PIC18LF26J11-I/SS - 8-bit 48MHz 64KB Flash XLP MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF26J11-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.39 | $3.39 |
| 10 | $3.05 | $30.50 |
| 100 | $2.71 | $271.00 |
| 500 | $2.45 | $1,225.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.18 | $2,180.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.95 | $5,850.00 |
PIC18LF26J11-I/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path. Within the broader semiconductor hierarchy, an MCU sits below microprocessors (MPUs) in compute complexity but adds on-chip Flash, RAM, and peripherals; within Microchip's portfolio it belongs to the PIC family, then to the 8-bit PIC18 sub-family, then to the J-series (high-performance, low-voltage), then to the LF (low-voltage) nanoWatt XLP subgroup. The 'J' in PIC18LF26J11 denotes the J-series, and the LF prefix specifically targets 2.0V-3.3V applications.
Key features include 64KB (32K x 16) self-programmable Flash with Flash EEPROM emulation, 4KB RAM, 256 bytes of EEPROM, 10-bit ADC with up to 10 channels, 2 analog comparators, 2 MSSP (SPI/I2C) ports, 2 Enhanced USART modules, and deep-sleep current consumption in the nanoampere range. The 28-pin SSOP package provides 22 general-purpose I/O pins with Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), allowing digital peripheral functions to be remapped to any I/O.
The PIC18LF26J11 uses a 16-bit modified Harvard architecture with an 8-bit data path. Its core executes most instructions in a single cycle (4 FOSC clocks) and supports priority levels for interrupts. PPS and Deep Sleep mode with Ultra Low Power Wake-up make this device highly flexible for energy-harvesting and battery-backed designs.
Typical applications include low-power sensor nodes, IoT edge devices, battery-powered instrumentation, consumer electronics such as remote controls and toys, industrial control sub-modules, and any 3.3V system that needs deterministic 8-bit control with rich digital connectivity.
When designing with this part, pay attention to the 3.3V supply ceiling (the LF prefix indicates the low-voltage family - the F variant without L runs to 5.5V), and use Microchip's MPLAB X development toolchain with the XC8 compiler. The 28-SSOP footprint is also shared with several other PIC18 J-series devices, easing PCB migration across memory tiers.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF26J11-I/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 PIC18LF26J11-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26J11-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF26J11T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF25J11-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F24J11-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF25K83-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF26J11-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC18 (modified Harvard) |
| Series | PIC18 J-series, LF (low-voltage) nanoWatt XLP |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16) |
| RAM | 4 KB (3.8K x 8 typical) |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 (bidirectional) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 10 channels |
| Timers | 2x 8-bit, 3x 16-bit |
| Communication | 2x MSSP (SPI/I2C), 2x EUSART |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| PWM Modules | 2x CCP, 3x ECCP (Enhanced) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, suffix 'I') |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Deep Sleep Current | nanoampere level (XLP) |
PIC18LF26J11-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 2 / ADC negative reference |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — Digital I/O (open-drain) |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN4 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 4 |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0V-3.6V) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/RA7 — External oscillator input / Digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/RA6 — External oscillator output / Digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable) |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable) |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable) |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable) |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable) |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable) |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Digital I/O / TX for EUSART1 (PPS) |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Digital I/O / RX for EUSART1 (PPS) |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0V-3.6V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Digital I/O (PPS remappable, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock (programming) |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data (programming) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF26J11-I/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Industrial Control Sub-Module, Consumer Remote Control / HMI, USB / Serial Bridge Adapter, Automotive Body Electronics (Sub-system), Educational / Hobby Development Platform, Smart Metering & Energy Harvesting.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC18LF26J11-I/SS is ideal for battery-driven IoT sensor nodes because its nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep current in the nanoampere range lets a coin-cell last for years, while the 48 MHz core handles sensor fusion and protocol stacks. With 64KB Flash, designers can embed LoRaWAN, BLE HCI, or proprietary RF stacks without external memory; 22 I/O with Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) makes it simple to repurpose pins between sensors, LEDs, and the radio module. The 28-SSOP package drops onto small sensor PCBs and runs from a single 3.3V rail, eliminating the boost converter.
Recommended
Industrial Control Sub-Module
The PIC18LF26J11-I/SS fits 3.3V industrial sub-modules as a deterministic 8-bit controller running Modbus RTU, simple PLC ladder logic, or sensor conditioning. Its 10-bit ADC with up to 10 channels reads multiple analog sensors without an external MUX, while 2 MSSP and 2 EUSART peripherals handle RS-485 and SPI sensor bridges simultaneously. Industrial -40C to +85C operating range is guaranteed by the 'I' suffix, and the 28-SSOP footprint eases hand-solder rework in field-service designs.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control / HMI
For IR remote controls, gaming peripherals, and small HMI panels, the PIC18LF26J11-I/SS provides ample Flash (64KB) for button-mapping firmware, IR protocol libraries (RC5, NEC, SIRC), and PWM-driven LED feedback without external memory. Its 22 I/O directly drive matrix keypads and RGB LEDs while the 3x ECCP peripherals generate the 38 kHz carrier for IR transmission. Low cost (around $2.18 per unit at 1,000 qty) and SSOP hand-solderability also suit small-volume consumer products.
Recommended
USB / Serial Bridge Adapter
Although the PIC18LF26J11-I/SS itself has no native USB, it can act as a serial-bridge controller alongside a USB-UART chip like MCP2200 or MCP2221, or as a HID-class firmware bridge when paired with external USB PHY. Its 64KB Flash accommodates USB stack code plus application logic, and 4KB RAM supports HID report buffers. The 28-SSOP fits standard USB-stick form factors with a side-mounted USB connector.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Sub-system)
While the PIC18LF26J11-I/SS itself is not AEC-Q100 qualified, the same silicon die is used in automotive-grade PIC18 variants qualified by Microchip for body electronics such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, and lighting sub-modules at the 28-SSOP footprint. The 64KB Flash supports LIN-based firmware and the 10-bit ADC reads potentiometers for position sensing. Designers should consult Microchip's auto-grade catalog for the qualified part number.
Recommended
Educational / Hobby Development Platform
The PIC18LF26J11-I/SS is widely used in engineering education thanks to free Microchip MPLAB X + XC8 toolchain, abundant example code, and breadboard-friendly 0.65 mm SSOP-to-DIP adapter boards. Students learn 8-bit embedded concepts - timers, ADC, PWM, interrupts - on a real industrial-grade MCU. The 28-SSOP footprint is also available on PICDEM and Curiosity development boards from Microchip, simplifying lab work.
Recommended
Smart Metering & Energy Harvesting
The PIC18LF26J11-I/SS deep-sleep mode (sub-100 nA typical) plus ultra-low-power wake on interrupt makes it a strong fit for energy-harvesting smart meters, water/gas flow monitors, and remote readout devices powered by a small solar cell or thermal harvester. Its 4KB RAM supports run-time statistics buffers without external SRAM, and the 28-SSOP footprint is compatible with other J-series pins for future migration to higher-memory PIC18 LF variants.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF26J11-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26J11-I/SS | PIC18LF26J11T-I/SS | PIC18LF25J11-I/SS | PIC18F24J11-I/SS | PIC18LF25K83-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP | 28-pin SSOP - same | 28-pin SSOP - same | 28-pin SSOP - same | 28-pin SSOP - same | 28-pin SSOP - same |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB (-50%) | 16 KB (-75%) | 32 KB (-50%) |
| RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 2 KB (-50%) | 1 KB (-75%) | 2 KB (-50%) |
| Max CPU Frequency | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) (+33%) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 5.5V (wider) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 10 channels | 10-bit, 10 channels | 10-bit, 10 channels | 10-bit, 10 channels | 10-bit, 10 channels | 12-bit, 24 channels |
| Series / Family | PIC18 J-series LF | PIC18 J-series F | PIC18 J-series LF | PIC18 J-series LF | PIC18 J-series F | PIC18 K-series LF |
| Approx. Unit Price (1 qty) | $3.39 | ~$3.30 | ~$3.45 (T&R packing premium) | ~$2.85 | ~$2.50 | ~$2.95 |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in 28-SSOP J-series LF family (vs PIC18LF25J11-I/SS)
- Deep-sleep nanoWatt XLP technology with sub-100 nA current (vs PIC18F26J11-I/SS)
- More CPU performance and richer peripherals than J-series predecessors (vs PIC18F24J11-I/SS)
Design Notes
PIC18LF26J11-I/SS targets 2.0V-3.6V operation; the LF prefix designates the low-voltage nanoWatt XLP variant. To exploit its lowest deep-sleep current (<100 nA typical with RTCC off), disable all unused peripherals in firmware via PMD registers, configure unused pins as outputs to ground, and gate external sensor supplies from a dedicated GPIO that is set low during sleep. A 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor must sit within 3 mm of each VDD pin (pins 7 and 20). For battery life estimates, use Microchip's nanoWatt XLP calculator with realistic wake/sense intervals.
The 28-SSOP footprint has 0.65 mm pitch; route power traces (VDD, VSS) on a top-layer pour at least 0.4 mm wide, and keep the exposed-pad-less SSOP solder lands the standard JEDEC MS-150 size. Place a ferrite bead or 10 ohm resistor on the VDD supply trace near the MCU if the board has a switching converter, to prevent digital switching noise from coupling into the analog ADC reference. Route the ICSP lines (RB6/PGC, RB7/PGD) directly to a 6-pin header at the board edge with no series resistors, to keep MPLAB ICD programming reliable.
Do not use PIC18LF26J11-I/SS above 3.6V; the F-prefix variant PIC18F26J11 shares the same datasheet and is sometimes confused in BOMs, but the LF part's absolute-max VDD rating is 3.6V - exceeding it damages the MCU. Ensure the MCLR pin is pulled up to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor and a 100 nF cap to VSS for clean reset; do not leave MCLR floating. When migrating from PIC18F26J11 firmware, no code changes are needed, but verify the configuration bits for the LF deep-sleep mode are enabled if low power is required.
For ADC accuracy, place a 100 nF ceramic bypass on AVREF and use a separate analog ground island tied back to a single point at the main VSS pin. Avoid routing digital I/O traces next to the AN0-AN4 analog inputs. If sampling high-impedance sensors, add an op-amp buffer or source-impedance below 2 kohm to keep acquisition time within the 1 us Tad minimum. PPS remapping (peripheral pin select) lets you move digital functions away from analog pins to avoid crosstalk.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page; not AEC-Q100 qualified (industrial -40C to +85C only). Lead-free matte-tin finish. Microchip publishes CMRT and CMR conflict-minerals compliance per the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process.
