PIC18LF24K50-E/SS - 8-Bit 48MHz 16KB Flash USB MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF24K50-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.65 | $2.65 |
| 10 | $2.39 | $23.90 |
| 100 | $2.12 | $212.00 |
| 500 | $1.89 | $945.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.72 | $1,720.00 |
PIC18LF24K50-E/SS Overview
A PIC18 microcontroller is a member of Microchip's 8-bit advanced RISC architecture family, used where deterministic instruction execution, low cost, and a rich peripheral set (USB, ADC, PWM, I2C/SPI, UART) are required. PIC18 sits within the broader hierarchy: microcontroller -> embedded MCU -> 8-bit MCU -> semiconductor IC. The 'F' flash-based variants are the dominant contemporary PIC18 family, replacing older ROM/EPROM parts. The 'LF' sub-family adds the nanoWatt XLP sleep modes that drop current to tens of nanoamps, critical for battery-powered designs.
Key features include 25 digital I/O pins, a 10-bit ADC with up to 14 channels, two analog comparators, two 8-bit and one 16-bit timers, hardware USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver, and an internal 48 MHz oscillator that eliminates an external clock for USB. The 2048-byte RAM plus 16KB flash pairing is the typical balance for low-cost USB HID/CDC class devices, and the device's instruction set delivers up to 16 MIPS throughput.
Architecturally, the PIC18LF24K50 uses a modified Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, allowing simultaneous instruction fetch and data access. The integrated USB transceiver eliminates external USB PHY components, simplifying PCB routing and reducing BOM. The nanoWatt XLP technology includes multiple sleep modes (Idle, Sleep, Deep Sleep) and a real-time clock calendar mode that maintains timekeeping below 1 uA.
Typical applications include USB HID peripherals (keyboards, mice, custom input devices), USB-to-UART bridge dongles, low-cost data loggers, and battery-powered sensor hubs. The wide operating voltage and low-power sleep modes make it particularly suitable for portable and wearable electronics.
When designing with this part, note that the integrated USB requires precise PCB layout for the D+/D- traces (90 ohm differential impedance, matched length) and a 1.5 kohm pull-up resistor on D+ for full-speed signaling. The 'LF' variant has a lower maximum VDD than the 'F' variant (3.6V vs 5.5V), which constrains use in 5V systems.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the PIC18 K50 family, and PCB layout guidance that consolidates the manufacturer datasheet with practical design references.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF24K50-E/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 PIC18LF24K50-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory (Flash), Timers, Maximum CPU Frequency, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F24K50-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF24K50-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF24K50T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F24K50-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF24K50-E/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF24K50-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC18 enhanced RISC (modified Harvard) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB |
| Data RAM | 2048 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended, 'E' suffix) |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 14 channels |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) transceiver integrated |
| Communication | UART, I2C/SMBus, SPI, USB |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP (sub-uA sleep current) |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body width, 'SS' suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes (Pb-free) |
PIC18LF24K50-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/CV3P0 — Digital I/O / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/CV3P1 — Digital I/O / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O / Analog input 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / Analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5 — Digital I/O / Analog input 5 |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Digital I/O (RA7) |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA6 — Crystal input / External clock / Digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA5 — Crystal output / System clock output / Digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Digital I/O (RC0) |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Digital I/O (RC1) |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Digital I/O (RC2) |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Digital I/O (RC3) |
| Pin 15 | RC4/D-/VMO — Digital I/O / USB D- / Digital monitor output |
| Pin 16 | RC5/D+/VPO — Digital I/O / USB D+ / Digital monitor input |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Digital I/O (RC6) |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Digital I/O (RC7) |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT0 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/INT1 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Digital I/O (RB2) |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — Digital I/O (RB3) |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Digital I/O (RB4) |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Digital I/O (RB5) |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF24K50-E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID Peripherals (Keyboard, Mouse, Custom Input), USB-to-UART Bridge Dongles, Low-Power Battery Sensor Hubs, Industrial Data Loggers, Portable Medical Accessory Devices, Educational and Hobbyist Development Boards.
USB HID Peripherals (Keyboard, Mouse, Custom Input)
The PIC18LF24K50-E/SS is well suited for USB HID peripherals because it integrates a USB 2.0 Full-Speed transceiver supporting 12 Mbps signaling without an external PHY. The 48 MHz internal oscillator meets USB timing requirements without a crystal, reducing BOM cost. With 16 KB of flash and 2048 bytes of RAM, the device can host USB HID class descriptors, report buffers, and scan routines. The 25 digital I/O pins accept up to an 8x24 matrix keypad or scan chain. The 1.8-3.6 V VDD range suits 3.3 V native designs, while the SSOP-28 footprint is compact for handheld peripherals.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge Dongles
For USB-to-UART bridge dongles, the PIC18LF24K50-E/SS provides a hardware USB device port and an asynchronous EUSART peripheral that can be mapped to TX/RX pins with hardware flow control on CTS/RTS. The integrated USB transceiver eliminates the need for an external FTDI-style bridge chip, reducing system cost by USD 1-2 per unit. With 48 MHz of CPU bandwidth, baud rates up to 921600 are achievable with adequate interrupt priority. The 256-byte EEPROM can store dongle-specific configuration such as VID/PID pairs or serial-number overrides.
Recommended
Low-Power Battery Sensor Hubs
The PIC18LF24K50-E/SS nanoWatt XLP technology delivers sub-uA current in deep-sleep modes with RTC active, making it ideal for battery-powered sensor hubs that spend most of their time asleep. The 14-channel 10-bit ADC handles multiple analog sensors with internal voltage reference, and the two analog comparators enable threshold-triggered wake-up without CPU intervention. The 1.8 V minimum VDD allows direct connection to single-cell Li-ion or 2xAA chemistries. The internal 31 kHz LFINTOSC maintains a real-time clock calendar at nanoamp-level current for time-stamped logging.
Recommended
Industrial Data Loggers
The PIC18LF24K50-E/SS extended -40C to +125C operating temperature range qualifies it for industrial data logger installations. The 16 KB flash supports FAT12/16 file-system implementations for SD-card logging, and the 2048 bytes of RAM hold time-stamped sensor samples before flush. The MSSP peripheral interfaces to SPI-mode SD cards at up to 8 MHz. The 10-bit ADC samples analog process variables such as 4-20 mA loop current via a 250 ohm shunt, while the UART handles RS-485 communication with the MCP2551 transceiver for Modbus RTU networking.
Recommended
Portable Medical Accessory Devices
The PIC18LF24K50-E/SS suits portable medical accessory designs where low power consumption and reliable USB connectivity are required for FDA-cleared peripherals. The integrated USB CDC class support enables plug-and-play serial communication with host PCs without driver installation on modern operating systems. The 10-bit ADC with internal bandgap reference provides traceable measurements of analog sensor channels, while the 256-byte EEPROM stores calibration coefficients and device identifiers. The 1.8-3.6 V VDD range matches Li-ion battery chemistries used in handheld medical devices.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Development Boards
The PIC18LF24K50-E/SS is a popular target for hobbyist and educational microcontroller projects because Microchip's free MPLAB X IDE, XC8 compiler, and MPLAB Snap debugger support the entire K50 family. The integrated USB and free Microchip Libraries for Applications (MLA) USB stack lower the learning curve. The SSOP-28 package is hand-solderable with practice and breadboard-friendly with SSOP-to-DIP adapters. The 16 KB flash and 2 KB RAM are sufficient for classroom projects such as USB thermometers, USB-controlled LED matrices, and USB-based function generators.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF24K50-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F24K50-E/SS | PIC18LF24K50-I/SS | PIC18LF24K50T-I/SS | PIC18F24K50-I/SS | PIC18LF24K50-E/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SPDIP - same die, different footprint |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM | 2048 bytes | 2048 bytes | 2048 bytes | 2048 bytes | 2048 bytes | 2048 bytes |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
| USB Module | USB 2.0 FS integrated | USB 2.0 FS integrated | USB 2.0 FS integrated | USB 2.0 FS integrated | USB 2.0 FS integrated | USB 2.0 FS integrated |
| Max CPU Speed | 48 MHz (16 MIPS) | 48 MHz (16 MIPS) | 48 MHz (16 MIPS) | 48 MHz (16 MIPS) | 48 MHz (16 MIPS) | 48 MHz (16 MIPS) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed transceiver eliminates external PHY (vs PIC18LF24K42-I/SS)
- 1.8 V to 3.6 V VDD range with nanoWatt XLP extreme-low-power sleep (vs PIC18F24K50-E/SS)
- Extended -40C to +125C operating temperature grade (vs PIC18LF24K50-I/SS)
Design Notes
USB Full-Speed operation requires the D+ and D- traces (pins 15 and 16, RC4 and RC5) to be routed as a 90 ohm differential pair with matched length. Per the Microchip datasheet section on USB layout, keep the differential pair over a continuous ground plane and place the 1.5 kohm pull-up resistor on D+ within 4 mm of the pin. Do not route digital switching signals across the differential pair to maintain the USB signal eye.
The PIC18LF24K50-E/SS operates from 1.8 V to 3.6 V on VDD (pin 20). Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of VDD, and a bulk 4.7 uF or 10 uF tantalum/ceramic capacitor near the VDD pin. For USB bus-powered designs, add a 4.7 uF bulk capacitor on the VBUS line ahead of the internal 3.3 V regulator to satisfy inrush current during USB enumeration. The VSS pins (7 and 19) must be tied to a low-impedance ground pour to minimize ground bounce.
Common pitfall: configuring the oscillator to use an external crystal while the 48 MHz HFINTOSC is sufficient for USB Full-Speed timing. The HFINTOSC eliminates two external load capacitors and a crystal, reducing BOM cost. Another pitfall: enabling the on-chip voltage regulator without waiting for the stable power-on delay can cause unreliable USB enumeration. Follow the datasheet power-on sequence and verify the CONFIG1L register settings before enabling USB.
The ICSP programming pins RB6/PGC (pin 27) and RB7/PGD (pin 28) should be accessible in production programming. Place a 2x3 or single-row header on the board edge near the ICSP pins, or route test pads. Use a 4.7 kohm pull-up on MCLR (pin 1 on other package variants; in SSOP-28 it is on the dedicated MCLR pin) for reliable in-circuit programming. Keep ICSP traces short, with the programming connector at most 50 mm from the MCU.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free ('Pb-free') per package suffix. AEC-Q100 not qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive designs use a designated automotive-grade PIC18 variant. REACH compliance per Microchip product declaration.
