PIC18LC801T-I/PT - 8-Bit 25MHz ROMless MCU, TQFP-80 | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LC801T-I/PT ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $14.5 | $14.50 |
| 10 | $13.1 | $131.00 |
| 100 | $11.65 | $1,165.00 |
| 500 | $10.4 | $5,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.2 | $9,200.00 |
PIC18LC801T-I/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory, and programmable peripherals. The 'PIC18C' family uses Microchip's enhanced 8-bit RISC Harvard architecture with a modified instruction set and 16-bit instructions, distinguishing it from the older PIC16 family. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, an MCU sits below microprocessor and SoC: microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> RISC MCU -> embedded controller. The 'LC' voltage class indicates 3.0V-3.6V typical operation, suiting battery-powered and low-voltage industrial systems.
Key differentiating features include the 25MHz maximum clock (10 MIPS instruction throughput), 37 digital I/O, hardware USART, I2C, SPI peripherals, multiple timers, ADC channels, and an external memory bus for program code access. The TQFP-80 footprint provides ample GPIO count and trace escape for industrial control boards where larger packages are acceptable.
The PIC18C architecture combines a RISC core with C-friendly instruction set, 16-bit instructions with 8-bit data path, and a deterministic interrupt structure. The external memory interface allows program code up to 2 Mbytes (vendor-cited), far exceeding the on-chip program-memory limits of flash-based PIC18F devices. Trade-off: external memory adds board area, address-latch glue, and bus-cycle latency vs an integrated flash MCU such as PIC18F46K22.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, motor-control front-ends, communication gateways, and embedded systems requiring large code spaces or field-upgradable firmware. The wide 37-I/O count also suits human-machine interface (HMI) panels and instrumentation front-ends.
When designing with this part, plan for an external EPROM/Flash memory IC, address-latch logic (e.g., 74HC373), and adequate PCB area for the TQFP-80 footprint. Verify the LC voltage class matches your 3.3V rail; if a 5V-tolerant variant is required, consider the PIC18C801 family. Engineer-level trade-off: choose PIC18LC801T-I/PT only when external memory is an asset; for cost-sensitive designs, PIC18F-series flash parts in the same TQFP footprint are usually preferred.
This page synthesizes Microchip datasheet specifications, distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and design notes not found in any single manufacturer source - saving procurement and engineering teams several hours of cross-referencing.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LC801T-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 PIC18LC801T-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Program Memory Type, Operating Temperature, Serial Interfaces.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LC801-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18C801-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F8722-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F8720-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F8723-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$7.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LC801T-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC18C |
| Core | 8-bit RISC (PIC Harvard) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 25 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | ROMless (external memory required) |
| External Memory Address Space | up to 2 Mbytes |
| RAM | 1.5K x 8 (1536 bytes) |
| I/O Pins | 37 |
| Supply Voltage (LC class) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 80-TQFP (12 x 12 mm), gull-wing leads |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Number of Terminals | 80 |
| Package Code (JEDEC) | TFQFP |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
PIC18LC801T-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 2 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output |
| Pin 3 | MCLR — Master Clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 4 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 / analog input |
| Pin 7 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 / analog input |
| Pin 8 | RA4 — PORTA bit 4 |
| Pin 9 | RA5 — PORTA bit 5 |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply (3.0-3.6V LC class) |
| Pin 12 | RB0 — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 13 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 14 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 15 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 16 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 17 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 18 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 / ICSCLK |
| Pin 19 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 / ICSDAT |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 21 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 22 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 23 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 24 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 25 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 26 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 27 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 28 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 / TX |
| Pin 29 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 / RX |
| Pin 30 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 31 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 32 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 / external memory data |
| Pin 33 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 / external memory data |
| Pin 34 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 / external memory data |
| Pin 35 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 / external memory data |
| Pin 36 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 / external memory data |
| Pin 37 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 / external memory data |
| Pin 38 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 / external memory data |
| Pin 39 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 / external memory data |
| Pin 40 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 41 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 42 | RE0 — PORTE bit 0 / RD (external memory) |
| Pin 43 | RE1 — PORTE bit 1 / WR (external memory) |
| Pin 44 | RE2 — PORTE bit 2 / CS (external memory) |
| Pin 45 | RE3 — PORTE bit 3 |
| Pin 46 | RE4 — PORTE bit 4 |
| Pin 47 | RE5 — PORTE bit 5 |
| Pin 48 | RE6 — PORTE bit 6 |
| Pin 49 | RE7 — PORTE bit 7 |
| Pin 50 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 51 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 52 | RF0 — PORTF bit 0 / analog |
| Pin 53 | RF1 — PORTF bit 1 / analog |
| Pin 54 | RF2 — PORTF bit 2 / analog |
| Pin 55 | RF3 — PORTF bit 3 / analog |
| Pin 56 | RF4 — PORTF bit 4 / analog |
| Pin 57 | RF5 — PORTF bit 5 / analog |
| Pin 58 | RF6 — PORTF bit 6 / analog |
| Pin 59 | RF7 — PORTF bit 7 / analog |
| Pin 60 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 61 | AVDD — Analog positive supply |
| Pin 62 | RG0 — PORTG bit 0 |
| Pin 63 | RG1 — PORTG bit 1 |
| Pin 64 | RG2 — PORTG bit 2 |
| Pin 65 | RG3 — PORTG bit 3 |
| Pin 66 | RG4 — PORTG bit 4 |
| Pin 67 | RG5 — PORTG bit 5 |
| Pin 68 | RG6 — PORTG bit 6 |
| Pin 69 | RG7 — PORTG bit 7 |
| Pin 70 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 71 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 72 | RA6 — PORTA bit 6 / oscillator |
| Pin 73 | RA7 — PORTA bit 7 / oscillator |
| Pin 74 | RB0 — PORTB bit 0 (alternate) |
| Pin 75 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 76 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 77 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 78 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 79 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 80 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LC801T-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Controller, Motor-Control Front-End, Communication Gateway / Protocol Bridge, Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Panel, Instrumentation Front-End / Data Acquisition, Embedded System with Field-Upgradable Firmware.
Industrial Automation Controller
The PIC18LC801T-I/PT suits industrial automation controllers because its 25 MHz / 10 MIPS core handles real-time PLC scan loops, while 37 GPIO directly drive relays, opto-isolators, and discrete I/O modules. The -40 C to +85 C industrial rating covers factory floor ambient conditions, and the ROMless architecture lets designers pair it with external parallel flash for large ladder-logic or Modbus firmware images exceeding 64 KB. The 3.3 V LC class aligns with modern 24V->3.3V industrial DC rails.
Recommended
Motor-Control Front-End
In motor-control front-ends (BLDC, stepper, AC-induction), the PIC18LC801T-I/PT generates PWM, reads back EMF sensing, and runs field-oriented control algorithms at 10 MIPS. Its 37 I/O supports multiple encoder inputs, Hall sensors, and gate-driver signals, while the external memory bus permits large look-up tables for sine commutation. The 3.3 V LC class pairs naturally with modern 3.3 V gate drivers such as the Microchip TC4427 family.
Recommended
Communication Gateway / Protocol Bridge
The PIC18LC801T-I/PT is a good fit for protocol-bridge gateways that translate between RS-485, CAN, I2C, SPI, and Ethernet/UART peripherals. Its hardware USART, I2C, and SPI peripherals handle multiple concurrent buses, while the 1.5 KB RAM and external 2 MB code space accommodate large protocol stacks (Modbus RTU/TCP, CANopen, EtherCAT slave). The 25 MHz clock provides enough headroom for bit-banging legacy interfaces when hardware peripherals are exhausted.
Recommended
Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Panel
For HMI panels with LCD/LED displays, keypads, and indicator LEDs, the PIC18LC801T-I/PT offers 37 GPIO - sufficient for character-LCD data buses, 4x4 key-scan matrices, and status LEDs. The 10 MIPS core scans keys without flicker and refreshes displays at 60 Hz. Its external memory bus enables storing multi-language UI strings and bitmap assets in parallel flash, which is more economical than integrating large flash on-die.
Recommended
Instrumentation Front-End / Data Acquisition
The PIC18LC801T-I/PT acts as a data-acquisition front-end, sequencing ADC reads, applying digital filtering, and forwarding results over USB/UART. The external memory bus holds calibration tables, look-up tables for thermocouple linearization, and firmware patches. Industrial temperature rating and 37 GPIO accommodate multi-channel sensor multiplexing in laboratory and process instrumentation.
Recommended
Embedded System with Field-Upgradable Firmware
The PIC18LC801T-I/PT is specifically well-suited to systems that need field-upgradable firmware because the external code memory can be parallel flash, which can be reprogrammed in-circuit via bootloader. This is useful for deployed industrial assets where over-the-air or on-site firmware updates are required but on-chip flash is not feasible. The PIC18LC801T-I/PT's 37 GPIO and 25 MHz core support bootloaders, watchdog, and BIST functions.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LC801T-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LC801-I/PT | PIC18C801-I/PT | PIC18F8722-I/PT | PIC18F8720-I/PT | PIC18F8723-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | TQFP-80 (12x12 mm) | TQFP-80 (12x12 mm) - same | TQFP-80 (12x12 mm) - same | TQFP-80 (12x12 mm) - same | TQFP-80 (12x12 mm) - same | TQFP-80 (12x12 mm) - same |
| Core / Family | PIC18C (8-bit, ROMless) | PIC18C (8-bit, ROMless) | PIC18C (8-bit, ROMless) | PIC18F (8-bit, flash) | PIC18F (8-bit, flash) | PIC18F (8-bit, flash) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 25 MHz | 25 MHz | 25 MHz | 25 MHz | 25 MHz | 25 MHz |
| Program Memory | ROMless (external) | ROMless (external) | ROMless (external) | 128 KB flash (integrated) | 128 KB flash (integrated) | 64 KB flash (integrated) |
| RAM | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 3.8 KB | 3.8 KB | 3.8 KB |
| I/O Pins | 37 | 37 | 37 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 - 3.6 V (LC class) | 3.0 - 3.6 V (LC class) | 4.2 - 5.5 V | 2.0 - 5.5 V | 2.0 - 5.5 V | 2.0 - 5.5 V |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND / EOL | Active | Active | Active |
| Approx. Unit Price (qty 1, USD) | $14.50 | $14.50 | $16.00 | $12.00 | $11.50 | $10.50 |
Key Differentiators
- ROMless architecture with 2 MB external memory address space (vs PIC18F8722-I/PT)
- Lower cost in legacy designs already using external memory (vs PIC18F8720-I/PT)
- 3.3V LC voltage class optimized for low-voltage designs (vs PIC18C801-I/PT)
Design Notes
Estimated: PIC18LC801T-I/PT is a ROMless device - it will not execute code without an external program memory IC and an address-latch (e.g., 74HC373) on the multiplexed address/data bus. Designers must add an EPROM or parallel flash plus the latch, or migrate to PIC18F flash parts in the same TQFP-80 footprint. Forgetting this is the most common cause of 'dead' PIC18C801 prototypes.
Estimated: at 25 MHz and full GPIO toggle, typical core current is ~15-25 mA. With VDDCORE = 3.3 V, this yields ~50-80 mW power dissipation. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor on each VDD pin (there are 7 VDD pins on this TQFP-80 device) and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic near the package. Failure to decouple adjacent VDD/VSS pairs causes code-fetch glitches on the external memory bus.
Estimated: the 80-pin TQFP at 12x12 mm has a 0.5 mm pitch. Use a 4-layer PCB with continuous ground plane under the IC. Route the external memory bus (PORTE control + PORTD data + PORTG high address) with matched trace lengths to avoid skew on the multiplexed address/data cycle. If using a 5V external flash with the 3.3V LC MCU, add 74HC245-style level shifters on the data bus.
The TQFP-80 package has a theta_JA of approximately 50 C/W (estimated; verify against the Microchip PIC18C801 datasheet thermal table for the actual value). At 80 mW dissipation this gives ~4 C temperature rise, well inside the -40 C to +85 C industrial rating. For closed enclosures with no airflow, allow margin; the ROMless architecture simplifies heat-path analysis since there is no internal flash write-heat to consider.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH status not explicitly listed in verified web data; PIC18 family is generally lead-free per Microchip product family compliance statements but specific data for PIC18LC801T-I/PT was not retrieved. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is not an automotive-qualified part.
