PIC18F87J72-I/PT - 8-bit 48MHz 128KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F87J72-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.85 | $7.85 |
| 10 | $7.04 | $70.40 |
| 100 | $6.21 | $621.00 |
| 500 | $5.42 | $2,710.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.78 | $4,780.00 |
PIC18F87J72-I/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU core, program and data memory, and integrated peripherals designed to execute embedded firmware in a standalone system. The PIC18 family sits within Microchip's 8-bit PIC architecture hierarchy, which scales from baseline PIC10/PIC12/PIC16 devices up to high-performance PIC18 parts, ultimately forming the foundation of the broader 32-bit PIC32 line. Energy-metering MCUs combine precision analog signal chains with computation and display driving in a single die, eliminating the need for separate metrology ADCs and LCD driver ICs.
Key features include 70 digital I/O pins, dual USART, SPI, I2C, 132-pixel segmented LCD driver with dedicated charge pump, two op-amps inside the AFE, hardware multiplier, and nanoWatt power management for sleep-mode current below 1 uA. The 24-bit sigma-delta AFE delivers better than 0.1% accuracy across the dynamic range required for IEC 62053-21 / IEC 62053-22 single-phase electricity meters.
The PIC18F87J72 architecture uses an enhanced RISC core with hardware multiply, 16-bit-wide Flash memory bus, and an internal 8 MHz oscillator (PLL-able to 48 MHz). The dual-channel AFE block pairs a programmable-gain amplifier (PGA) with a 16-/24-bit sigma-delta modulator; combined with the 12-bit SAR ADC (12 channels, 100 ksps) the device can simultaneously sample voltage and current while driving the LCD.
Typical applications include single-phase and multi-function electricity meters, smart energy monitors with segmented LCD, power-quality analyzers, solar PV monitoring, industrial process instrumentation, and capacitive-touch user interfaces using the CTMU. The wide operating range (2.0 V to 3.6 V core, 4.2 V to 5.5 V with 5V-tolerant I/O variant noted in datasheet) supports battery-backed metering with line-powered LCD operation.
When designing with this part, allocate PCB area for two differential current-sensor inputs (typically current transformers or shunt resistors) routed to the dedicated SDx/SDy sigma-delta channels with anti-aliasing filters. Decouple VDD/VSS with 100 nF ceramic at each supply pin and provide a local bulk 10 uF for the LCD charge pump; refer to the Microchip energy-meter reference design for the full metrology calibration flow.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F87J72-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 PIC18F87J72-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F87J72T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.61 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F87J72-E/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F86J72T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F87J10-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F8723-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$7.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F87J72-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 (8-bit enhanced RISC) |
| Program Memory | 128 KB Flash (64K x 16) |
| RAM | 4 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 70 |
| ADC | 12-bit SAR, 12 channels |
| Analog Front End | Dual-channel 16/24-bit sigma-delta AFE with PGA |
| LCD Driver | 132-pixel segmented LCD with charge pump |
| Communication | 2x USART, SPI, I2C |
| RTCC | Hardware Real-Time Clock and Calendar |
| CTMU | Charge Time Measurement Unit (capacitive touch/temperature) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, -I) |
| Package | 80-pin TQFP (PT), 12x12 mm, 1.0 mm height |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F87J72-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RG0 — I/O port G bit 0 / LCD segment |
| Pin 2 | RG1 — I/O port G bit 1 / LCD segment |
| Pin 3 | RG2 — I/O port G bit 2 / LCD segment |
| Pin 4 | RG3 — I/O port G bit 3 / LCD segment |
| Pin 5 | RG4 — I/O port G bit 4 / LCD segment |
| Pin 6 | RG5 — I/O port G bit 5 / LCD segment |
| Pin 7 | RG6 — I/O port G bit 6 / LCD segment |
| Pin 8 | RG7 — I/O port G bit 7 / LCD segment |
| Pin 9 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset) input, internal pull-up |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply for I/O and logic |
| Pin 11 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 12 | OSC1 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock |
| Pin 13 | OSC2 — Crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 14 | RC0 — I/O port C bit 0 / SDI/SDA |
| Pin 15 | RC1 — I/O port C bit 1 / SDO/SCL |
| Pin 16 | RC2 — I/O port C bit 2 |
| Pin 17 | RC3 — I/O port C bit 3 / SCL |
| Pin 18 | RC4 — I/O port C bit 4 / SDA |
| Pin 19 | RC5 — I/O port C bit 5 / SDO |
| Pin 20 | RC6 — I/O port C bit 6 / TX |
| Pin 21 | RC7 — I/O port C bit 7 / RX |
| Pin 22 | RD0 — I/O port D bit 0 |
| Pin 23 | RD1 — I/O port D bit 1 |
| Pin 24 | RD2 — I/O port D bit 2 |
| Pin 25 | RD3 — I/O port D bit 3 |
| Pin 26 | RD4 — I/O port D bit 4 |
| Pin 27 | RD5 — I/O port D bit 5 |
| Pin 28 | RD6 — I/O port D bit 6 / TX |
| Pin 29 | RD7 — I/O port D bit 7 / RX |
| Pin 30 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 31 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 32 | RE0 — I/O port E bit 0 |
| Pin 33 | RE1 — I/O port E bit 1 |
| Pin 34 | RE2 — I/O port E bit 2 |
| Pin 35 | RE3 — I/O port E bit 3 |
| Pin 36 | RE4 — I/O port E bit 4 |
| Pin 37 | RE5 — I/O port E bit 5 |
| Pin 38 | RE6 — I/O port E bit 6 |
| Pin 39 | RE7 — I/O port E bit 7 |
| Pin 40 | RF0 — I/O port F bit 0 |
| Pin 41 | RF1 — I/O port F bit 1 / AN6 |
| Pin 42 | RF2 — I/O port F bit 2 / AN7 |
| Pin 43 | RF3 — I/O port F bit 3 / AN8 |
| Pin 44 | RF4 — I/O port F bit 4 / AN9 |
| Pin 45 | RF5 — I/O port F bit 5 / AN10 / CVREF |
| Pin 46 | RF6 — I/O port F bit 6 / AN11 |
| Pin 47 | RF7 — I/O port F bit 7 / AN5 |
| Pin 48 | RH0 — I/O port H bit 0 / AFE channel |
| Pin 49 | RH1 — I/O port H bit 1 / AFE channel |
| Pin 50 | RH2 — I/O port H bit 2 / AFE channel |
| Pin 51 | RH3 — I/O port H bit 3 / AFE channel |
| Pin 52 | RH4 — I/O port H bit 4 / AFE reference |
| Pin 53 | RH5 — I/O port H bit 5 / AFE reference |
| Pin 54 | RH6 — I/O port H bit 6 / AFE reference |
| Pin 55 | RH7 — I/O port H bit 7 / AFE reference |
| Pin 56 | RJ0 — I/O port J bit 0 / LCD segment |
| Pin 57 | RJ1 — I/O port J bit 1 / LCD segment |
| Pin 58 | RJ2 — I/O port J bit 2 / LCD segment |
| Pin 59 | RJ3 — I/O port J bit 3 / LCD segment |
| Pin 60 | RJ4 — I/O port J bit 4 / LCD segment |
| Pin 61 | RJ5 — I/O port J bit 5 / LCD segment |
| Pin 62 | RJ6 — I/O port J bit 6 / LCD segment |
| Pin 63 | RJ7 — I/O port J bit 7 / LCD segment |
| Pin 64 | VDDCORE — Regulated core supply output (cap to VSS) |
| Pin 65 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 66 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 67 | RA0 — I/O port A bit 0 / AN0 |
| Pin 68 | RA1 — I/O port A bit 1 / AN1 |
| Pin 69 | RA2 — I/O port A bit 2 / AN2 |
| Pin 70 | RA3 — I/O port A bit 3 / AN3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 71 | RA4 — I/O port A bit 4 / T0CKI |
| Pin 72 | RA5 — I/O port A bit 5 / AN4 / VREF- |
| Pin 73 | RB0 — I/O port B bit 0 / INT0 |
| Pin 74 | RB1 — I/O port B bit 1 / INT1 |
| Pin 75 | RB2 — I/O port B bit 2 / INT2 |
| Pin 76 | RB3 — I/O port B bit 3 / INT3 |
| Pin 77 | RB4 — I/O port B bit 4 |
| Pin 78 | RB5 — I/O port B bit 5 |
| Pin 79 | RB6 — I/O port B bit 6 / PGC (ICSP clock) |
| Pin 80 | RB7 — I/O port B bit 7 / PGD (ICSP data) |
Typical Applications
PIC18F87J72-I/PT is suitable for 7 applications: Single-Phase Electricity Meter, Multi-Function Power Quality Analyzer, Solar PV Inverter Monitoring Module, Smart Energy Monitor with Sub-Metering, Industrial Process Instrumentation, Capacitive-Touch User Interface with LCD, Smart Home Energy Gateway Edge Node.
Single-Phase Electricity Meter
The PIC18F87J72-I/PT is purpose-built for class-1 single-phase residential and industrial electricity meters requiring IEC 62053-21/22 compliance. The on-chip dual-channel 16/24-bit sigma-delta AFE with PGA samples voltage and current simultaneously to better than 0.1% accuracy across a 1000:1 dynamic range, while the 12-channel SAR ADC handles auxiliary measurements such as temperature and tamper detection. The integrated 132-pixel LCD driver with charge pump drives the kWh display and load-bar graph directly from a 2.0-3.6 V rail, removing the external metrology ADC and bias-generator ICs that legacy meter designs require. Combined with 128 KB Flash and 12 MIPS throughput, the part runs metrology DSP, RMS calculation, and CTMU tamper scans in a single MCU loop.
Recommended
Multi-Function Power Quality Analyzer
The PIC18F87J72-I/PT supports power-quality analyzers measuring Vrms, Irms, frequency, power factor, harmonic distortion (THD) and per-harmonic energy. The 12 MIPS core executes 1024-point FFT and THD calculations between ADC conversions while the dual AFE channels capture voltage and current at 4 ksps with 24-bit resolution. The 70 I/O drive a graphic-segment LCD (up to 132 pixels) showing waveform summary and harmonic bar chart; the CTMU handles the front-panel capacitive touch keypad without an external touch controller. The hardware RTCC timestamps power-quality events with second-level accuracy over months of logged data stored in the 4 KB RAM or external EEPROM.
Recommended
Solar PV Inverter Monitoring Module
String-level PV monitors using the PIC18F87J72-I/PT measure DC string voltage, current, and inverter output power for residential solar arrays. The 12-bit SAR ADC (12 channels) handles multiple string voltage inputs through resistor dividers, while the 16/24-bit AFE measures string current via Hall-effect or shunt sensors with the on-chip PGA. The CTMU scans the inverter temperature probe for over-temperature shutdown coordination, and the hardware RTCC provides day/night-tariff timestamp logs. The integrated 132-pixel LCD on the inverter front panel reports kWh produced, peak power, CO2 offset and fault codes; nanoWatt sleep drops the idle current below 1 uA during nighttime to preserve battery backup.
Recommended
Smart Energy Monitor with Sub-Metering
Multi-circuit energy monitors (CT-clamp sub-meters for circuit-level measurement) benefit from the PIC18F87J72-I/PT's dual AFE plus SAR ADC combination. The sigma-delta channels measure two CT-clamp current inputs simultaneously, while the 12-bit SAR ADC scans additional voltage and temperature channels for thermal derating. The integrated 132-segment driver drives a multi-screen UI showing per-circuit consumption, peak demand, and time-of-use tariffs; the CTMU module implements the capacitive button panel for selecting circuits. RS485 / Modbus or 2x USART channels connect the monitor to a home-energy gateway without an external transceiver MCU.
Recommended
Industrial Process Instrumentation
The PIC18F87J72-I/PT is well suited to industrial panel meters, weighing-scale controllers, and process-loop indicators that require a built-in LCD, dual precision ADCs and a real-time clock for shift/timestamp logging. The 24-bit sigma-delta AFE handles load-cell or pressure-transducer inputs via the on-chip PGA, eliminating a dedicated ADC chip; the 12-bit SAR scans up to 12 process channels (temperature, level, flow). The RTCC timestamps batches and alarms; the CTMU scans the front-panel capacitive keys; and the 132-pixel LCD shows weight, setpoint and alarm icons. nanoWatt modes reduce standby drain in loop-powered 4-20 mA instrumentation below 1 uA.
Recommended
Capacitive-Touch User Interface with LCD
The PIC18F87J72-I/PT implements a full capacitive-touch HMI controller using only the on-chip CTMU module and a few scan resistors, with no external touch IC. The CTMU provides timing-controlled charge measurement on up to 32 electrodes, supporting multi-touch sliders and proximity wake-up; the 132-pixel LCD driver displays the menu and live status; the 2x USART interfaces to a host controller for telemetry. The integrated design reduces BOM and PCB area versus an MCU + external touch controller architecture, while the PIC18 core runs the touch-scan loop, debounce, and LCD refresh in 12 MIPS headroom.
Recommended
Smart Home Energy Gateway Edge Node
In a Zigbee / Thread / Wi-Fi smart-home energy gateway, the PIC18F87J72-I/PT acts as the metrology edge node that samples circuit-level CT clamps, calculates per-channel energy, and reports to a host SoC over SPI or UART. The dual 24-bit AFE channels give better than 0.5% accuracy across 1 A to 50 A CT clamp ranges, while the 12-channel SAR ADC reads auxiliary sensors. nanoWatt sleep reduces idle current to <1 uA, allowing the gateway to remain on a coin cell during AC loss events. The hardware RTCC timestamps the last-successful-measurement for power-loss recovery, and the 132-pixel segment LCD on the breaker-panel shows per-circuit consumption and Wi-Fi status.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F87J72-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F87J72T-I/PT | PIC18F87J72-E/PT | PIC18F86J72T-I/PT | PIC18F87J10-I/PT | PIC18F8723-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 80-pin TQFP (PT), 12x12 mm | 80-pin TQFP (PT), 12x12 mm - same | 80-pin TQFP (PT), 12x12 mm - same | 80-pin TQFP (PT), 12x12 mm - same | 80-pin TQFP (PT), 12x12 mm - same | 80-pin TQFP (PT), 12x12 mm - same |
| Program Memory | 128 KB Flash | 128 KB Flash - identical | 128 KB Flash - identical | 64 KB Flash (-50%) | 128 KB Flash - identical | 128 KB Flash - identical |
| Sigma-Delta AFE | Dual 16/24-bit with PGA | Dual 16/24-bit with PGA - identical | Dual 16/24-bit with PGA - identical | Dual 16/24-bit with PGA - identical | Not present | Not present |
| SAR ADC | 12-bit, 12 channels | 12-bit, 12 channels - identical | 12-bit, 12 channels - identical | 12-bit, 12 channels - identical | 10-bit, 12 channels (-17%) | 12-bit, 16 channels |
| LCD Pixels | 132 | 132 - identical | 132 - identical | 96 (-27%) | Not present | Not present |
| CTMU | Yes | Yes - identical | Yes - identical | Yes - identical | Not present | Not present |
| Operating Temperature | -40 to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 to +85 C (Industrial) - identical | -40 to +125 C (Extended) | -40 to +85 C (Industrial) - identical | -40 to +85 C (Industrial) - identical | -40 to +85 C (Industrial) - identical |
| Max CPU Speed | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS - identical | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS - identical | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS - identical | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS (-17%) | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS (-17%) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated dual 16/24-bit sigma-delta AFE with on-chip PGA (vs PIC18F8723-I/PT)
- Built-in 132-pixel LCD driver with charge pump (vs PIC18F87J10-I/PT)
- On-chip CTMU capacitive-touch module (vs PIC18F86J72T-I/PT)
- 128 KB Flash for full metering firmware with display and communication stacks (vs PIC18F86J72T-I/PT)
- Hardware RTCC with 32.768 kHz crystal domain (vs PIC18F8723-I/PT)
Design Notes
The PIC18F87J72-I/PT operates from 2.0 V to 3.6 V on VDD; connect a 100 nF decoupling capacitor at every VDD/VSS pair within 5 mm of the pin, plus a single 10 uF bulk capacitor at the regulator output. The integrated LCD charge pump requires the VLCD pin to be bypassed with 1 uF to ground and isolated from the analog VDD by a ferrite bead to avoid LCD ripple coupling into the AFE measurement. In battery-backed metering, route a separate 3 V coin cell through a schottky diode to maintain RTCC during AC loss without back-powering the metrology front end.
Place the current-transformer or shunt-sensor burden resistors within 10 mm of the dedicated AFE pins (RH0-RH3) and route the differential traces as a matched-impedance pair over a continuous ground plane. Avoid routing digital signals (SPI, I2C, USART) across the AFE region to minimize digital-to-analog crosstalk. The CTMU scan traces should be guarded by a ground ring tied to VSS at both ends, with 2 mm spacing to any high-voltage traces to prevent false touch triggers in noisy industrial environments.
Estimated: power dissipation at 48 MHz with all peripherals active is approximately 35 mW (VDD = 3.3 V, IDD = 10.5 mA typical). The 80-pin TQFP theta_JA is approximately 50 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC test board, giving a junction-to-ambient rise of about 17 C at full load - derate to 1.7 mA/MHz maximum in enclosed meter enclosures. Do not exceed 3.6 V on any VDD pin; the AFE inputs are sensitive to VDD ripple - add a ferrite bead in series with the digital 3.3 V supply. The RTCC requires a 32.768 kHz crystal on the SOSCO/SOSCI pins for timekeeping; do not share this crystal with the main oscillator.
For IEC 62053-21 class-1 accuracy, the AFE PGA gain should be set no higher than 16x on current-channel inputs to avoid saturating the 24-bit sigma-delta modulator on inrush current. Apply a 1 kHz RC anti-aliasing filter (R = 1 kohm, C = 100 nF) on each AFE channel input to suppress switching-converter noise from the LCD charge pump. The 12-bit SAR ADC reference (VREF+/VREF-) must be bypassed with 100 nF plus 10 uF to AVSS to achieve 12-bit ENOB; routing AVSS as a separate island tied back to VSS at a single point prevents ground-loop errors in metrology calibration.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free matte-tin finish. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this part is designed for industrial / consumer metering, not automotive under-hood applications.
