PIC18LF2523-I/SP - 32KB Flash 8-bit MCU, 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF2523-I/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.1 | $6.10 |
| 10 | $5.55 | $55.50 |
| 100 | $4.75 | $475.00 |
| 500 | $4.1 | $2,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.6 | $3,600.00 |
PIC18LF2523-I/SP Overview
A PIC18F-series 8-bit RISC microcontroller is a Harvard-architecture MCU featuring a single 8-bit data path with a separate program memory bus, executing one instruction per clock cycle (except branches). The PIC18 family is the high-performance tier of Microchip's 8-bit lineup, with a C-compiler-optimized instruction set, hardware 8x8 multiply, and an internal oscillator block; the part typically serves as the central controller in cost-sensitive embedded designs that need deterministic behavior, low power, and rich peripheral integration.
Key features of the PIC18LF2523 include a 10-bit ADC with up to 12 channels, one 8-bit and three 16-bit timers, two capture/compare/PWM modules, two USART modules, an SPI and an I²C (MSSP) peripheral, 25 digital I/O pins, a 31 kHz to 8 MHz internal oscillator (with up to 32 MHz via 4X PLL), an enhanced flash memory rated for >100 k erase/write cycles, a fail-safe clock monitor, and a watchdog timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator. The device supports ICD (in-circuit debugger) interfaces and is supported by Microchip's MPLAB X IDE and XC8 toolchain.
The architecture uses a 16-bit instruction word with an 8-bit data path, single-cycle hardware multiply, a vectored interrupt controller with two priority levels, and nanoWatt power management including idle, sleep, and run-time clock switching. A peripheral-rich design reduces external component count, while the 28-pin SPDIP footprint simplifies breadboarding and through-hole prototyping in low-volume or hobby designs.
Typical applications include industrial control and sensor conditioning, automotive body and interior subsystems (non-safety), consumer appliances, low-cost USB/HID bridges, hobbyist and educational development boards, and embedded data acquisition front-ends requiring a 10-bit ADC. The wide 4.2-5.5 V supply range also makes it suitable for 5 V-rail designs.
When designing with this part, note that the -LF variant is specified for 4.2-5.5 V; designs needing 2.0-3.6 V operation should consider the PIC18F2523 (standard 'F') variant. Ensure decoupling capacitors are placed within 5 mm of the VDD/VSS pairs, and that MCLR is properly tied through a 10 kΩ resistor for reliable reset behavior in electrically harsh environments.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in SPDIP-28 alternatives from Microchip's PIC18 family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF2523-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 PIC18LF2523-I/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, I/O Pins, Package, Timers, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF2523-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF2523T-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F2523-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF2423-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF2520-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF2523-I/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Device Family | PIC18F2523 (LF = low-voltage variant) |
| CPU Core | 8-bit PIC18 RISC |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB (16K x 16 words) |
| Data SRAM | 1536 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Supply Voltage (LF) | 4.2 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 12 channels |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit + 3 x 16-bit |
| Capture/Compare/PWM | 2 ECCP modules |
| Communication Peripherals | 2x USART, 1x SPI, 1x I²C (MSSP) |
| Internal Oscillator | 31 kHz to 8 MHz (4x PLL up to 32 MHz) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (Skinny Plastic DIP, 7.62 mm row) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| MSL Level | Not applicable (through-hole) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF2523-I/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input or programming voltage; RE3 I/O in some modes |
| 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/C1OUT — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock / Comparator 1 output |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS/HLVDIN — PORTA bit 5 / analog input 4 / SPI SS / HV detect input |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input / PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / clock output / PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 PWM output |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I²C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I²C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT0/FLT0 — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt 0 / ECCP fault input |
| Pin 22 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/CCP2 — PORTB bit 3 / CCP2 PWM output |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5/PGM — PORTB bit 5 / LVP programming |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF2523-I/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Conditioning, Consumer Appliance Control, Educational Development Board / Hobbyist, Low-Cost USB HID Bridge, Automotive Body and Interior Subsystems, Embedded Data Acquisition Front-End.
Industrial Sensor Conditioning
The PIC18LF2523-I/SP fits industrial sensor conditioning designs well thanks to its 10-bit ADC with up to 12 analog input channels and 25 I/O pins, allowing multi-sensor interfaces including RTD, thermocouple, and 4-20 mA loops via external signal conditioning. The 4.2-5.5 V supply matches 5 V industrial sensor rails directly, while the -40 °C to +85 °C industrial temperature grade supports factory-floor deployment. With 32 KB Flash, designers can run Microchip's NanoEdge AI or free C-libraries for sensor linearization, and the I²C/SPI/USART peripherals interface with most industrial sensor families. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD pin and consider a TVS diode on analog inputs for ESD-sensitive environments.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
For consumer appliances such as washing machines, microwave ovens, or air purifiers, the PIC18LF2523-I/SP provides a cost-effective controller handling user interface keypads, LCD/LED displays, motor control via ECCP modules, and sensor feedback via ADC. The 32 KB Flash is sufficient for state-machine-based control loops, fault logging, and user-menu software stacks. The 28-SPDIP package suits high-volume through-hole assembly in appliance mainboards where repair and field serviceability matter. Per the PIC18F2523 family datasheet, the 16-bit PWM resolution enables smooth BLDC or universal-motor control with minimal software overhead, while nanoWatt sleep modes drop quiescent current to <100 nA for standby compliance with energy-star regulations.
Recommended
Educational Development Board / Hobbyist
The PIC18LF2523-I/SP is an excellent choice for university microcontroller courses and hobbyist designs because the 28-SPDIP package fits standard 0.300 inch DIP sockets and breadboards, eliminating soldering during prototyping. The 40 MHz / 10 MIPS performance provides headroom for teaching real-time operating concepts, and MPLAB X IDE with the XC8 free compiler offers a complete zero-cost development chain. The 32 KB Flash accommodates student projects including temperature loggers, motor controllers, and UART demos, while the 10-bit ADC demonstrates analog-to-digital conversion in laboratory settings. Consider adding the PICkit 3 analog Microchip debugger for in-circuit programming without removing the chip from the breadboard.
Recommended
Low-Cost USB HID Bridge
The PIC18LF2523-I/SP can serve as a low-cost USB HID bridge when paired with an external USB controller such as the MCP2200 or MCP2210; the PIC18 handles sensor polling, button scanning, or custom HID report generation while the USB transceiver handles USB protocol. The 1536 B SRAM buffers HID reports without overruns, and the 32 KB Flash accommodates class code, descriptor handling, and application logic. The 25 I/O pins support matrix keypads, rotary encoders, and LED indicators typical in custom input devices. Note that the PIC18LF2523 itself has no native USB peripheral, so external USB ICs are required; for native USB consider PIC18F14K50 or PIC18F25K50 instead.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Interior Subsystems
For non-safety automotive body applications (interior lighting, seat controllers, HVAC flaps, mirror adjust), the PIC18LF2523-I/SP delivers sufficient MIPS for motor control loops and the 10-bit ADC reads potentiometers and sensors in the 4.2-5.5 V automotive 5 V rail. The 32 KB Flash supports LIN protocol stacks via UART plus application firmware, while the 28-SPDIP package is convenient for low-volume automotive prototyping. However, this part is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified; for safety-critical or AEC-Q100 requirements, choose a PIC18F-K or PIC18-Q family part instead, such as PIC18F46K22 or the automotive-grade dsPIC33 variants. Always add load-dump and reverse-battery protection on VDD for automotive deployments.
Recommended
Embedded Data Acquisition Front-End
The PIC18LF2523-I/SP works well as a remote data acquisition front-end, sampling multiple analog channels via its 10-bit ADC and forwarding results over UART, SPI, or I²C to a host controller or radio modem. The 1536 B SRAM buffers 12-channel ADC scans at 10 kHz without loss, and the internal oscillator (31 kHz to 8 MHz, with 4x PLL up to 32 MHz) eliminates external crystals for cost-sensitive designs. The 25 I/O pins can drive status LEDs, accept external triggers, or handshake with SDCs and Flash memory cards for local logging. The fail-safe clock monitor detects primary oscillator failures and switches to the internal RC, ensuring continuous data acquisition in remote deployments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF2523-I/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF2523T-I/SP | PIC18F2523-I/SP | PIC18LF2423-I/SP | PIC18LF2520-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP (T&R) | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB |
| SRAM | 1536 B | 1536 B | 1536 B | 1536 B | 1536 B |
| Supply Voltage (LF) | 4.2-5.5 V | 4.2-5.5 V | 2.0-5.5 V (F variant) | 4.2-5.5 V | 2.0-5.5 V (older) |
| Maximum Speed | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS |
| I/O Pins | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| 10-bit ADC Channels | 12 channels | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial LF voltage range with full 40 MHz performance (vs PIC18F2523-I/SP)
- Double the flash memory of PIC18LF2423 (vs PIC18LF2423-I/SP)
- Enhanced flash endurance and self-programmability (vs PIC18LF2520-I/SP)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 40 MHz and 5 V supply, the PIC18LF2523 typically consumes ~15 mA active. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD/VDDCORE pin pair (pins 20/8 and 19/11), and add a 10 µF bulk capacitor near the regulator output. For battery-powered applications, use Sleep mode (draws <100 nA typical) and INT0/INT1 interrupts to wake on external events; the nanoWatt technology in PIC18LF parts provides configurable idle, sleep, and run-time oscillator switching.
For reliable ICSP (in-circuit serial programming), add a 10 kΩ pull-up resistor on MCLR (pin 1) to VDD and route the PGC (pin 27) and PGD (pin 28) traces with short, direct paths to the programming connector, keeping them away from analog input traces to avoid noise coupling. Add a Schottky diode and 100 Ω resistor in series on MCLR for transient protection, per Microchip's ICSP design notes. Use a ground plane under the IC to reduce EMI on the analog ADC inputs.
Do not confuse PIC18LF2523 (4.2-5.5 V LF variant) with the standard PIC18F2523 (2.0-5.5 V). The LF variant will not operate reliably below 4.2 V. Ensure CONFIG_CFG environment variable bits are programmed for the correct oscillator mode; using HS mode with an external crystal requires correct capacitor values per crystal load. Always verify VREF+ and VREF- connections when using external ADC reference; floating VREF pins cause ADC reading instability. The CCP1/CCP2 pins have dual functions and may conflict with PORTB/C digital I/O assignments.
Estimated: at 40 MHz active with all peripherals enabled, junction temperature rise is ~5 °C above ambient in the 28-SPDIP package at typical 25 °C room temperature. The SPDIP-28 has theta_JA ≈ 50 °C/W (estimated), well within safe operating limits. No external heatsink is required for normal MCU operation. For high-ambient industrial environments (>60 °C), verify timing margins with the microcontroller in-system, as oscillator drift can affect UART/SPI timing.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free confirmed per Microchip product page. PIC18LF2523 is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified - it is not automotive grade. For AEC-Q100 applications, consider PIC18F-K or PIC18-Q families.
