |
| 100 | $5.2 | $520.00 |
| 500 | $4.65 | $2,325.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.1 | $4,100.00 |
PIC18F4515-I/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program and data memory, peripherals, and I/O into one package, allowing it to sense, compute, and actuate in embedded systems. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC18F4515 belongs to the 8-bit MCU category, then to the flash-microcontroller family, then to the PIC18 enhanced-flash series, and finally to the integrated circuit (semiconductor) class. It is built on CMOS process technology and includes nanoWatt power management, which makes it suitable for both battery-powered and line-powered applications.
Key differentiating features include a 10-bit ADC with up to 13 input channels, an internal oscillator block programmable from 31 kHz to 8 MHz, a hardware 8x8 single-cycle multiplier, and a Fail-Safe Clock Monitor that allows safe shutdown if the primary clock fails. The device also provides a separate RC-oscillator-backed Watchdog Timer for independent system recovery.
Architecturally, the PIC18F4515 uses a Harvard-class RISC core with separate program and data buses, allowing instruction fetch and data access to occur in the same cycle. The on-chip Flash supports self-programming under software control, enabling field firmware updates and bootloader-style in-application re-flashing without an external programmer.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, sensor interface nodes, USB-to-UART bridges, motor-control signal conditioning, and home appliances. The wide peripheral set and nanoWatt idle modes also suit it for low-power remote sensor nodes and HVAC thermostat controllers.
When designing with this device, ensure the Vdd decoupling network uses a 100 nF ceramic cap placed within 5 mm of each Vdd pin and that the MCLR pin is pulled high through a 10 kohm resistor with a 100 nF cap to ground for in-circuit serial programming.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F4515-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 PIC18F4515-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory (Flash), Timers, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F4515-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4510-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4410-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.36 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4610-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F46K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.08 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4515-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit RISC Microcontroller (MCU) |
| CPU Core | PIC18 (Harvard RISC) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 48 KB |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 3968 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Performance | Up to 10 MIPS |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.2 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 13 channels |
| PWM Channels | Multiple (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Timers | 4 |
| Communication Interfaces | EUSART, MSSP (I2C/SPI), PSP |
| Internal Oscillator | 31 kHz to 8 MHz with 4xPLL |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with separate RC oscillator |
| Hardware Multiplier | 8x8 single-cycle |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 44-pin QFN (ML) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
PIC18F4515-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 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / Analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4/T0CKI — Digital I/O / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN4/SS — Digital I/O / Analog input 4 / SPI Slave Select |
| Pin 7 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / External clock input |
| Pin 8 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / Clock output |
| Pin 9 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset, active low) |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | RB0/INT0/FLT0 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 0 / PWM fault input |
| Pin 13 | RB1/INT1 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 14 | RB2/INT2 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 15 | RB3/INT3 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 3 |
| Pin 16 | RB4 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 17 | RB5 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 18 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 19 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 21 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 22 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 23 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 output |
| Pin 24 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 25 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Digital I/O / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 26 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 27 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O / SPI data out |
| Pin 28 | RC6/TX/CK — Digital I/O / EUSART TX / EUSART clock |
| Pin 29 | RC7/RX/DT — Digital I/O / EUSART RX / EUSART data |
| Pin 30 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 31 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 32 | RD0/PSP0 — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port bit 0 |
| Pin 33 | RD1/PSP1 — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port bit 1 |
| Pin 34 | RD2/PSP2 — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port bit 2 |
| Pin 35 | RD3/PSP3 — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port bit 3 |
| Pin 36 | RD4/PSP4 — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port bit 4 |
| Pin 37 | RD5/PSP5 — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port bit 5 |
| Pin 38 | RD6/PSP6 — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port bit 6 |
| Pin 39 | RD7/PSP7 — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port bit 7 |
| Pin 40 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 41 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 42 | RE0/RD — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port read control |
| Pin 43 | RE1/WR — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port write control |
| Pin 44 | RE2/CS — Digital I/O / Parallel Slave Port chip select |
Typical Applications
PIC18F4515-I/ML is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Control Panels, HVAC Thermostat Controllers, Sensor Interface Nodes, USB-to-UART Bridge Modules, Home Appliance Control Boards, Motor Control Signal Conditioning, Battery-Powered Remote Sensor Hubs.
Industrial Control Panels
The PIC18F4515-I/ML fits industrial control panels because its 36 I/O pins drive keypads, LED indicators, and 7-segment displays directly, while the industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating tolerates factory-floor thermal cycling. The 10-bit ADC with up to 13 channels reads 4-20 mA sensor loops and potentiometer feedback, and the EUSART links to RS-485 transceivers for Modbus RTU slave communication. The nanoWatt idle modes reduce power consumption in panel standby, and the Fail-Safe Clock Monitor detects crystal failures that would otherwise hang the panel.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat Controllers
The PIC18F4515-I/ML is well matched to HVAC thermostat controllers because its 48 KB Flash accommodates multi-zone scheduling firmware and its 3968-byte SRAM buffers Modbus or BACnet stacks. The PWM channels drive TRIAC-based heater/cooler actuators, while the 10-bit ADC reads thermistor temperature sensors with 0.5 C resolution. The internal 31 kHz to 8 MHz oscillator with 4x PLL enables the CPU to wake from sleep, sample sensors, and return to sleep within microseconds, conserving battery life in wireless thermostats.
Recommended
Sensor Interface Nodes
The PIC18F4515-I/ML is suited for distributed sensor interface nodes because its MSSP peripheral supports both I2C sensor reads and SPI ADC sampling, while the EUSART bridges to RS-485 fieldbus networks. The 36 I/O pins accept multiple digital inputs from limit switches and proximity sensors, and the Fail-Safe Clock Monitor ensures deterministic recovery if the crystal fails in remote installations. With 48 KB Flash, the firmware can host Modbus RTU slave libraries plus sensor-calibration lookup tables.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge Modules
The PIC18F4515-I/ML supports USB-to-UART bridge applications by using the EUSART for serial communication and bit-banged USB on a single I/O pin, with the 48 KB Flash holding CDC stack firmware. The 40 MHz clock enables 12 Mbps baud-rate generation at common rates (9600, 115200, 921600), and the Watchdog Timer with separate RC oscillator prevents bus hang-ups. The 44-QFN package fits compact bridge dongles, and nanoWatt idle lowers standby current when no host is connected.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Boards
The PIC18F4515-I/ML fits home appliance control boards in washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens because its 36 I/O pins drive relays, triacs, and valve solenoids while reading door switches and water-level sensors. The 48 KB Flash supports motor-control state machines and user-interface logic, and the industrial -40C to +85C rating handles the thermal stress near heating elements. The hardware 8x8 single-cycle multiplier accelerates washing-machine balance calculations in real time.
Recommended
Motor Control Signal Conditioning
The PIC18F4515-I/ML is suited for motor control signal conditioning boards where it reads Hall-effect sensors, current shunts, and back-EMF through its 10-bit ADC while generating PWM drive signals for the gate driver stage. The hardware 8x8 multiplier performs field-oriented control transformations in single cycles, and the Fail-Safe Clock Monitor disables PWM outputs if the oscillator fails, preventing motor runaway. The 3968-byte SRAM buffers three-phase current samples for closed-loop control loops.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Sensor Hubs
The PIC18F4515-I/ML serves battery-powered remote sensor hubs where its nanoWatt technology enables sleep currents under 1 uA, waking on timer overflow to sample sensors and transmit via EUSART to a wireless modem. The internal 31 kHz to 8 MHz oscillator avoids external crystal power drain, and the Watchdog Timer with separate RC oscillator keeps the system alive if firmware locks up. The 36 I/O pins interface multiple analog and digital sensors in environmental monitoring stations.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F4515-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F4515-E/ML | PIC18F4510-I/ML | PIC18F4610-I/ML | PIC18F46K22-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-pin QFN (ML) | 44-pin QFN (ML) - same | 44-pin QFN (ML) - same | 44-pin QFN (ML) - same | 44-pin QFN (ML) - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 48 KB | 48 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 3968 bytes | 3968 bytes | 1536 bytes | 3968 bytes | 3896 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 64 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 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 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Power Technology | nanoWatt | nanoWatt | nanoWatt | nanoWatt | nanoWatt XLP |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash memory density in the F4515 series family (vs PIC18F4510-I/ML)
- Industrial temperature range standard, with extended variant available (vs PIC18F4515-E/ML)
- Legacy 5V-optimized architecture with proven long-term availability (vs PIC18F46K22-I/ML)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD pin (pins 11, 21, 31, 41) with traces no longer than 10 mm. Add a bulk 10 uF tantalum capacitor near the MCU for transient suppression during EUSART or PWM switching events. The MCLR pin (pin 9) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF cap to ground for in-circuit serial programming; omitting these prevents ICSP from operating reliably.
Route the ICSP signals PGC (pin 18) and PGD (pin 19) as a parallel pair with ground between them, keeping traces shorter than 50 mm and away from switching signals. The 44-QFN package has an exposed thermal pad that must be soldered to a copper pour of at least 16 mm x 16 mm to achieve the datasheet thermal resistance. For EMI-sensitive applications, place a ferrite bead on VDD traces near the MCU.
Do not program the CONFIG3H register without first ensuring the internal oscillator is selected as the system clock source, or the MCU may lock with no valid clock. When using the ADC, allow at least 20 us acquisition time by setting the appropriate ACQT bits in ADCON2; sampling too quickly causes inaccurate readings on high-impedance sources. The Fail-Safe Clock Monitor must be enabled in CONFIG1H to safely switch to the internal RC oscillator if the primary clock fails.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free finish and halogen-free mold compound per Microchip environmental compliance disclosure. Standard PIC18F4515-I/ML is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC18F4515-E/ML with extended temperature for harsh-environment applications.
