PIC18LF24K42-I/SP - 8-Bit 64MHz XLP MCU, 16KB Flash, 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF24K42-I/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.55 | $2.55 |
| 10 | $2.3 | $23.00 |
| 100 | $1.97 | $197.00 |
| 500 | $1.74 | $870.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.55 | $1,550.00 |
PIC18LF24K42-I/SP Overview
What is an 8-bit microcontroller? An 8-bit MCU is a small, self-contained processor that executes instructions on 8-bit-wide data words. It sits in the broader hierarchy of microcontrollers -> microprocessors -> programmable logic devices -> semiconductors. PIC18 devices are among the most widely deployed 8-bit architectures and target low-power, deterministic embedded control in industrial and consumer products. Peripherals typically include timers, ADC, comparators, UART, I2C, SPI, and PWM modules that let the MCU drive motors, read sensors, and communicate with other ICs.
Key differentiating features include an integrated 12-bit ADC with 5-bit DAC capability on selected channels, 25 general-purpose I/O pins, four 16-bit timers with hardware limit timers, and a 10-bit PWM module with up to four outputs. The K42 family also introduces Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) such as Configurable Logic Cells (CLC), Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO), and zero-cross detection that can operate without CPU intervention. Active power consumption stays low and a range of sleep modes (Idle, Doze, Sleep, Deep Sleep) enables eXtreme Low Power (XLP) operation for battery-backed applications.
Architecturally, the PIC18LF24K42 uses a Harvard RISC core with separate program and data buses, an 8-deep hardware stack, hardware multiply, and a 32-level priority interrupt controller. The 64 MHz FOSC supports 16 MIPS throughput, which is roughly 4x faster than legacy 16 MHz PIC16 devices and sufficient for state-machine, sensing, and simple closed-loop control tasks. The integrated Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller can move data between peripherals and RAM without CPU overhead, freeing the core for application logic.
Typical application areas include low-power IoT sensor nodes, HVAC controls, battery chargers, industrial sensor interfaces, LED lighting controls, remote-control units, smart metering, and home appliances. The wide 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply range makes the part suitable for single-cell Li coin-cell designs as well as 3.3 V industrial rails, and the 12-bit ADC enables direct interfacing with bridge sensors, thermistors, and potentiometers without external analog front-ends.
When designing with this MCU, plan the clock-tree carefully and ensure both VDD/VSS pairs are connected to avoid programming failures during ICSP, and respect the maximum FOSC/Vdd curve when choosing PLL modes. Beginners should also note that the Configuration Words control oscillator, watchdog, and code-protect behavior, and that LVP must be enabled in configuration to allow in-circuit low-voltage programming.
This page consolidates verified distributor pricing, parametric specs, drop-in alternatives and application guidance designed to reduce the time engineers spend cross-referencing multiple datasheet portals.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF24K42-I/SP — 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 PIC18LF24K42-I/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Operating Temperature, PWM Channels, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F24K42-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF24K42-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.96 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF24K40-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F24K40-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F24K22-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF23K22-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF24K42-I/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 64 MHz |
| Flash Program Memory | 16 KB (8K x 16 words) |
| Data RAM | 1 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit (5-bit DAC on selected channels) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 25 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Style | Through Hole |
| Package / Case | SPDIP-28 |
| Packaging | Tube |
| Data Bus Width | 8 bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 64 MHz |
| Instruction Set | PIC18 RISC (75 instructions) |
| Peripherals | CLC, CWG, NCO, PWM, ADC, EUSART, I2C, SPI, DMA |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (Windowed WDT) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF24K42-I/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O; analog AN2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O; analog AN3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O; analog AN4 |
| Pin 4 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O; analog AN5 |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — Bidirectional I/O; analog AN6 |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 9 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O; interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 10 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O; interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 11 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O; interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 12 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O; interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 13 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O; interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 14 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O; interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 15 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O; ICSPCLK (programming) |
| Pin 16 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O; ICSPDAT (programming) |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O; analog AN0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O; analog AN1 |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 21 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 22 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 23 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 24 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 25 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 26 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground reference (secondary) |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8 V to 3.6 V, secondary) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF24K42-I/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, HVAC and Building Automation Controls, Smart Meters (Electricity / Water / Gas), LED Lighting Controllers and Drivers, Industrial Sensor Interface Boards, Home Appliance Control Boards.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC18LF24K42-I/SP's eXtreme Low Power (XLP) design and wide 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply range make it a strong fit for battery-backed wireless sensor endpoints. Deep Sleep current below 60 nA with RTCC active lets a 3 V coin cell outlive the silicon itself, while the 12-bit ADC directly digitizes bridge sensors and thermistors without external analog front-ends. At 64 MHz the core can briefly wake, execute a LoRa or BLE transmit-and-receive handshake, and return to deep sleep within milliseconds. Core Independent Peripherals (CLC, NCO, CWG) can run sensor conditioning while the CPU remains idle, further trimming average power consumption.
Recommended
HVAC and Building Automation Controls
HVAC controllers require deterministic 8-bit processing of analog temperature, pressure and flow signals plus PWM actuation of dampers, fans and valves. The 12-bit ADC on the PIC18LF24K42-I/SP captures up to 24 analog channels with hardware averaging, while its four 16-bit timers and 10-bit PWM generate precise motor-drive waveforms. CIPs like the Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) and Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) reduce CPU load by handling dead-band timing in hardware. The industrial -40 °C to +85 °C range matches indoor equipment and rooftop unit specifications.
Recommended
Smart Meters (Electricity / Water / Gas)
Smart metering demands tamper-resistant metering plus long-life operation on alkaline or lithium battery backup, both of which the PIC18LF24K42-I/SP can address. The 16 KB Flash easily holds a calibrated metering routine, and the integrated 12-bit ADC pairs with a shunt resistor for Class-1 single-phase power measurement. Hardware AES/DMA pairs carry secure telemetry framing without loading the core. With Deep Sleep current under 60 nA, the part survives 10+ years of battery service in a typical water-meter duty cycle while processing flow pulses from the on-board comparator.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers and Drivers
Sophisticated RGBW and tunable-white fixtures rely on precise PWM dimming, color-temperature feedback, and constant-current drive - all supported by the PIC18LF24K42-I/SP. The 10-bit PWM with up to 4 output pairs, complemented by the hardware CWG for half-bridge timing, supports direct drive of high-brightness LED strings at frequencies that exceed the eye's flicker-fusion threshold. The 25 GPIOs handle I2C and SPI interfaces to LED driver ICs without requiring MUX expansion. Firmware updates via UART bootloaders extend product lifetime in remote-mount lighting installations.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface Boards
Industrial 4-20 mA sensor boards, RTD conditioners and load-cell readouts benefit from the PIC18LF24K42-I/SP's mix of precise analog and digital peripherals. The 12-bit ADC with 5-bit DAC on selected channels captures and conditions 4-20 mA loops with 0.1 percent linearity over the industrial temperature range. Hardware DMA moves conversion data straight to UART buffers, freeing the CPU for Modbus RTU framing. The 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply range simplifies interface to 3.3 V industrial fieldbus, while the SPDIP-28 footprint eases hand-soldered prototyping on the bench.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Boards
Washing machines, dishwashers and induction cooktops combine motor control, user-interface handling and safety supervision - exactly the work profile for the PIC18LF24K42-I/SP. The 64 MHz core handles BLDC commutation in firmware while hardware CIPs keep the rest of the appliance responsive to keypad and touch inputs. The 25 GPIOs interface directly to triac drivers and seven-segment displays, eliminating external logic. Industrial-grade temperature tolerance supports door-closure modules mounted near heating elements.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF24K42-I/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F24K42-I/SP | PIC18LF24K42-I/SO | PIC18LF24K40-I/SP | PIC18F24K40-I/SP | PIC18F24K22-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SPDIP-28 (through hole) | SPDIP-28 - same | SOIC-28 (SMD variant of same K42 die) | SPDIP-28 - same | SPDIP-28 - same | SPDIP-28 - same |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 10-bit (lower) |
| Data RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Core Independent Peripherals (CLC/CWG/NCO) | Yes (full K42 set) | Yes | Yes | No (K40 omits CWG/NCO) | No | No (older K22 gen) |
| RoHS Compliance | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant |
Key Differentiators
- Wide 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply range enables single-cell Li battery designs (vs PIC18F24K42-I/SP)
- Full Core Independent Peripheral (CIP) suite (vs PIC18LF24K40-I/SP)
- 12-bit ADC with 5-bit DAC on selectable channels (vs PIC18F24K22-I/SP)
- On-chip DMA engine reduces CPU load by offloading peripheral transfers (vs PIC18F24K22-I/SP)
Design Notes
Connect both VDD pins (5 and 28) and both VSS pins (6 and 27) on the SPDIP-28 package; ICSP programming can fail if either secondary supply pin is left floating according to the Microchip programming spec. Place 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitors as close as possible to each VDD pin, plus a bulk 10 µF on the board. Keep the analog AVSS/AVDD pair routed together if you use them separately from the digital pins.
Do not exceed 64 MHz FOSC when VDD is below 2.0 V; the K42 datasheet defines a derated FOSC vs VDD envelope. Initialise the Configuration Words early in code so WDT, LVP and oscillator selection match the hardware. For low-power work, switch the ADC off and configure unused I/Os as outputs driven low to minimise leakage in Deep Sleep; estimated standby current below 60 nA is only achievable with disciplined pin hygiene.
Estimated: at 64 MHz the SPI clock edge rate on RC4/RC5 can produce a 3rd-harmonic at ~192 MHz; route these traces over an unbroken ground pour and place a 100 Ω series terminator if the bus length exceeds 25 mm. The SDA/SCL pins share an open-drain I2C bus; pull-ups in the 2.2-10 kΩ range work for 400 kHz and 1 MHz modes, depending on board capacitance. Keep the crystal traces short and symmetric to avoid oscillator start-up failures.
Estimated: At 64 MHz from 3.3 V drawing ~12 mA active, internal dissipation is approximately 40 mW; well within SPDIP-28 thermal limits (θJA ~75 °C/W on a 4-layer board). However, in sealed industrial enclosures above 50 °C ambient, derate EUSART or SPI baud rate to limit dynamic current. The K42 internal regulator and brown-out detector (BOR) draw an additional 2-5 µA; disable BOR if you must hit the deepest Deep Sleep current targets.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance and lead-free termination are stated by Microchip on the product listing; AEC-Q100 qualification is not claimed on the datasheet, so this part is not intended for automotive safety-critical use. REACH, halogen-free and conflict-minerals status were not explicitly cited in the verified web data and are marked unknown.
