PIC18LF1320T-I/SS - 8KB Flash 8-bit MCU 40MHz SSOP-20 | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF1320T-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.62 | $5.62 |
| 10 | $5.05 | $50.50 |
| 100 | $4.5 | $450.00 |
| 500 | $4.05 | $2,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.65 | $3,650.00 |
PIC18LF1320T-I/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory and peripheral interfaces, and the PIC18 family is Microchip's baseline 8-bit RISC architecture built around a Harvard-class core with 16-bit instructions delivering 200 ns execution per instruction. Low-dropout 'LF' variants extend battery-powered design reach by enabling supply voltages from 2.0V up through the conventional 5.5V rail, allowing the same silicon to operate from a single Li-ion cell, two AA cells, or a regulated 3.3V/5V system rail.
Key features of the PIC18LF1320T-I/SS include 8KB of in-circuit serial programmable Flash (good for 1000 erase/write cycles), 256 bytes of data RAM, 256 bytes of EEPROM, 16 I/O pins, an internal oscillator, an enhanced CCP module, a 10-bit ADC with up to 7 channels, and nanoWatt power-managed modes that drop quiescent current to microamp levels during standby. Internal peripherals include a USART, an MSSP (for SPI/I2C), multiple timers, and a watchdog timer for safety-critical applications.
Architecturally, the device uses a 16-bit wide instruction word and an 8-bit data path, with a 31-level hardware stack for subroutine handling. The 40 MHz oscillator yields a 10 MIPS instruction throughput, and the Flash can be programmed via ICSP without removing the part from the board. Together with the wide 2.0V-5.5V supply and 16 I/O lines, the part is well suited to compact battery-powered, sensor, and consumer control designs.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, small consumer appliances, automotive interior lighting modules, USB peripherals (using the USART bit-banged with external transceiver), simple motor control via the ECCP, and industrial white-goods control panels. The combination of 8KB Flash, 256B RAM, and nanoWatt sleep current makes the device particularly well matched to size- and cost-constrained nodes that need more code space than an 8-pin PIC10/12 can offer.
When designing with this part, follow Microchip guidance on decoupling (place a 0.1 uF ceramic as close to VDD/VSS as possible), MCLR reset pull-up, and ICSP programming pin allocation. The wide operating voltage provides headroom, but designers should still budget for the internal oscillator accuracy across the industrial temperature range when used for asynchronous serial communication.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives (all SSOP-20 with identical pinout), datasheet-derived specifications, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF1320T-I/SS — 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 PIC18LF1320T-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF1320-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F1320T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF1320T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF1220T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF1220-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.81 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF1320-I/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF1320T-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC18 |
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 8 KB (4K x 16 instructions) |
| Data RAM | 256 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Instruction Throughput | 10 MIPS |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 7 channels |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | SSOP-20 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Programming Method | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| Power-Saving Modes | nanoWatt Technology (low-power sleep) |
| Package Suffix Code | T = Tape & Reel, SS = SSOP-20 |
PIC18LF1320T-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Bidirectional I/O / Timer0 clock input (open-drain) |
| Pin 4 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — Bidirectional I/O / Master Clear reset (input) / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | OSC1/RA7 — Crystal input / bidirectional I/O (alternate) |
| Pin 7 | OSC2/RA6 — Crystal output / bidirectional I/O (alternate) |
| Pin 8 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Bidirectional I/O / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 9 | RC1/T1OSI — Bidirectional I/O / Timer1 oscillator input |
| Pin 10 | RC2/CCP1 — Bidirectional I/O / Enhanced CCP1 output |
| Pin 11 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 14 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O / USART async TX |
| Pin 15 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O / USART async RX |
| Pin 16 | VSS — Ground (digital) |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 18 | RB0/INT0 — Bidirectional I/O / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 19 | RB1/INT1 — Bidirectional I/O / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 20 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O (also PORTB weak pull-ups source) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF1320T-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Small Consumer Appliance Control, Automotive Interior Accessory, USB to Serial Bridge, Industrial Sensor Hub, Educational / Hobbyist Board.
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC18LF1320T-I/SS suits low-duty-cycle battery sensor nodes because its 2.0 V minimum supply lets a single Li-ion cell (3.0-4.2 V) or two AA cells (2.4-3.2 V) drive the part directly without a boost converter. The 8 KB Flash hosts a complete sensor stack (ADC sampling + averaging + sleep scheduler + radio driver stubs) while 256 B RAM is enough for buffered readings. nanoWatt sleep modes drop Iq to microamp levels; the ADC wake-up-from-RTCC path keeps average current under 10 uA on a 5-minute duty cycle. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling cap as close to VDD/VSS as possible and use the ICSP pins for field firmware updates.
Recommended
Small Consumer Appliance Control
Compact consumer appliances - coffee makers, blenders, personal-care devices - benefit from the PIC18LF1320T-I/SS because it packs 16 I/O lines, an enhanced CCP for PWM-driven triac/motor control, plus a USART for HMI display boards, all in a narrow SSOP-20 footprint. The 2.0-5.5 V range simplifies powering directly from a rectified-mains cap-dropper supply, and the 10 MIPS execution keeps mains-zero-crossing routines well within interrupt latency budgets. Designers can use the internal oscillator to eliminate an external crystal, lowering BOM cost on price-sensitive consumer SKUs.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Accessory
For non-safety automotive interior modules like ambient lighting, USB chargers, and seat controllers, the PIC18LF1320T-I/SS offers 16 I/O lines, a 10-bit ADC for current/voltage monitoring, and PWM-capable ECCP for LED dimming or fan speed control. Its industrial -40 C to +85 C range covers passenger-compartment temperature requirements. Designers should add reverse-battery protection, a TVS diode on supply, and watch-dog-driven firmware patterns; for safety-critical ECU tiers an AEC-Q100 qualified part like PIC18F-K42 is recommended instead.
Recommended
USB to Serial Bridge
The PIC18LF1320T-I/SS's USART plus nanoWatt modes make it a low-cost USB-to-RS232 bridge when paired with a USB-to-UART IC such as an MCP2200 or MCP2221 (firmware implements CDC line-control). Drawing less than 5 mA active and under 1 uA in USB suspend, it satisfies USB 2.0 suspend-current budgets on bus-powered peripherals. With 8 KB Flash there is enough space for a small command parser, config-storage EEPROM writes, and status LED control. Use the MSSP for I2C slave EEPROM emulation.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hub
Industrial 4-20 mA sensor hubs, Modbus RTU slaves, and simple PLC expansion I/O benefit from the PIC18LF1320T-I/SS's combination of 16 I/O, 10-bit ADC, USART for RS-485 Modbus, and EE-EPROM for parameter retention. Industrial -40 C to +85 C operation covers panel-instrument temperature ranges, and 2.0-5.5 V supply allows operation from 24 V industrial rails via a small switching converter. Watchdog timer and brown-out reset ensure field reliability over long deployment cycles.
Recommended
Educational / Hobbyist Board
Hobbyist kits and MCU-education boards commonly feature the PIC18LF1320T-I/SS because of its low cost, ICSP programmability, simple 16-I/O design with no external crystal required, and broad MPLAB X IDE plus XC8 toolchain support. The SSOP-20 footprint allows use of breakout adapters while the wide 2.0-5.5 V supply simplifies class-room hand-out kits using either a 3.3 V LDO or a CR2032 coin cell. Sample code for ADC, USART, and PWM peripherals fits comfortably in the 8 KB Flash.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF1320T-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF1320-I/SS | PIC18F1320T-I/SS | PIC18LF1320T-I/SO | PIC18LF1220T-I/SS | PIC18LF1220-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SSOP-20 | SSOP-20 - same | SSOP-20 - same | SOIC-20 (SO) - wider footprint, same pinout | SSOP-20 - same | SSOP-20 - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB |
| Data RAM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 224 B | 224 B |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V (standard F) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz |
| Operating Temperature Range | -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 |
| Packaging Format (T/R vs Tube) | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tube |
Key Differentiators
- Wide 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply - directly battery-friendly (vs PIC18F1320T-I/SS)
- 16 I/O with 10-bit ADC + 5 PWM + USART in SSOP-20 (vs PIC18LF1220T-I/SS)
- SSOP-20 (5.30 mm body) saves about 30% board area vs SOIC-20 (vs PIC18LF1320T-I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor (X7R or better) as close to VDD (pin 17) and VSS (pin 16) as trace length allows - ideally within 2 mm. For designs switching heavy loads add a bulk 1-10 uF tantalum or aluminum polymer close to the IC. The 'LF' variant operating from 2.0 V min lets designers power directly from a Li-ion or 2xAA stack; combined with nanoWatt sleep the part can run for years on a single CR2032 cell in low-duty-cycle wireless sensors.
MCLR (pin 5, alternate function on RA5) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for normal operation; omit this pull-up only if the part is never reset and ICSP programming is not needed. For ICSP programming, isolate the MCLR/VPP line with a series resistor if downstream circuitry shares the pin. Place the ICSP header at the board edge and keep PGC/PGD traces short (<50 mm) and length-matched to avoid ISP errors at 5 V VDD.
Three common PIC18LF1320T-I/SS pitfalls: (1) Pin 5 RA5/MCLR/VPP - configuring RA5 as I/O without disabling MCLR locks the part; always set the CONFIG3H MCLRE bit deliberately. (2) Internal oscillator accuracy drifts about 1% per 10 C - for async serial (USART) at high baud rates keep VDD regulated or use a crystal. (3) Reading the ADC while sleeping (Sleep mode ADC disabled) returns stale values - wake the core first.
The SSOP-20 (RGW) has an estimated theta_JA of approximately 95 C/W on a 1-oz 2-layer board with no copper pour, dropping to 50 C/W with a 1 square inch copper pad under the part. For an active power budget of 100 mW (worst case 40 MHz + ADC + peripherals), the junction-to-ambient rise is ~10 C, well within the 125 C max; derate by 5-10 C in sealed enclosures with no airflow.
Compliance Information
RoHS-compliant lead-free SSOP-20 per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive designs use the PIC18F-K42 family or similar qualified part. Halogen-free and conflict-mineral compliance per Microchip supplier declarations.
