PIC18LF1220-I/P - 8-Bit 40MHz 4KB Flash MCU | Microchip | 18-PDIP
MPN: PIC18LF1220-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.4 | $3.40 |
| 10 | $3.06 | $30.60 |
| 100 | $2.72 | $272.00 |
| 500 | $2.44 | $1,220.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.17 | $2,170.00 |
PIC18LF1220-I/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory, and programmable I/O peripherals. The PIC18 family is Microchip's enhanced 8-bit architecture, sitting hierarchically between simpler PIC16 devices and the 16-bit dsPIC/PIC24 families, and serves as the foundation for embedded control in cost-sensitive and low-power applications. The "LF" suffix designates the extended low-voltage (2.0-5.5V) variant, and the "I" suffix specifies the industrial operating temperature range (-40C to +85C).
Key features of the PIC18LF1220-I/P include 10 MIPS performance, 16 I/O pins, an internal oscillator, an enhanced CCP module, a 10-bit ADC, nanoWatt Technology power modes with standby current as low as 0.1 microampere, and ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) via two pins. The 18-PDIP package supports through-hole assembly, which simplifies prototyping, breadboarding, and field-replaceable designs.
The PIC18LF1220-I/P uses Microchip's standard Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, 16-bit instructions, and a hardware multiplier. Code-compatible with other PIC18 devices, the LF1220 supports C and assembly development using MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler, enabling code reuse and migration across the entire PIC18 platform.
Typical applications include low-power sensor nodes, battery chargers, simple motor control, consumer appliances, and industrial control boards. The wide 2.0-5.5V range allows direct operation from 2-cell battery packs (NiMH, alkaline) as well as 5V regulated rails, eliminating the need for level shifters.
When designing with this part, ensure decoupling capacitors of 0.1 uF are placed close to VDD/AVDD and that the MCLR pull-up is properly configured. Industrial temperature grade ("I") is appropriate for most non-automotive commercial and industrial environments; for AEC-Q100 automotive qualification, use the PIC18F automotive-grade equivalent.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-brand drop-in alternatives, comparison data, and practical design notes not consolidated in the Microchip datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF1220-I/P — 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 PIC18LF1220-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Operating Temperature, Timers, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F1220-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F1320-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F1220-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF1220-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| CPU Core | PIC18 (8-bit RISC) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 4 KB (2K x 16) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 256 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Instruction Throughput | 10 MIPS |
| Operating Voltage (LF variant) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| Package Type | 18-PDIP (0.300 in / 7.62 mm) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| nanoWatt Power Management | Yes (software-controlled modes, standby <0.1 uA) |
| ICSP Programming | Yes (2-wire) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF1220-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RA5 — Master Clear reset input / programming voltage / digital I/O RA5 |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O RA0 / analog input AN0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O RA1 / analog input AN1 |
| Pin 4 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 5 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O RA2 / analog input AN2 |
| Pin 6 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O RA3 / analog input AN3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 7 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O RA4 / analog input AN4 (open-drain) |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN/RA6 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock / digital I/O RA6 |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT/RA7 — Crystal oscillator output / clock output / digital I/O RA7 |
| Pin 10 | RB0/INT0 — Digital I/O RB0 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 11 | RB1/INT1 — Digital I/O RB1 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 12 | RB2/INT2 — Digital I/O RB2 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 13 | RB3/CCP1 — Digital I/O RB3 / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0V-5.5V for LF variant) |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — Digital I/O RB4 |
| Pin 16 | RB5/PGM — Digital I/O RB5 / LVP programming entry |
| Pin 17 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O RB6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O RB7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF1220-I/P is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Industrial Control Logic Board, Consumer Appliance Control, Automotive Interior Accessory Controller (non-safety), Educational and Hobbyist Electronics, Standalone LED Lighting Controller, Simple Motor Speed Control.
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC18LF1220-I/P fits battery-powered sensor nodes because its 2.0V to 5.5V operating range allows direct connection to two depleted NiMH cells or a 3V coin cell without boost conversion. With standby current under 0.1 uA via nanoWatt Technology, a duty-cycled 100 ms wake-measure-transmit cycle extends coin-cell life to multi-year. The 4KB Flash holds protocol stacks for sub-GHz RF, Zigbee, or LoRa sub-1GHz front ends. The 18-PDIP package supports through-hole assembly, simplifying field replacement in remote installations.
Recommended
Industrial Control Logic Board
The PIC18LF1220-I/P suits industrial control logic boards because its -40C to +85C industrial temperature range tolerates factory-floor environments. The 16 I/O pins drive relays, optocouplers, and discrete logic while the 10-bit ADC reads analog process variables. Code-compatible with the entire PIC18 family, firmware developed on the LF1220 can migrate to PIC18F25K22 or PIC18F46K22 without rewriting. Through-hole 18-PDIP mounting simplifies rework and hand-soldered repairs on legacy equipment.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC18LF1220-I/P powers consumer appliance controls (coffee makers, rice cookers, fans, washing-machine sub-boards) because its low cost and small 18-PDIP footprint fit cost-sensitive designs. The 256B EEPROM stores user settings (timer values, calibration constants, mode preferences) across power cycles. The 10 MIPS CPU handles user-interface scanning, sensor sampling, and triac/SCR drive within tight response budgets. The wide VIN range simplifies integration with rectified 5V or 3.3V rails common in small appliances.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Accessory Controller (non-safety)
The PIC18LF1220-I/P fits non-safety automotive interior accessories like LED mood lighting drivers, seat-position memories, or rear-seat entertainment sub-controllers, provided the operating environment stays within industrial temperature range. For safety-critical or AEC-Q100-mandated systems, choose the automotive-grade PIC18F equivalent. The 16 I/O pins drive LED strings, keypads, and LIN bus transceivers via software UART. Through-hole PDIP simplifies prototyping and aftermarket serviceability.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Electronics
The PIC18LF1220-I/P is ideal for educational and hobbyist electronics because the 18-PDIP through-hole package fits breadboards and stripboards, allowing students to prototype without SMD soldering skills. MPLAB X IDE and the free XC8 compiler support the PIC18 architecture with abundant tutorials, application notes, and community examples. The 4KB Flash and 256B SRAM are sufficient for class projects involving timers, ADC, PWM, and serial communication while still being small enough to be readable in one sitting.
Recommended
Standalone LED Lighting Controller
The PIC18LF1220-I/P drives standalone LED lighting controllers (architectural lighting, under-cabinet strips, signage) where its 16 I/O pins can multiplex LED matrices or drive multiple high-brightness channels via MOSFETs. The CCP module generates PWM dimming at audio-suppression frequencies above 100 Hz. The 256B EEPROM retains brightness curves, color presets, and scheduling data across power cycles. The LF variant's 2.0V minimum supports direct battery operation in solar-charged lighting installations.
Recommended
Simple Motor Speed Control
The PIC18LF1220-I/P handles simple brushed-DC or low-frequency BLDC motor speed control in appliance fans, small pumps, and toy motors. The CCP module outputs a variable-duty PWM to the gate driver, while the 10-bit ADC reads back tachogenerator or BEMF voltage for closed-loop regulation. The 10 MIPS throughput is adequate for sensorless back-EMF zero-cross detection at moderate RPM. Code-compatible migration to PIC18F25K22 enables upgrade to more advanced motor-control algorithms when needed.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF1220-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F1220-I/P | PIC18F1320-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 18-PDIP (0.300 inch / 7.62 mm) | 18-PDIP (same) | 18-PDIP (same) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 4 KB | 4 KB (same) | 8 KB (+100%) |
| SRAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes (same) | 256 bytes (same) |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes (same) | 256 bytes (same) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V (narrower) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (same) |
| Maximum Clock | 40 MHz | 40 MHz (same) | 40 MHz (same) |
| I/O Pins | 16 | 16 (same) | 16 (same) |
| 10-bit ADC Channels | 7 | 7 (same) | 8 (+14%) |
Key Differentiators
- Extended 2.0V minimum operating voltage (vs PIC18F1220-I/P (standard 4.2V minimum))
- Double the Flash memory with code compatibility (vs PIC18F1320-I/P (8KB Flash, 18-PDIP))
- Through-hole 18-PDIP simplifies prototyping and repair (vs PIC18LF1220-I/SO (SOIC-18 surface mount))
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor as close as physically possible between VDD (pin 14) and VSS (pin 4) to suppress switching transients. For designs using the ADC, add a 10 uF bulk capacitor at the supply input to reduce ADC reference noise. The LF variant's 2.0V minimum allows direct operation from two-cell NiMH packs, but ensure bulk capacitance is sufficient (at least 22 uF per cell) to prevent brown-out during transmit bursts if using a wireless companion IC.
The MCLR pin (pin 1) requires a 10 kohm pull-up resistor to VDD for normal operation. Do not leave MCLR floating - the device will not start reliably. When using ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming), isolate MCLR, PGC, and PGD from the rest of the circuit with series resistors (typically 10 kohm) to prevent contention between the programmer and the application circuit during debug sessions.
Through-hole 18-PDIP at 0.300 inch row spacing accommodates standard DIP sockets and breadboards. For production, hand-solder or wave-solder the package; reflow profiles designed for SMD packages will damage the plastic body. Keep traces to VDD/VSS wide (>=20 mil) to minimize voltage drop during high-current GPIO switching, and place the decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin to be effective.
When using the internal oscillator, the PIC18LF1220-I/P can drift up to +/-2% across temperature and voltage. For UART communication above 9600 baud or timing-critical applications, switch to a crystal oscillator on OSC1/OSC2 (pins 8/9) for +/-50 ppm stability. The CCP1 module on pin 13 (RB3) can be sensitive to capacitive loading - keep the trace under 50 mm or add a 100 ohm series resistor for impedance control in PWM applications.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C); not AEC-Q100 qualified - select the automotive-grade PIC18F equivalent for vehicle applications.
