PIC18LF25K42-E/ML - 32KB Flash XLP 8-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF25K42-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.62 | $2.62 |
| 10 | $2.34 | $23.40 |
| 100 | $1.97 | $197.00 |
| 500 | $1.71 | $855.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.52 | $1,520.00 |
PIC18LF25K42-E/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program and data memory, and programmable I/O peripherals. The PIC18 family is Microchip's 8-bit RISC architecture, descended from the PIC16 baseline and PIC17 mid-range families, now extended with peripheral-rich variants. PIC microcontrollers belong to the broader category of microcontrollers -> embedded processors -> semiconductors, and dominate cost-sensitive, low-power, and deterministic-control applications.
Key features include 32KB self-programmable Flash with Device Information Area (DIA), 2KB data memory, 256B EEPROM, CWG, SMT, CRC/SCAN, and 24-bit Timer0. Its high-performance RISC CPU executes most instructions in one cycle, delivering 16 MIPS at 64MHz. The 12-bit ADC2 with computation supports up to 35 input channels, ideal for sensor-fusion battery-powered designs.
The architecture is built on an enhanced PIC Harvard-bus core, with separate program and data paths, and a Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) engine allowing remappable peripheral I/O. Five DMA channels can move data between memory and peripherals without CPU intervention, offloading the core for low-power active and sleep modes. The device operates from 1.8V to 3.6V and is characterized for -40C to +125C industrial temperature ranges.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, low-power remote controls, sensor hubs, consumer electronics, and battery-powered instrumentation. Industrial use cases such as HVAC controllers, smart metering, and small appliances also benefit from the rich analog and timer peripherals.
When designing, ensure proper decoupling (100 nF + 1uF + bulk) near VDD/VBAT pins, and consider the exposed thermal pad layout for ground stitching. The PPS system requires careful peripheral-to-pin allocation to avoid conflicts when migrating between pin-count variants.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF25K42-E/ML — 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 PIC18LF25K42-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Core, Package, DAC, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F25K42-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF25K42-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF25K42T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F25K42-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF25K40-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF24K42-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF25K42-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB (16K x 16) |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 64 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC2 with computation |
| DAC | 5-bit and 8-bit DAC |
| Comparators | Yes |
| DMA Channels | Yes |
| PWM | Yes |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (Extended, -E) |
| Package | 28-pin QFN (6x6 mm) (ML) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| XLP (eXtreme Low Power) | Yes |
| Vector Interrupts | Yes |
PIC18LF25K42-E/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 4 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 5 | RA6 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 6 | RA7 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 10 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 11 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 12 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 13 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 14 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 15 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O with interrupt-on-change and ICSCLK |
| Pin 16 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O with interrupt-on-change and ICSDAT |
| Pin 17 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 18 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 19 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 20 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 21 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 22 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 23 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 24 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 25 | RE3 — Input-only MCLR/VPP/RE3 pin |
| Pin 26 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 27 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and PPS functions |
| Pin 28 | VSS — Ground reference (secondary) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF25K42-E/ML is suitable for 8 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, HVAC and Building Automation Controllers, Consumer Remote Controls and HMI, Industrial Sensor Hubs, Smart Metering Endpoints, Portable Medical Devices, Small Appliance Motor Control, LED Lighting and Display Drivers.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC18LF25K42-E/ML is well-suited to battery-powered IoT sensor nodes thanks to its eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology, deep-sleep currents in the nanoampere range, and 1.8V-3.6V operating range that aligns directly with 3V lithium coin-cell and 2xAA chemistries. Its 12-bit ADC2 with computation enables oversampling and automated threshold detection without CPU intervention, extending battery life further by offloading sensor-fusion DSP. With 32KB Flash, 2KB SRAM, DMA channels, and 64MHz / 16 MIPS performance, the MCU can run BLE/Zigbee stacks alongside sensor-processing tasks. The 28-QFN (6x6mm) footprint fits small-form-factor sensor packages, while -40C to +125C operation supports outdoor and industrial deployments. Pair with the MCP9808 temperature sensor for precision environmental nodes.
Recommended
HVAC and Building Automation Controllers
In HVAC and building-automation systems, the PIC18LF25K42-E/ML delivers the deterministic 8-bit RISC core, vector interrupts, and rich timer peripherals required for multi-zone thermostat, damper, and valve control. Its 12-bit ADC2 with computation supports ratiometric temperature sensing from 10K NTC thermistors, while the 8-bit DAC drives analog-controlled actuators. The 28-QFN (6x6mm) package enables compact PCB designs for wall-mounted thermostats and fan-coil controllers. The XLP sleep modes reduce standby power below 50 nA, important for battery-backed or Energy-Star-rated equipment. Pair with the MCP23S17 I/O expander to drive multi-zone HVAC valve arrays.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls and HMI
The PIC18LF25K42-E/ML serves consumer remote controls and human-machine-interface (HMI) applications with its low-power XLP sleep modes that enable multi-year coin-cell battery life, plus its Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) engine for IR transmitter, capacitive-touch matrix, and LED driver routing. The 32KB Flash accommodates RF4CE, BLE stack fragments, and protocol translation code, while 2KB SRAM is sufficient for keystroke buffers and command parsing. The 12-bit ADC2 with computation handles capacitive-touch and gesture-sensing algorithms. The 28-QFN footprint supports slim remote enclosures. Pair with the MCP2122 infrared encoder for IR remote applications.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hubs
The PIC18LF25K42-E/ML targets industrial sensor hubs requiring 4-20mA loop-powered operation, Modbus RTU, and -40C to +125C industrial temperature ranges. Its 12-bit ADC2 with computation, 5-bit/8-bit DAC, and five DMA channels enable autonomous sensor-fusion with the CPU idle for low-power operation. The 28-QFN (6x6mm) package and integrated voltage regulator simplify loop-powered designs by reducing external component count. The PIC18LF architecture ensures deterministic interrupt response for time-sensitive industrial protocols. Pair with the MCP2515 CAN controller or MAX485 RS-485 transceiver for Modbus connectivity.
Recommended
Smart Metering Endpoints
In smart-metering endpoint designs, the PIC18LF25K42-E/ML provides the analog-front-end integration - 12-bit ADC2, 8-bit DAC, comparators - needed for single-phase electricity, gas, or water metering. The DMA engine moves ADC samples into memory without CPU intervention, supporting anti-tamper and energy-accumulation algorithms at low MIPS. The -40C to +125C extended temperature range and 256B EEPROM suit outdoor meter enclosures, while 32KB Flash stores metering firmware and wireless protocol stacks. The 28-QFN footprint fits compact meter PCBs alongside wireless M-Bus, LoRa, or Wi-Fi modules.
Recommended
Portable Medical Devices
The PIC18LF25K42-E/ML supports portable medical devices such as blood-pressure monitors, glucose meters, and pulse oximeters where low-power XLP operation, 12-bit ADC2 with computation, and -40C to +125C temperature stability are essential. The 32KB Flash accommodates FDA-grade firmware plus BLE stacks, while 256B EEPROM stores per-device offsets and calibration constants. The 28-QFN (6x6mm) footprint fits handheld enclosures, and 1.8V-3.6V operation aligns with two AAA battery chemistries. The DMA channels offload sensor data movement, leaving MIPS for user-interface tasks. Pair with the MCP3424 18-bit ADC for pulse-oximetry front-ends.
Recommended
Small Appliance Motor Control
The PIC18LF25K42-E/ML enables small-appliance motor-control designs for blenders, fans, and pumps, with its 12-bit ADC2 reading back-EMF, comparators implementing zero-cross detection, and PWM peripherals driving MOSFET gate drivers. The CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) supports complementary PWM for half-bridge drivers, while DMA channels maintain deterministic sampling windows. The 32KB Flash stores sensorless BLDC and PMSM firmware, and 2KB SRAM handles state-machine buffers. The 28-QFN footprint fits compact appliance PCBs alongside discrete MOSFET drivers. Pair with the MCP8024 BLDC gate driver for three-phase motor control.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Display Drivers
The PIC18LF25K42-E/ML drives LED lighting and small-display applications with its high-resolution PWM, DMA channels, and 8-bit DAC. The 16-MIPS CPU generates smooth dimming curves, color-mixing algorithms, and ambient-light feedback loops, while the 12-bit ADC2 with computation reads light sensors and temperature to protect LEDs from overheating. The 256B EEPROM stores calibration and user-preset preferences, and the 28-QFN (6x6mm) package fits compact lamp-ballast PCBs. XLP sleep modes enable standby-power compliance with Energy Star and EU ecodesign regulations.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF25K42-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F25K42-E/ML | PIC18LF25K42-I/ML | PIC18LF25K42T-I/ML | PIC18F25K42-I/ML | PIC18LF25K40-I/ML | PIC18LF24K42-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) (ML) | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 28-QFN (6x6 mm) - same |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB (-50%) |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB (-50%) |
| 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 | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Temperature Grade | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) |
| DMA Channels | Yes (K42 family) | Yes (K42 family) | Yes (K42 family) | Yes (K42 family) | Yes (K42 family) | No (K40 family) | Yes (K42 family) |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit ADC2 (K42) | 12-bit ADC2 (K42) | 12-bit ADC2 (K42) | 12-bit ADC2 (K42) | 12-bit ADC2 (K42) | 10-bit ADC (K40) | 12-bit ADC2 (K42) |
| Unit Price (qty-1, USD, as of 2026-09-28) | 2.62 | 2.65 | 2.60 | 2.60 | 2.60 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
Key Differentiators
- Industry-lowest power with DMA-enabled autonomous peripherals (vs PIC18LF25K40-I/ML)
- Wide 1.8V-3.6V operating range vs F variant's 2.3V-5.5V (vs PIC18F25K42-E/ML)
- Higher Flash density with K42 intelligent analog peripherals (vs PIC18LF24K42-I/ML)
Design Notes
The PIC18LF25K42-E/ML is XLP-optimized: its deep-sleep current is in the nanoampere range. Decouple VDD/VSS with 100nF ceramic plus 1uF X7R placed within 3 mm of the pins, and tie the exposed thermal pad (EP) to a low-impedance ground plane stitched with multiple vias. For battery applications, route the ADC reference (VDD/AVDD pair) through a ferrite bead to suppress switching noise from the digital core.
The Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) system must be configured before using remappable peripherals; if PPS pins are not unlocked and remapped in software, peripherals such as UART or SPI will not function on the desired I/O. The unlock sequence requires writing specific values to PPSLOCK and PPS registers - consult the datasheet section 17 for the exact sequence. Use the MCC code configurator to avoid sequence errors.
Estimated: at 64 MHz CPU and full peripheral activity, typical VDD current is around 8-12 mA. Across 1.8V-3.6V operation, this corresponds to 14-43 mW dissipation. The 28-QFN package's exposed thermal pad should be soldered to a copper area of at least 25 mm² to keep junction-to-ambient thermal resistance low enough for the -40C to +125C industrial temperature range; the 6x6mm QFN's theta-JA can rise above 80 C/W if the EP is poorly stitched.
Route ICSP signals RB6/ICSCLK and RB7/ICSDAT to a dedicated 5-pin header (1x5, 100-mil pitch) with a 4.7 kohm pull-up on MCLR for in-circuit programming and debugging. Keep analog traces (RA0-RA7, RC0-RC7) short and guarded with a ground track on both sides; keep digital and analog ground planes unified only beneath the MCU to avoid ground-loop noise coupling into the ADC2 measurements.
Place the external 32.768 kHz crystal or HF crystal (per HFINTOSC configuration) within 5 mm of OSCI/OSCO pads with symmetric trace lengths and a grounded guard trace. For DMA and ADC2 applications, place decoupling capacitors adjacent to AVDD/AVSS and use a ferrite-bead-isolated analog supply island. The 28-QFN's exposed pad must be stitched with at least 9 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 1.0 mm pitch) for proper heat dissipation.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not qualified - this part targets industrial/consumer, not automotive. For AEC-Q100 applications, consider PIC18F25K42-E/ML automotive variants.
