PIC18LF2515T-I/SO - 48KB Flash 8-bit MCU, 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF2515T-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.1 | $7.10 |
| 10 | $6.39 | $63.90 |
| 100 | $5.72 | $572.00 |
| 500 | $5.1 | $2,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.55 | $4,550.00 |
PIC18LF2515T-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory, and I/O peripherals on a single die. Within the semiconductor taxonomy, an 8-bit MCU sits below 32-bit microcontrollers and microprocessors in raw computational throughput but excels in deterministic interrupt latency, low cost, and very low active/standby power draw. The PIC18 family specifically targets mid-range embedded designs that need more code space and peripherals than baseline PIC16 parts, while still retaining the classic PIC one-instruction-per-cycle RISC pipeline.
Key features include the NanoWatt Technology power-managed modes (Run, Idle, Sleep), self-programmable Flash under firmware control, an ICD-friendly ICSP header, and a wide -40C to +85C industrial operating range. The 28-pin SOIC footprint balances ease of hand-soldering and reflow assembly with sufficient I/O count for typical sensor, motor-control, and human-interface front-ends.
Architecturally, the device uses a 16-bit instruction word with an 8-bit data path, a hardware multiplier, and a vectored interrupt controller. Program memory is partitioned for bootloader overlays, and the EEPROM is byte-erasable for non-volatile parameter storage. The LF (low-voltage/F-version) silicon supports full-speed operation down to 2.0V, enabling single-cell Li-ion or 2x AA battery operation.
Typical applications include industrial sensor conditioning boards, HVAC actuator controllers, low-cost CAN node endpoints (using an external MCP2515), battery-powered metering, and appliance front-panel MCUs that need more code space than PIC16 but do not justify a 32-bit MCU. The combination of generous 48KB Flash and NanoWatt modes makes this part well-suited to long-life, field-deployed products.
When designing with this MCU, place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of VDD and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic cap on the board input rail; keep the ICSP/PGD-PGC traces short and away from switching nodes to avoid in-circuit-debugger noise coupling.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes - including package-level PCB layout guidance - that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet body.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF2515T-I/SO — 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 PIC18LF2515T-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, ADC, I/O Pins, Supply Voltage (VDD).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF2515-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2515T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF2510T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF248T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF24K50T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF2515T-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 (8-bit, enhanced RISC, 16-bit instruction word) |
| Program Flash Memory | 48 KB (24K x 16 words) |
| Data RAM | 3,840 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, "I") |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 11 channels |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| Timers | 4 (Timer0/1/2/3) |
| Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP/ECCP) | 1 CCP + 1 ECCP |
| Communication Peripherals | EUSART, MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (SO), 300 mil, Tape and Reel ("T") |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Power-Saving Modes | NanoWatt (Run, Idle, Sleep, RC-Idle, RC-Run) |
| In-Circuit Programming | ICSP via PGD/PGC |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL (Moisture Sensitivity Level) | MSL1 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
PIC18LF2515T-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage / digital input only |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / analog input 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | VDD — Positive supply (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 10 | RB0/INT0/AN10 — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt 0 / analog input 10 |
| Pin 11 | RB1/INT1/AN8 — PORTB bit 1 / external interrupt 1 / analog input 8 |
| Pin 12 | RB2/INT2/AN9 — PORTB bit 2 / external interrupt 2 / analog input 9 |
| Pin 13 | RB3/CCP2/AN11 — PORTB bit 3 / CCP2 output / analog input 11 |
| Pin 14 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 15 | RB5/PGM — PORTB bit 5 / low-voltage ICSP |
| Pin 16 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 17 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 18 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock |
| Pin 19 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP1 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP1 output |
| Pin 20 | RC2/CCP2/P1A — PORTC bit 2 / CCP2 / PWM output P1A |
| Pin 21 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 22 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 23 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 24 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / EUSART TX / clock |
| Pin 25 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / EUSART RX / data |
| Pin 26 | RE0/AN5 — PORTE bit 0 / analog input 5 |
| Pin 27 | RE1/AN6 — PORTE bit 1 / analog input 6 |
| Pin 28 | RE2/AN7 — PORTE bit 2 / analog input 7 |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF2515T-I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Sensor Conditioning Board, HVAC Actuator / Damper Controller, Battery-Powered Metering Endpoint, Appliance Front-Panel MCU, Automotive Aftermarket Accessory Node, Low-Cost CAN Node (with External MCP2515), User-Interface / Display Controller.
Industrial Sensor Conditioning Board
The PIC18LF2515T-I/SO is a strong fit for industrial sensor-conditioning front-ends thanks to its 11-channel 10-bit ADC, 25 digital I/O, and 48 KB Flash that comfortably hosts complex linearization and digital-filter routines. Its 2.0V-5.5V VDD range lets the same board run from a 3.3V LDO or 5V analog supply. Compared with a baseline PIC16, the 3,840-byte RAM allows large lookup tables for thermocouple cold-junction compensation or RTD polynomial conversion. Place the MCU downstream of op-amp gain stages; route analog inputs (AN0-AN11) on a single ground-referenced net with the AVdd/Vss pair shorted to VDD/VSS through a ferrite bead. NanoWatt Sleep modes drop Iq below 100 nA for battery-backed field transmitters.
Recommended
HVAC Actuator / Damper Controller
HVAC damper and valve actuators demand deterministic PWM with low jitter, which the PIC18LF2515T-I/SO delivers via its ECCP module at 10 MIPS instruction throughput. The 25 I/O pins multiplex keypad inputs, triac/SSR drives, and tach feedback from AC motors, while the EUSART connects to a Modbus RTU network for building-automation integration. The 256-byte EEPROM stores calibration and runtime hour-counters non-volatilely. Industrial -40C to +85C operation tolerates equipment-room conditions, and NanoWatt Idle mode cuts Iq to ~5 uA between Modbus polls, suiting always-on wall controllers powered by a small AC-DC cap-drop supply.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Metering Endpoint
Metering endpoints for water, gas, or sub-metered electricity benefit from the PIC18LF2515T-I/SO's NanoWatt Sleep with wake-on-change interrupt, which lets the MCU spend most of its life in <100 nA Iq. The 2.0V minimum VDD enables direct connection to two AA alkaline cells down to end-of-life voltage. Pulse inputs from reed switches or Hall-effect flow sensors are counted via Timer0/Timer1 in asynchronous counter mode, and metered totals are pushed over a UART-linked radio module every interval. The 48 KB Flash holds segmented metering tables and basic encryption for tamper detection without external memory.
Recommended
Appliance Front-Panel MCU
Consumer appliance front panels - washing machines, dishwashers, ovens - need a mid-range MCU with enough Flash for menu UIs, motor-control sequences, and safety routines, all while staying under USD 5 BoM. The PIC18LF2515T-I/SO fits this profile with 48 KB Flash, hardware PWM for buzzer tones, and up to 25 I/O for 7-segment displays, keypads, and triac-driven heaters. The ICSP interface supports in-line firmware updates during assembly, and the SOIC-28 package is friendly to wave-soldered white-goods boards.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Accessory Node
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the PIC18LF2515T-I/SO is widely used in non-safety automotive aftermarket accessories such as dash-cam controllers, OBD-II dongles, and interior LED drivers. Its 40 MHz core handles CAN-style software stacks at 500 kbps through the EUSART bit-banged or via an external MCP2515 over SPI. Wide -40C to +85C operation survives cabin thermal swings, while the SOIC-28 mechanical format withstands automotive vibration profiles. A 2.5V-5V supply is derived from the 12V battery via a buck pre-regulator like the MCP16311.
Recommended
Low-Cost CAN Node (with External MCP2515)
Where CAN bus connectivity is required but the LF2515 silicon lacks an internal CAN module, designers pair it with an external Microchip MCP2515 CAN controller over SPI. The PIC18LF2515T-I/SO's MSSP peripheral handles SPI at up to 5 MHz, easily keeping up with 1 Mbps CAN traffic. With 48 KB Flash the MCU can also implement a small CANopen or J1939 stack, and 3,840 bytes of RAM is sufficient for several transmit/receive buffers plus the SPI driver. The 28-SOIC footprint keeps the BOM and PCB area modest, ideal for sensor clusters or distributed actuator nodes.
Recommended
User-Interface / Display Controller
Graphic LCD or character LCD front-ends that need multi-tasking menus, button debouncing, and serial command parsing benefit from the PIC18LF2515T-I/SO's 48 KB Flash and 25 I/O. The SPI MSSP drives a parallel-driven character LCD via an external MCP23017 expander, while the EUSART listens for host commands at 115,200 bps. The hardware CCP can generate PWM backlight dimming, and the 10-bit ADC reads ambient light sensors for auto-brightness. Industrial temperature rating suits outdoor kiosk designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF2515T-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF2515-I/SO | PIC18F2515T-I/SO | PIC18LF2510T-I/SO | PIC18LF248T-I/SO | PIC18LF24K50T-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SOIC (300 mil) | 28-SOIC (300 mil) - same | 28-SOIC (300 mil) - same | 28-SOIC (300 mil) - same | 28-SOIC (300 mil) - same | 28-SOIC (300 mil) - same |
| Program Flash | 48 KB | 48 KB | 48 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| Data RAM | 3,840 bytes | 3,840 bytes | 3,840 bytes | 1,536 bytes | 768 bytes | 2,048 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Max CPU Speed | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS |
| ADC Channels | 11 x 10-bit | 11 x 10-bit | 11 x 10-bit | 10 x 10-bit | 5 x 10-bit | 14 x 10-bit |
| Integrated USB | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (USB 2.0 FS device) |
| Operating Temperature | -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 |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in the PIC18 28-SOIC LF family (vs PIC18LF248T-I/SO)
- Lowest minimum operating voltage in its class (vs PIC18F2515T-I/SO)
- Largest RAM of the same-package LF variants (vs PIC18LF2510T-I/SO)
- Pure LF CAN-friendly architecture without USB overhead (vs PIC18LF24K50T-I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of the VDD pin (pin 9) and a second one near pin 1 (MCLR/VDD sense) if the design powers MCLR separately. Add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor at the board's 5V/3.3V input rail to suppress regulator switching noise. For battery-powered designs using NanoWatt Sleep, verify that Iq at 2.0V supply does not exceed the regulator's quiescent current budget; the LF2515 is rated below 100 nA in Sleep at 2.0V.
Keep ICSP traces PGC (RB6, pin 16) and PGD (RB7, pin 17) as short as possible and route them away from switching nodes, relay coils, or PWM signals. Add 4.7 kohm pull-ups on SDA/SCL (RC4/RC3) if I2C peripherals are used. Route analog inputs AN0-AN11 as a guarded bus with a ground trace between analog and digital sections, and tie AVss to Vss at a single point under the MCU to avoid ground-loop ADC errors.
Estimated: at 40 MHz with VDD=5V the MCU draws ~15 mA active - plan supply headroom accordingly. Do NOT assume pin RB5 is a general-purpose I/O at 5V without disabling low-voltage ICSP via the CONFIG3H register; otherwise PGM can interfere with normal operation. When migrating from PIC18F2515 (F-version, 4.2V min) to LF2515, verify any brown-out or ADC reference scaling because the wider 2.0V minimum alters the Vbg reference behavior.
The 28-SOIC package dissipates approximately 0.5 W at full peripheral activity (40 MHz, all I/O toggling). At room temperature (25 C) this yields a 25-30 C junction rise, well within the 150 C absolute maximum. In enclosed IP65 housings without airflow, derate to 30 MHz or 3.3V operation to maintain margin in industrial -40C to +85C ambient conditions.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product environmental compliance documentation. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive safety applications, choose a PIC18FxxKxx Q-grade variant. Lead-free SOIC-28 with matte-tin plating; MSL1 per JEDEC J-STD-020 (no moisture-bag requirement).
