PIC18F57K42-I/PT - 128KB Flash, 64MHz 8-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F57K42-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.32 | $4.32 |
| 10 | $3.89 | $38.90 |
| 100 | $3.45 | $345.00 |
| 500 | $3.05 | $1,525.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.72 | $2,720.00 |
PIC18F57K42-I/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that combines a CPU, non-volatile program memory, volatile data memory, and on-chip peripherals such as timers, communication interfaces, and analog converters. PIC18F-family devices sit at the high-performance tier of Microchip's 8-bit portfolio, between baseline PIC10/PIC12/PIC16 mid-range parts and the 16-bit PIC24/dsPIC families - well suited for applications that need more code space and richer peripherals than a PIC16 can provide, but where a 32-bit Cortex-M0/M0+ would add cost and complexity.
Key features of this variant include a 12-bit ADC2 (with computation), a 5-bit DAC, two comparators with 8-bit reference, multiple hardware PWM channels, DMA between memory and peripherals, vector interrupts for fast response, a Math Accelerator (MAP) for hardware multiply/divide, and a Device Information Area (DIA) for unique ID and calibration constants. The wide 2.3V to 5.5V VDD range and XLP (eXtreme Low-Power) technology allow deep sleep currents down to 50 nA with fast wake-up, targeting battery- and energy-harvesting designs.
Internally, the device uses a 16-bit modified-Harvard architecture with a 32-level hardware stack, hardware multiply/divide, indirect/post-increment addressing modes, and a 64 MHz internal oscillator selectable by software. The DMA controller can move data between peripherals and RAM without CPU intervention, while Vector Interrupts reduce latency by jumping directly to the handler. These architectural choices allow developers to consolidate what would normally be done in external logic or software loops into the chip itself.
Typical use cases include industrial control panels, IoT sensor nodes with low-power duty-cycled radios, motor control with field-oriented control (FOC) for BLDC, USB human-interface devices (HID/CDC), and white-goods or HVAC controllers. The 48-pin TQFP footprint also suits quick migration from PIC18F47K42 designs that require the larger 128KB memory tier without changing PCB layout. The TQFP-EP package provides a thermal pad that improves heat spreading for full-speed operation across the industrial -40C to +85C range.
When designing with this MCU, allow the exposed thermal pad (pin 49) to be soldered to a copper pour of at least 1 square inch on both top and bottom layers to meet the 64 MHz operating point reliably. Use MPLAB X IDE with the XC8 compiler to take advantage of DIA and the hardware Math Accelerator.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes that complement the manufacturer datasheet for engineers evaluating the PIC18F57K42-I/PT for new designs and field replacements.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F57K42-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 PIC18F57K42-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, I/O Pins, Package, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F57K42-I/MV
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F47K42-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F55K42-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F56Q43-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F57Q84-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F47K42-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F57K42-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC (modified Harvard) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 128 KB (64K x 16) |
| Data RAM | 8 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 48-TQFP-EP (PT, 7x7 mm) with exposed thermal pad |
| I/O Pins | 43 |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC2 with computation, up to 43 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit DAC |
| Comparators | 2 with 8-bit reference |
| Timers | Multiple 16-bit/8-bit timers (specific count from datasheet) |
| PWM Channels | Multiple hardware PWM (specific count from datasheet) |
| Communication | UART, SPI, I2C (counts per datasheet) |
| DMA | Yes (DMA between memory and peripherals) |
| Low Power | XLP technology; deep sleep down to 50 nA |
| Math Accelerator (MAP) | Yes (hardware multiply/divide) |
| Vector Interrupts | Yes |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F57K42-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 2 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 3 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 4 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O with analog |
| Pin 5 | RB6 — ICD PGC; bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 6 | RB7 — ICD PGD; bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 7 | RE0 — Bidirectional I/O / analog |
| Pin 8 | RE1 — Bidirectional I/O / analog |
| Pin 9 | RE2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog |
| Pin 10 | RE3 — Bidirectional I/O / analog |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | GND — Digital ground |
| Pin 13 | RA0 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 14 | RA1 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 15 | RA2 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | RA3 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RA4 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 18 | RA5 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 19 | RA6 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 20 | RA7 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 21 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 22 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 23 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 24 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 25 | RC0 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 26 | RC1 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | RC2 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 28 | RC3 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 29 | RC4 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 30 | RC5 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 31 | RC6 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 32 | RC7 — Analog / digital I/O |
| Pin 33 | RD0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 34 | RD1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 35 | RD2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 36 | RD3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 37 | RD4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 38 | RD5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 39 | RD6 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 40 | RD7 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 41 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 42 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 43 | RF0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 44 | RF1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 45 | RF2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 46 | RF3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 47 | RF4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 48 | RF5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 49 | EP — Exposed thermal pad - solder to ground copper pour |
Typical Applications
PIC18F57K42-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panels, IoT Sensor Nodes, BLDC Motor Control, USB HID / CDC Devices, White Goods and HVAC Controllers, Battery Charging and Power Management.
Industrial Control Panels
The PIC18F57K42-I/PT is well suited for industrial HMI and control panels because of its 128 KB Flash, 8 KB of RAM, and 43 I/O lines in a compact 48-pin TQFP-EP. The 12-bit ADC2 with computation supports multiple analog sensor inputs (temperature, pressure, 4-20 mA loop), while the 5-bit DAC and comparators drive LED indicators and threshold detection. Core Independent Peripherals (DMA, CWG, NCO) handle timing-critical tasks without CPU load, freeing the 64 MHz core for protocol stacks. The exposed thermal pad supports -40C to +85C industrial operation without derating, and XLP low-power modes suit battery-backed panels.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Nodes
For battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, the PIC18F57K42-I/PT combines low XLP sleep current (down to 50 nA with RTC) with DMA-driven peripherals that let the CPU stay asleep while sensors are sampled. The wide 2.3V to 5.5V supply range is compatible with 2xAA alkaline, single-cell Li-ion, or regulated 3.3V rails; the integrated 12-bit ADC2 with computation averages battery voltage and sensor inputs without waking the CPU. Vector Interrupts let the device react to GPIO edges in microseconds, and the hardware Math Accelerator helps with cryptographic operations for secure wireless uplink when paired with an SPI radio.
Recommended
BLDC Motor Control
The 16 MIPS throughput and high-resolution PWM channels of the PIC18F57K42-I/PT enable sensorless and sensored BLDC motor control using the Core Independent Peripherals. The CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) and DSM (Data Signal Modulator) generate center-aligned PWM with dead-time insertion required for FOC drives, while the 64 MHz CPU budget leaves headroom for speed PI loops. The 12-bit ADC2 with computation samples back-EMF at the optimal PWM window via hardware triggering, removing software jitter. Overcurrent protection is handled by the analog comparators tied to the PWM fault input for sub-microsecond shutdown.
Recommended
USB HID / CDC Devices
The PIC18F57K42-I/PT supports USB 2.0 Full-Speed device operation through its integrated USB peripheral with internal pull-up resistors and on-chip transceivers, simplifying BOM for game controllers, custom HID peripherals, and CDC-based virtual COM ports. The 128 KB Flash easily holds USB stacks from Microchip's MLA library plus application code, while DMA moves endpoint data without CPU intervention. The 48-pin TQFP-EP package keeps the PCB compact for dongle-style form factors and exposes enough I/O for LED indicators and buttons. The wide 5V-tolerant design simplifies interfacing with legacy 5V systems and downstream hosts.
Recommended
White Goods and HVAC Controllers
In washing machines, dishwashers, HVAC thermostats, and refrigerator controllers, the PIC18F57K42-I/PT provides the sensor inputs, timer channels, and communication interfaces required for a single-chip solution. The 12-bit ADC2 reads thermistor, pressure, and flow-sensor signals; the 5-bit DAC drives triac-based load control via optocouplers; and PWM channels drive brushless or universal motors. Math Accelerator (MAP) accelerates lookup-table interpolation for temperature-to-duty conversion, while Vector Interrupts ensure fast reaction to door switches and safety cutoffs. The -40C to +85C operation handles appliance environments without derating.
Recommended
Battery Charging and Power Management
The PIC18F57K42-I/PT is a strong fit for digital chargers, solar charge controllers, and uninterruptible power supplies requiring multi-stage charge profiles with closed-loop control. The 12-bit ADC2 monitors battery voltage, charge current, and temperature via independent channels, while DMA streams ADC samples into RAM for the software state machine. The hardware PWM and comparators implement synchronous flyback or boost PFC stages with cycle-by-cycle current limiting. XLP sleep currents below 50 nA extend standby time in solar applications, and the -40C to +85C rating suits outdoor power systems.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F57K42-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F57K42-I/MV | PIC18F47K42-I/PT | PIC18F55K42-I/PT | PIC18F56Q43-I/PT | PIC18F57Q84-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-TQFP-EP (PT) 7x7 mm | 48-QFN (MV) - different footprint | 40-TQFP-EP (PT) - smaller | 48-TQFP-EP (PT) - same | 48-TQFP-EP (PT) - same | 48-TQFP-EP (PT) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 128 KB | Up to 128 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB |
| RAM | 8 KB | 8 KB | Up to 8 KB | 2 KB | 4 KB | 13 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC2 | 12-bit ADC2 | 12-bit ADC2 | 12-bit ADC2 | 12-bit ADC2 | 12-bit ADC2 |
| Supply Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| DMA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash + RAM in 48-TQFP-EP PIC18 K42 family (vs PIC18F55K42-I/PT)
- Drop-in same 48-TQFP-EP footprint across K42 and Q-series (vs PIC18F57Q84-I/PT)
- Industrial -40C to +85C in 48-TQFP-EP with no derating (vs PIC18F47K42-E/PT)
Design Notes
Solder the exposed thermal pad (pin 49) of the 48-TQFP-EP package to a copper pour of at least 1 square inch on the top layer, with thermal vias to inner planes. Without this connection, the 64 MHz operation cannot be sustained reliably across the -40C to +85C industrial range. Use a 4 x 4 via array of 0.3 mm diameter vias under the EP for low thermal resistance.
Place the 0.1 uF VDD decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD pin (and the corresponding VSS pin) on each of the four VDD/VSS pairs of the 48-TQFP-EP footprint. Use a single bulk 10 uF ceramic or tantalum capacitor on the VDD rail. Keep the ICSP PGC/PGD pair (RB6/RB7) away from analog traces to avoid programming noise coupling into ADC readings.
Do not confuse the /PT (48-TQFP-EP) and /MV (48-QFN) package suffixes - they have completely different footprints and land patterns, so the /MV cannot be used as a drop-in replacement on a /PT board. Also, the 48-pin PIC18F57K42 and the 40-pin PIC18F47K42 are NOT pin-compatible: the F47 omits the RF and RC port pins, so the same PCB cannot accept both. Verify pin count and package code on each BOM line.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Standard industrial grade - AEC-Q100 /V suffix variants required for automotive qualification. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated; check with Microchip for current compliance documentation.
