PIC18LF2525T-I/SO - 8-bit MCU, 48KB Flash, 40MHz, 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF2525T-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.23 | $9.23 |
| 10 | $8.32 | $83.20 |
| 100 | $6.95 | $695.00 |
| 500 | $6.1 | $3,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.42 | $5,420.00 |
PIC18LF2525T-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory (typically Flash), volatile data memory (RAM), EEPROM, and configurable peripheral peripherals (UART, ADC, timers, PWM, I/O ports). The "PIC18" name denotes Microchip's high-performance 8-bit RISC architecture, part of the broader MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor taxonomy. Enhanced Flash variants like the 'LF2525 add self-programmability in-field, supporting bootloader designs and field firmware updates over UART, I2C, or CAN.
Key features include 25 I/O pins, hardware USART with LIN support, MSSP (SPI/I2C), 10-bit ADC with up to 11 channels, two analog comparators, three timers, and a Capture/Compare/PWM module. The LF prefix indicates a low-voltage F-prefix variant designed for extended operating range down to 2.0V. The device carries full industrial-grade -40C to +85C operation and is RoHS compliant.
Technically, the PIC18LF2525T-I/SO uses a 16-bit instruction word with an 8-bit data path, executes most instructions in a single cycle (4 clocks) for a theoretical 10 MIPS throughput at 40MHz, and supports hardware multiply. The T suffix indicates tape-and-reel packaging, while the SO suffix designates the 28-pin SOIC package (300-mil body). The '2525 differs from '2520 by offering larger Flash (48KB vs 32KB) at the same pinout.
Typical applications include industrial control systems, automotive body and chassis subsystems, sensor signal conditioning, low-power sensor nodes with UART/CAN connectivity, appliance control boards, and USB-to-UART bridges using the MSSP peripheral. With 25 digital I/O and 10-bit ADC channels, it scales from simple keypad/HMI controllers to multi-sensor data acquisition platforms.
Design consideration: plan code size against the 48KB Flash limit, leaving room for a bootloader if field updates are needed. Use decoupling capacitors within 5 mm of each VDD/VSS pair, and never leave unused I/O pins floating - configure them as outputs or tie them through a resistor to avoid spurious interrupts.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF2525T-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 PIC18LF2525T-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core Architecture, Timers, Data EEPROM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF2525-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.51 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2525T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F2525-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF2620T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4525T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF2525T-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF2525T-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 (8-bit RISC, enhanced Flash) |
| Instruction Set | 16-bit instruction / 8-bit data, 1-cycle ALU |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 48 KB (24K x 16 words) |
| RAM | 3968 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 1024 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Throughput | 10 MIPS (single-cycle instructions) |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 11 input channels |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| Timers | Three 8/16-bit timers |
| Communication Peripherals | EUSART (LIN), MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| CCP/PWM Modules | 1 (Capture / Compare / PWM) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (SO), 300-mil |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | MSL-1 per JEDEC J-STD-020 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF2525T-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/RE3/VPP — Master clear reset input / port E bit 3 / ICSP programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Port A bit 2 / ADC channel 2 / ADC negative reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Port A bit 3 / ADC channel 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Port A bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — Port A bit 5 / ADC channel 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO — Crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Port C bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Port C bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 module |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — Port C bit 2 / CCP1 module (PWM) |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCL/SCK — Port C bit 3 / I2C clock / SPI clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDA/SDI — Port C bit 4 / I2C data / SPI data in |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — Port C bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — Port C bit 6 / EUSART transmit / clock output |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — Port C bit 7 / EUSART receive / data output |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage 2.0V-5.5V |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT0 — Port B bit 0 / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/INT1 — Port B bit 1 / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/INT2 — Port B bit 2 / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/CCP2/PGM — Port B bit 3 / CCP2 alternate / ICSP PGM |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF2525T-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Data Acquisition, Automotive Body Electronics Subsystems, Appliance Control Board with Keypad HMI, USB to UART Bridge / Communication Module, Low-Power Wireless Sensor Node Controller, HVAC Fan Speed Controller.
Industrial Sensor Data Acquisition
The PIC18LF2525T-I/SO is well matched for industrial 4-20 mA loop sensing and multi-signal data acquisition boards. Its 10-bit ADC with up to 11 input channels provides direct reading of strain gauges, RTDs, and thermocouple amplifier outputs at 5 mV resolution with 5V Vref. The 48KB flash comfortably stores calibration lookup tables plus Modbus RTU command sets, while 3968 bytes of RAM holds acquisition buffers. The EUSART hardware module supports RS-485 Modbus at 115200 baud without CPU overhead, and the wide 2.0V-5.5V supply accommodates battery-backed or 24V-bus-derived rails.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics Subsystems
In non-safety automotive body control modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, lighting drivers, and HVAC flap positioners, the PIC18LF2525T-I/SO handles brushed DC motor PWM driving via its CCP module at 25 kHz, while its LIN-capable EUSART supports the Local Interconnect Network common in body-electronics buses. The -40C to +85C industrial rating covers cabin-installed body modules. The 10-bit ADC reads wiper potentiometers, and the 25 I/O pins handle switch inputs plus relay outputs. This is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified; use Microchip's -Q1 part variants when AEC-Q100 is mandatory.
Recommended
Appliance Control Board with Keypad HMI
The PIC18LF2525T-I/SO integrates a complete washing machine controller board when paired with keypad scanning routines and 7-segment or LCD drive logic. Its 25 I/O pins support a 4x4 matrix keypad plus multiplexed digit outputs without external logic, and its 16-bit Timer1 captures zero-cross events for triac-based heater load control. The 48KB flash is sufficient for cycle state machines plus EEPROM-stored user presets. The wide supply range (2.0V-5.5V) is well suited for switched-mode power supply rails common in white goods.
Recommended
USB to UART Bridge / Communication Module
In compact USB-to-UART bridge designs, the PIC18LF2525T-I/SO pairs with an external USB-to-UART bridge chip (such as MCP2200 or FT232R) to expose legacy RS-232 peripherals to modern PCs. While the MCU has no native USB, its 40 MHz clock and dedicated EUSART with hardware LIN support handle up to 1 Mbaud UART throughput reliably, and the 48KB flash stores protocol converters for serial-to-I2C or serial-to-SPI bridging applications. The 28-SOIC footprint supports standard reflow soldering; the LF supply range tolerates USB Vbus-derived 5V or 3.3V rails directly.
Recommended
Low-Power Wireless Sensor Node Controller
The PIC18LF2525T-I/SO serves as the supervisory MCU in battery-powered wireless sensor nodes based on sub-GHz radios (such as MRF89XA or RN2483 LoRa modules). Its 32 kHz Timer1 oscillator enables low-power sleep-modes in the microamp range while maintaining timekeeping, and the wide 2.0V Vdd operation allows direct connection to 2xAA battery stacks without boost conversion. The 10-bit ADC reads battery voltage plus environmental sensors like the MCP9700 temperature sensor. The CCP and EUSART peripherals coordinate with the radio module for sleep-wake transmission cycles.
Recommended
HVAC Fan Speed Controller
The PIC18LF2525T-I/SO implements closed-loop fan RPM control in HVAC applications using its Capture module to measure Hall-sensor tach pulses and its PWM module to drive a BLDC or brushed fan via an external gate driver. The 10-bit ADC reads thermistor-based temperature inputs for fan curve lookup tables stored in the 1024-byte EEPROM. The -40C to +85C industrial rating covers under-hood or plenum environments, and the robust PIC18 instruction set handles lookup tables plus PI control math at 10 MIPS throughput comfortably.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF2525T-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF2525-I/SO | PIC18F2525T-I/SO | PIC18LF2620T-I/SO | PIC18F4525T-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SOIC (300-mil) | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same |
| Flash Program Memory | 48 KB | 48 KB | 48 KB | 64 KB | 48 KB |
| RAM | 3968 bytes | 3968 bytes | 3968 bytes | 4096 bytes | 3968 bytes |
| Operating Voltage (Vdd min) | 2.0 V | 2.0 V | 4.2 V | 2.0 V | 4.2 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 36 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Pkg Code in MPN | T-I/SO (Tape & Reel, SOIC-28) | Non-T (Tube), SOIC-28 | Tape & Reel, SOIC-28 | Tape & Reel, SOIC-28 | Tape & Reel, SOIC-28 |
Key Differentiators
- Widest Vdd range with 48KB flash in PIC18 28-SOIC lineup (vs PIC18F2525T-I/SO)
- 48KB flash vs 32KB of PIC18LF2520 family member (vs PIC18LF2520-I/SO)
- Tape and reel packaging option for high-volume assembly (vs PIC18LF2525-I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD/VSS pin pair (Pin 8/19 VSS, Pin 20 VDD plus Pin 1 nominally VSS-grounded via MCLR). Add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic at the PCB power-entry point near the MCU. This prevents brown-out during 40 MHz CCP/PWM switching transients. Estimated: typical PIC18LF2525 at 40 MHz and 5V draws ~12 mA active; decoupling above keeps Vdd ripple below 50 mV during ADC conversions for accurate 10-bit readings.
Never leave unused I/O pins floating. Each floating pin can source/sink ~10 uA leakage that disrupts the interrupt-on-change peripheral logic on PORTB and increases overall ICC. Configure as outputs driving low, or as inputs with the internal weak pull-up enabled (WPUB register) for PORTB or as analog (ANSELx) for PORTA pins to disable the digital input buffer. This is one of the top three first-time-design mistakes reported on Microchip forums.
For ICSP programming and in-circuit debugging via PGC (Pin 27) and PGD (Pin 28), keep the ICSP connector trace impedance matched and avoid long parallel runs with high-current motor traces to prevent programming faults. Place the ICSP header connector within 50 mm of the MCU pins and add ESD protection diodes such as PESD5V0L4UG on PGC/PGD/MCLR/VPP traces if the connector is user-accessible. The MCLR/VPP pin (Pin 1) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD plus 100 nF to ground for clean device reset.
PIC18LF2525 in 28-SOIC operates within industrial -40C to +85C ambient without heatsinking. Estimated: at 5V Vdd, 40 MHz clock, all peripherals active, the supply current is approximately 15 mA yielding 75 mW power dissipation; the SOIC-28 has theta_JA of ~80 C/W, giving junction rise of 6 C - well within margin. For sealed IP65+ enclosures, derate ambient by 10 C above 50 C box temperature.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page data, lead-free finish on the 28-SOIC pins. Industrial-grade -40C to +85C rating; not AEC-Q100 qualified (consult Microchip automotive-grade nomenclature for -Q1 part numbers). Halogen-free status not explicitly confirmed in provided data.
