PIC18F46K80-E/ML - 64KB Flash, ECAN, 8-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F46K80-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.97 | $6.97 |
| 10 | $6.27 | $62.70 |
| 100 | $5.57 | $557.00 |
| 500 | $4.79 | $2,395.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.18 | $4,180.00 |
PIC18F46K80-E/ML Overview
What is a PIC18 microcontroller? PIC18 is Microchip's enhanced 8-bit MCU family, sitting between baseline PIC10/12/16 and 16-bit dsPIC/PIC24 architectures. It offers C-friendly instruction set, hardware multiply, linear program memory up to 2MB, and rich peripherals including ADC, ECAN, USB, and touch sensing. PIC18F46K80 belongs to the PIC18F66K80 family targeting automotive, building control, elevator, and industrial segments.
Key features include a 12-bit ADC with up to 11 channels, 5 CCP/ECCP modules, three dedicated ECAN transmit buffers, six programmable receive/transmit buffers, CTMU for capacitive touch, and nanoWatt XLP sleep current as low as 20 nA typical. It provides 35 digital I/O pins, two comparators, two UARTs, SPI, I2C, and a hardware RTCC with calendar mode. The 44-QFN exposed pad enables efficient heat dissipation in compact layouts.
Internally, the device uses an 8-bit modified Harvard architecture with a 16-bit wide instruction path, 8x8 hardware multiplier, and 32-level hardware stack. The integrated ECAN controller supports CAN 2.0B active at 1 Mbps with six hardware buffers, eliminating software bit-banging overhead. The 12-bit ADC offers 100K samples per second with acquisition timer and dedicated ADC reference.
Typical applications include automotive body modules and HVAC, industrial CAN nodes, building HVAC and elevator controllers, capacitive touch user interfaces, and battery-powered sensor platforms with ECAN communication. The wide 1.8V to 5.5V range supports direct Li-ion battery operation while remaining suitable for 5V industrial backplanes.
When designing, allocate adequate copper area under the QFN exposed pad for thermal dissipation, since the 64MHz operation can drive internal dissipation in heavy I/O workloads. Place the 10uF bulk and 0.1uF bypass capacitors within 5mm of the VDD pins to avoid switching noise on ADC readings.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, parametric comparison, and practical design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F46K80-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 PIC18F46K80-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Package, Program Memory (Flash), I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F46K80-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.23 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F45K80-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F46K42-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F46K40-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4585-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46K80-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit (Enhanced) |
| Family | PIC18F66K80 / PIC18 XLP 18K |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16) |
| RAM | 3.6 KB |
| EEPROM | 1 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 35 |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 11 channels |
| ECAN Controller | CAN 2.0B active, 6 buffers |
| CCP/ECCP Modules | 5 |
| Comparators | 2 |
| CTMU | Yes (capacitive touch) |
| UART / SPI / I2C | 2 / 1 / 1 |
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E = Extended) |
| MSL Level | 3 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC18F46K80-E/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — Port A bit 2 / ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3 — Port A bit 3 / ADC channel 3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — Port A bit 4 / ADC channel 4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5 — Port A bit 5 / ADC channel 5 |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 / oscillator |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 / oscillator |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 11 | RB0/INT0 — Port B bit 0 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 12 | RB1/INT1 — Port B bit 1 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 13 | RB2/INT2 — Port B bit 2 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 14 | RB3/INT3 — Port B bit 3 / external interrupt 3 |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 17 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 |
| Pin 21 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 |
| Pin 22 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 23 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 24 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 |
| Pin 25 | RC6/TX1 — Port C bit 6 / UART1 TX |
| Pin 26 | RC7/RX1 — Port C bit 7 / UART1 RX |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 28 | RD0 — Port D bit 0 |
| Pin 29 | RD1 — Port D bit 1 |
| Pin 30 | RD2 — Port D bit 2 |
| Pin 31 | RD3 — Port D bit 3 |
| Pin 32 | RD4 — Port D bit 4 |
| Pin 33 | RD5 — Port D bit 5 |
| Pin 34 | RD6 — Port D bit 6 |
| Pin 35 | RD7 — Port D bit 7 |
| Pin 36 | RE0 — Port E bit 0 |
| Pin 37 | RE1 — Port E bit 1 |
| Pin 38 | RE2 — Port E bit 2 |
| Pin 39 | RE3 — Port E bit 3 |
| Pin 40 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 41 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 42 | RF0 — Port F bit 0 |
| Pin 43 | RF1 — Port F bit 1 |
| Pin 44 | RF2 — Port F bit 2 |
Typical Applications
PIC18F46K80-E/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive CAN Body Module, Industrial HVAC Controller, Capacitive Touch User Interface, Battery-Powered Sensor Node with CAN, Elevator Door and Floor Controller, Building Automation Gateway.
Automotive CAN Body Module
The PIC18F46K80-E/ML is ideally suited for automotive body control modules that communicate over CAN bus with other ECUs. Its integrated ECAN 2.0B controller at 1 Mbps supports body electronics networks, while the 12-bit ADC with 11 channels handles multiple sensor inputs such as ambient light, temperature, and switch position. The nanoWatt XLP technology reduces sleep current to ~20 nA, extending battery life in parked vehicles, and the -40C to +125C extended temperature range meets under-hood thermal requirements. Typical implementation places the device between a 12V CAN bus transceiver (e.g. MCP2551) and analog sensors, running OSEK/Autosar-compliant firmware with CAN bootloader support. The 64KB Flash accommodates stack, application, and bootloader, with 3.6KB RAM supporting CAN message buffers and protocol overhead.
Recommended
Industrial HVAC Controller
The PIC18F46K80-E/ML fits industrial HVAC controllers requiring ECAN communication with building automation systems and precise analog sensing of temperature, humidity, and airflow. Its 12-bit ADC with 11 channels samples multiple thermistor and pressure sensor inputs at 100 ksps, while the CTMU peripheral enables capacitive touch user interfaces for thermostats and control panels. The 1.8-5.5V operating range supports both 3.3V and 5V industrial backplane designs without level translation. Engineers pair this MCU with a CAN transceiver, isolated 24V supply, and triac/SSR drivers for compressor and fan control. The 16 MIPS throughput handles PID loop computation, ECAN protocol stack, and display refresh in real time, while nanoWatt XLP sleep reduces standby power for energy-compliant commercial HVAC equipment.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC18F46K80-E/ML supports capacitive touch interfaces through its integrated CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit), enabling buttons, sliders, and proximity sensing without external touch ICs. Combined with the 12-bit ADC and 5 CCP modules, the device scans up to 16 touch channels while driving PWM-controlled LED backlighting and ECAN communication for networked control panels. Typical designs include elevator control panels, smart appliance keypads, and industrial machine HMI displays. The XLP technology keeps idle touch-scanning current under 1 mA, important for battery-backed security panels. The 64KB Flash holds CTMU touch libraries, gesture recognition algorithms, and CANopen / DeviceNet protocol stacks concurrently, while 3.6KB RAM buffers touch events and CAN messages.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Node with CAN
The PIC18F46K80-E/ML is well-suited for battery-powered industrial sensor nodes that periodically wake, sample sensors, transmit over CAN, and return to deep sleep. Its nanoWatt XLP technology achieves ~20 nA sleep current with RTCC running, extending multi-year battery life on 3.6V Li-SOCl2 cells per Microchip datasheet 39977F. The integrated ECAN handles networking without external controllers, the 12-bit ADC reads temperature/pressure/vibration sensors, and the wide 1.8-5.5V supply range accepts depleted-battery voltages directly. Engineers implement duty-cycled firmware where the MCU wakes on RTCC alarm every minute, performs ADC conversion, transmits CAN frame, and sleeps. The 64KB Flash supports full CANopen / SAE J1939 stacks.
Recommended
Elevator Door and Floor Controller
The PIC18F46K80-E/ML serves in elevator door and floor controllers where safety-critical CAN communication, motor drive PWM, and analog sensing combine. Its 5 CCP/ECCP modules generate PWM signals for V/Hz-controlled door motors, the 12-bit ADC monitors motor current and position feedback, and ECAN interfaces to the elevator group's main controller and dispatcher. The extended -40C to +125C temperature range handles machine-room heat, and the 64KB Flash supports IEC 60730 Class B software safety routines for household elevator applications. The device also drives LED segment displays and accepts capacitive touch button inputs via CTMU for floor selection panels.
Recommended
Building Automation Gateway
The PIC18F46K80-E/ML functions as a sub-gateway in building automation systems, bridging CAN fieldbus networks to BACnet/Modbus masters via UART. Its 2 UARTs support simultaneous BACnet MS/TP communication and external RS-485 interface, while ECAN interfaces to local HVAC and lighting controllers. The 64KB Flash holds BACnet/Modbus protocol stacks plus application logic, and the 16 MIPS throughput handles concurrent fieldbus and IP gateway processing. Industrial temperature grade ensures reliable operation in mechanical rooms and unconditioned electrical closets. The 35 I/O pins drive status LEDs, accept override switches, and trigger alarm relays directly, eliminating external I/O expanders in many designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F46K80-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F46K80-I/ML | PIC18F45K80-I/ML | PIC18F46K42-I/ML | PIC18F46K40-I/ML | PIC18F4585-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 48 KB |
| RAM | 3.6 KB | 3.6 KB | 3.6 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 3.3 KB |
| Maximum Speed | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| ECAN Controller | Yes (CAN 2.0B) | Yes (CAN 2.0B) | Yes (CAN 2.0B) | No (CIP peripherals) | No (CIP peripherals) | Yes (CAN 2.0B) |
| 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) |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit (11 channels) | 12-bit (11 channels) | 12-bit (11 channels) | 12-bit (35 channels) | 12-bit (35 channels) | 12-bit (8 channels) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated ECAN 2.0B controller (vs PIC18F46K42-I/ML)
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature range (vs PIC18F46K80-I/ML)
- 64KB Flash vs 32KB (vs PIC18F45K80-I/ML)
- Higher 64MHz/16 MIPS vs 40MHz/10 MIPS (vs PIC18F4585-I/ML)
Design Notes
The 44-QFN exposed thermal pad (pin 45) must be soldered to a PCB copper pad of at least 1 square inch with multiple thermal vias to the internal ground plane. Without proper thermal connection, the device can overheat at 64MHz full-load operation. Place a 10uF bulk tantalum or ceramic capacitor and a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor within 5mm of the VDD pins, with the bulk cap closer to the IC. Connect all VSS pins (9, 27, 40) directly to the ground plane to minimize digital switching noise coupling into ADC readings.
Route the ECAN CANTX and CANRX traces as a differential pair with 100 ohm impedance, keeping them short and isolated from noisy digital traces. Place the MCP2551 or similar CAN transceiver close to the MCU. For ECAN bit timing at 1 Mbps, configure the CANCON register with propagation delay, phase segment 1, and phase segment 2 to match the network's sample point at 75-80%. Per Microchip ECAN application notes, failure to match bus timing results in intermittent communication and error frames at high bus load.
Do not exceed the maximum oscillator frequency of 64MHz without proper configuration of the PLL and OSCCON registers. Ensure ICSP pins RB6 (PGC) and RB7 (PGD) are not pulled low at reset, or the device enters programming mode instead of executing user code. When using CTMU for capacitive touch, calibrate the current source with the dedicated trim registers per Microchip datasheet 39977F section 23.0, otherwise touch sensitivity drifts with temperature and supply voltage.
Estimated: At 64MHz, 3.3V VDD, full peripheral activity, the PIC18F46K80-E/ML draws approximately 15 mA active. Power dissipation P = 3.3V * 15 mA = 49.5 mW. With the 44-QFN thermal resistance theta_JA of approximately 30 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC test board, junction temperature rise is 1.5C above ambient. Extended -40C to +125C operation is well within safe thermal limits, but the EPAD must be soldered to thermal copper to achieve this rating. In sleep mode with XLP enabled, current drops to ~20 nA for multi-year battery operation.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Standard E-grade is not AEC-Q100 qualified; AEC-Q100 Grade 0 automotive qualification available on PIC18F46K80-I/P variants. Lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip material declaration.