PIC18F4525-I/PT - 8-bit MCU, 48KB Flash, 40MHz, 44-TQFP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F4525-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.61 | $6.61 |
| 10 | $5.83 | $58.30 |
| 100 | $5.05 | $505.00 |
| 500 | $4.55 | $2,275.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.18 | $4,180.00 |
PIC18F4525-I/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU core, program and data memory, and programmable peripheral interfaces. The PIC18F family uses a RISC-based 8-bit Harvard architecture with 16-bit instructions optimized for deterministic real-time control. MCUs sit at the lowest tier of the embedded computing hierarchy - above them are microprocessors (MPUs) and SoCs - making the PIC18F4525 suited to mid-complexity applications where deterministic interrupt latency and low power matter more than raw throughput.
Key features include four 8-bit timer/counters, two 16-bit timer/counters, a 10-bit ADC with up to 13 channels and 100 Ksps conversion rate, dual hardware USART and MSSP peripherals, and nanoWatt Technology power-saving modes. The device supports ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) and ICD (In-Circuit Debugging) through the ICSP/ICD pins, enabling field updates without removing the MCU from the board.
Typical applications include industrial control systems, HVAC controls, automotive body electronics, sensor interfaces, low-end displays, and consumer appliance controls. The wide supply range (4.2V to 5.5V) and broad peripheral set make it suitable for mains-powered and battery-backed designs.
Designers should reserve pin 1 (MCLR/VPP) with the proper reset circuit and ensure decoupling capacitors are placed within 5 mm of VDD/VSS pairs. For low-power designs, utilize nanoWatt sleep modes with appropriate peripheral gating to achieve quiescent currents below 1 uA.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in PIC18F alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F4525-I/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 PIC18F4525-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Operating Temperature, ADC, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F4620-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4525T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4520-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4580-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F46K20-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F45K22-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4525-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 48 KB |
| RAM | 3,968 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.2 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 13 channels |
| Timers | 4 x 8-bit, 2 x 16-bit (Timer1/3 with 16-bit capture) |
| CCP Modules | 2 CCP + 1 ECCP |
| Communication Peripherals | USART (EUSART), MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| Package | TQFP-44 (PT), 10 x 10 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, -I) |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP and ICD via 2-wire interface |
| Power-Saving Modes | nanoWatt Technology (Run, Idle, Sleep) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F4525-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) / Programming voltage / digital I/O RE3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input AN0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input AN1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / analog input AN2 / negative voltage reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog input AN3 / positive voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / analog input AN4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input / PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / clock output / PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (+5V) |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | RB0/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 14 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 15 | RB2/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 16 | RB3/INT3 — PORTB bit 3 / external interrupt 3 / CCP2 output |
| Pin 17 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 18 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 19 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 20 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 21 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 22 | RC1/T1OSI — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 input |
| Pin 23 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 24 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 25 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 26 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 27 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 28 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 29 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 30 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 31 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 32 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 33 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 34 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 |
| Pin 35 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 36 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 37 | RE0/RD — PORTE bit 0 / parallel slave port read |
| Pin 38 | RE1/WR — PORTE bit 1 / parallel slave port write |
| Pin 39 | RE2/CS — PORTE bit 2 / parallel slave port chip select |
| Pin 40 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (+5V) |
| Pin 41 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 42 | NC — Not connected (no internal connection) |
| Pin 43 | NC — Not connected (no internal connection) |
| Pin 44 | NC — Not connected (no internal connection) |
Typical Applications
PIC18F4525-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Systems, HVAC Climate Control, Automotive Body Electronics, Consumer Appliance Controls, Sensor Hub and IoT Edge Devices, Educational and Prototyping Platforms.
Industrial Control Systems
The PIC18F4525-I/PT's 40 MHz core, 36 I/O pins, and 10-bit ADC with 13 input channels make it well suited to industrial PLC and process control applications. Its industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade supports factory-floor deployments per the Microchip datasheet. The dual USART and MSSP peripherals handle RS-485 sensor networks and SPI/I2C sensor hubs, while the ECCP module drives motor-control PWM outputs. The nanoWalt sleep modes enable battery-backed sensor nodes that quiesce below 1 uA between measurements, extending service intervals. Pair the device with external digital isolators for line-voltage interfaces.
Recommended
HVAC Climate Control
HVAC climate controllers benefit from the PIC18F4525-I/PT's combination of 10-bit ADC for thermistor temperature sensing, CCP/ECCP PWM outputs for variable-speed blower and damper control, and USART/MSSP for thermostat-bus communications. With 48 KB Flash the device supports complex scheduling, fuzzy-logic, and adaptive control algorithms per its 40 MHz instruction throughput. nanoWalt sleep modes between sensor reads minimize continuous power consumption, important for thermostat backup-battery endurance. Industrial temperature grade ensures reliable operation in attic and rooftop equipment.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
Body-electronics modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, and lighting drivers run on the PIC18F4525's robust peripheral set. The ECCP module generates precise PWM for LED dimming and motor positioning, while the 10-bit ADC reads potentiometers and current-sense amplifiers. CAN-style multi-drop networks can be implemented over the USART for body control modules. Note that AEC-Q100 qualified variants (e.g. PIC18F45K22T-I/PT) are preferred for under-hood applications per the Microchip datasheet. The -I temperature grade supports cabin and door-module environments.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Controls
White-goods controls in washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, and refrigerators leverage the PIC18F4525's low cost, generous Flash for user-interface firmware, and built-in peripherals. The ECCP drives variable-frequency motor inverters while the ADC reads temperature and humidity sensors for closed-loop cooking or wash cycles. nanoWalt Technology allows standby power under 0.5 W to meet ENERGY STAR idle requirements. LCD character displays are easily driven using the MSSP SPI bus plus a few GPIO lines, eliminating external display-driver ICs.
Recommended
Sensor Hub and IoT Edge Devices
IoT edge nodes use the PIC18F4525-I/PT as a low-power sensor aggregator that buffers and pre-processes data before forwarding via UART, SPI, or I2C to a Wi-Fi/BLE module. With 3,968 bytes of RAM the device can hold meaningful sensor buffers, while the 10-bit ADC reads analog sensors alongside digital I2C/SPI sensors. nanoWalt sleep currents under 1 uA enable years of battery life on periodic wake-ups. Industrial temperature grade makes the device deployable in outdoor enclosures and remote telemetry installations.
Recommended
Educational and Prototyping Platforms
The PIC18F4525-I/PT's ICSP/ICD support makes it a popular choice for university embedded-systems courses and hobbyist development. With 48 KB Flash it has ample headroom for student projects involving motor control, displays, and sensor fusion. The standard TQFP-44 package is breadboard-compatible via breakout boards, and MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler is free. The PICkit 5 in-circuit debugger supports this device natively per Microchip. Peripherals are well-documented and code examples are widely available in Microchip application libraries.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F4525-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F4620-I/PT | PIC18F4525T-I/PT | PIC18F4520-I/PT | PIC18F4580-I/PT | PIC18F46K20-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | TQFP-44 (PT) | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 48 KB | 64 KB | 48 KB (same die) | 32 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB |
| RAM | 3,968 bytes | 3,968 bytes | 3,968 bytes | 1,536 bytes | 1,536 bytes | 3,936 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes | 1,024 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 1,024 bytes |
| Max CPU Speed | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| Supply Voltage | 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 | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| CAN Peripheral | No | No | No | No | Yes (CAN 2.0B) | No |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (E) |
Key Differentiators
- Higher Flash density than legacy 4520 in same footprint (vs PIC18F4520-I/PT)
- More RAM than lower-end 4520/4580 variants (vs PIC18F4520-I/PT)
- Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) suitable for factory and outdoor use (vs PIC18F46K20-I/PT (E variant +125C))
Design Notes
Decoupling: Place a 100 nF ceramic capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD/VSS pair (pins 11/12 and 40/41) with traces shorter than 3 mm to suppress switching transients per the Microchip PIC18F4525 datasheet. Add a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the main VDD rail near the MCU. For noise-sensitive ADC measurements, add a separate analog VDD filter (10 ohm + 100 nF) when the digital and analog pins are powered from the same rail. The /PT TQFP-44 thermal pad is not connected; thermal performance depends on the package's 10x10 mm copper pour.
Configuration bits: The PIC18F4525-I/PT must be configured before code execution via CONFIG1H-3H registers. Common mistakes include selecting the HS oscillator mode without a crystal, leaving WDT enabled in sleep-mode applications (which prevents nanoWalt savings), and forgetting to disable low-voltage programming (LVP) when using high-voltage programming (HVP) via MCLR. The CONFIG3H MCLRE bit must be set to enable external reset on pin 1. Review Microchip MPLAB X 'Configuration Bits' settings before first programming.
ICSP layout: Reserve the ICSP/ICD pins (RB6/PGC = pin 19, RB7/PGD = pin 20, MCLR/VPP = pin 1, VSS = pin 12 or 41) with a 6-pin header footprint matching the Microchip PICkit 5 pinout (1=VPP, 2=VDD, 3=VSS, 4=PGD, 5=PGC, 6=NC). Place the header on the board edge for accessible programming without removing shields. Keep ICSP traces short and add 4.7 kohm pull-down on MCLR to prevent spurious resets per Microchip PIC18F4525 datasheet section 26.
Analog/digital grounding: To maximize 10-bit ADC accuracy, use a star-ground topology with the MCU ground pin connected at the star center. Route analog inputs (AN0-AN13) away from switching nodes like PWM outputs (CCP1 = pin 23, ECCP outputs on PORTC). Place a ground pour under analog traces to provide shielding. The PIC18F4525's ADC reference (VREF+/VREF-) can be tied to a separate low-noise analog rail for high-precision measurements per the datasheet analog peripheral section.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade only - not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 use PIC18F45K22 or PIC18F46K22 automotive-qualified variants.
