PIC18LF26J13-I/ML - 64KB Flash, 48MHz 8-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF26J13-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.78 | $37.80 |
| 100 | $3.36 | $336.00 |
| 500 | $2.95 | $1,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.55 | $2,550.00 |
PIC18LF26J13-I/ML Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a self-contained computing element integrating a CPU core, program memory, RAM, peripherals, and I/O on a single die. The PIC18 family is Microchip's high-performance 8-bit line, while the LF prefix denotes the low-voltage F-type Flash core and the XLP (eXtreme Low Power) nanoWatt designation indicates optimized sleep modes for battery-powered products. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC18LF26J13 sits under: microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> PIC18 family -> PIC18 J-series -> low-power sub-family.
Key features include 64 KB (32K x 16) of self-programmable Flash program memory, 4 KB RAM, 1024 bytes of EEPROM, a 10-channel 12-bit ADC, multiple timers (TMR0/1/2/3), 2 capture/compare/PWM modules, 2 UART, 1 SPI, 1 I2C, and nanoWatt technology with deep sleep current down to a few nanoamps. The 28-QFN package exposes a thermal pad for improved heat spreading in space-limited layouts.
Technically, the J-series core adds hardware multiply and C-runtime-friendly addressing modes that close the historical gap between PIC16 and 32-bit cores, while retaining the deterministic single-cycle instruction pipeline. The 12 MIPS throughput at 48 MHz gives ample headroom for sensor fusion, USB-free protocol stacks, and human-interface firmware.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered medical monitors, consumer appliances, USB HID class replacements, and industrial control panels. Designers select this part when EEPROM, a 12-bit ADC, and rich serial peripherals are required in a small 6x6 mm outline.
When laying out the board, tie the exposed pad (EP) to ground with at least 8 thermal vias on the top layer to keep junction temperature in spec; do not skip the 0.1 uF decoupling pair on VDD/AVDD plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor. Use the ICD 3 or PICKit 4 for in-circuit debug, since the J-series only supports ICSP programming via PGEC1/PGED1.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and design notes that go beyond what the manufacturer datasheet alone provides.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF26J13-I/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 PIC18LF26J13-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, I/O Pins, Timers, EEPROM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF26J13T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF26J11-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF26J11T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26J13-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF25K83-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.86 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF26J13-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 8-bit |
| Family | PIC18 J-series (XLP nanoWatt) |
| Program Memory | 64 KB Flash (32K x 16) |
| RAM | 4 KB |
| EEPROM | 1024 bytes |
| Max CPU Speed | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 10-channel, 12-bit |
| Comparators | 3 |
| Timers | TMR0, TMR1, TMR2, TMR3 |
| CCP Modules | 2 (ECCP + CCP) |
| UART | 2 |
| SPI | 1 |
| I2C (MSSP) | 1 |
| Package | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm with exposed pad |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Programming | ICSP via PGEC1/PGED1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF26J13-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Digital I/O / analog AN2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Digital I/O / analog AN3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Digital I/O / analog AN4 |
| Pin 4 | RA5 — Digital I/O / analog AN5 |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 6 | RA7 — Digital I/O / oscillator |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — Digital I/O / oscillator |
| Pin 8 | RC0 — Digital I/O / analog AN16 |
| Pin 9 | RC1 — Digital I/O / analog AN17 |
| Pin 10 | RC2 — Digital I/O / analog AN18 / PWM |
| Pin 11 | VUSB — USB power-sense / NC on LF |
| Pin 12 | RC4 — Digital I/O / D- |
| Pin 13 | RC5 — Digital I/O / D+ |
| Pin 14 | RC6 — Digital I/O / TX1 |
| Pin 15 | RC7 — Digital I/O / RX1 |
| Pin 16 | VDD — Power supply |
| Pin 17 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 18 | RB7 — Digital I/O / PGED1 (programming) |
| Pin 19 | RB6 — Digital I/O / PGEC1 (programming) |
| Pin 20 | RB5 — Digital I/O / analog AN13 |
| Pin 21 | RB4 — Digital I/O / analog AN11 |
| Pin 22 | RB3 — Digital I/O / analog AN9 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Digital I/O / analog AN8 |
| Pin 24 | RB1 — Digital I/O / analog AN10 |
| Pin 25 | RB0 — Digital I/O / analog AN12 |
| Pin 26 | AVDD — Analog power supply |
| Pin 27 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 28 | MCLR — Master clear reset (active low) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF26J13-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Portable Medical Monitoring Devices, Consumer Appliance Control Panels, USB HID Replacement (legacy USB bridges), Industrial Control Panel HMI, Security and Access Control Panels.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC18LF26J13-I/ML fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes through its 2.0-3.6 V supply range, nanoWatt XLP technology with deep-sleep currents in the nanoamp range, and 64 KB Flash for over-the-air firmware staging. The 10-channel 12-bit ADC digitises temperature, humidity, and battery voltage channels directly without an external ADC, reducing BOM cost. The 48 MHz core delivers 12 MIPS headroom for sensor-fusion routines between sleeps, and the 2 UART plus SPI/I2C interfaces support LoRa, BLE, and sensor frontends. Typical power budget with 1 second deep sleep and 100 ms active sensing can run 3 years on a CR2032 cell.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Devices
For portable medical monitors such as pulse oximeters and glucose meters, the PIC18LF26J13-I/ML delivers precise 12-bit ADC conversion (10 channels) for SpO2 photodiode current sensing, plus 1024 bytes EEPROM for patient log retention across power cycles. The 2.0-3.6 V range aligns with two-AA or Li-ion rechargeable cells, while the nanoWatt sleep modes keep average current under 5 uA for extended battery life in compliance with medical device IEC 60601 idle-current guidance. The QFN-28 6x6 mm package suits compact handheld form factors, and the 2 UART bridges to BLE modules for data telemetry.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Panels
Consumer appliance control panels (washing machines, microwave ovens, induction cooktops) benefit from the PIC18LF26J13-I/ML combination of 22 I/O pins for keypad scanning, triac control, LED/buzzer drives, and the 64 KB Flash for storing multi-language UI firmware. The 2 CCP/ECCP modules generate PWM for variable-speed motor and dimming control, and the 12-bit ADC reads NTC thermistor temperature inputs for safety shutoff. The QFN-28 6x6 mm package is suitable for high-density HMI boards where DIP/SOIC footprints would not fit.
Recommended
USB HID Replacement (legacy USB bridges)
For firmware-update gateways and legacy USB-to-UART bridges, the PIC18LF26J13-I/ML supplies 2 UART and 1 SPI plus a 12 MIPS core to bit-bang low-speed USB via the MSSP peripheral when a dedicated USB part is over-spec. The 64 KB Flash holds bootloader plus application firmware, while 1024 bytes EEPROM stores USB descriptor strings across re-enumeration. Operating at 3.3 V from the USB VBUS-regulated rail simplifies the analog front end.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panel HMI
Industrial control panel HMI applications leverage the PIC18LF26J13-I/ML industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C), 12-bit ADC for analog transducer inputs (pressure, level, flow), and PWM outputs for proportional valve control. The QFN-28 footprint with exposed pad survives vibration-heavy environments when properly soldered, and 22 I/O pins support multi-button plus 7-segment LED multiplexing. The Flash endurance and EEPROM allow on-site firmware updates via ICSP through PGEC1/PGED1 pins without unmounting the part.
Recommended
Security and Access Control Panels
Access control panels use the PIC18LF26J13-I/ML for keypad and RFID reader interfacing through UART, plus 1024 bytes EEPROM to retain credential tables across power loss. The 10-channel 12-bit ADC supervises backup battery voltage and tamper-switch analog inputs. The nanoWatt sleep mode keeps idle panels under 2 uA, suitable for always-on security applications where battery backup is mandatory during mains outages.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF26J13-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF26J13T-I/ML | PIC18LF26J11-I/ML | PIC18LF26J11T-I/ML | PIC18F26J13-I/ML | PIC18LF25K83-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm | 28-QFN (ML) - same | 28-QFN (ML) - same | 28-QFN (ML) - same | 28-QFN (ML) - same | 28-QFN (ML) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB (-50%) | 32 KB (-50%) | 64 KB | 32 KB (-50%) |
| RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 2 KB |
| Max CPU Speed | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 |
| ADC | 10 ch / 12-bit | 10 ch / 12-bit | 9 ch / 12-bit | 9 ch / 12-bit | 10 ch / 12-bit | 11 ch / 12-bit (with computation) |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in the J13/J11 family at 64 KB (vs PIC18LF26J11-I/ML)
- 10 ADC channels vs 9 in the J11 family (vs PIC18LF26J11-I/ML)
- Newer K-series has higher MIPS but lacks EEPROM parity (vs PIC18LF25K83-I/ML)
- Legacy compatibility for J-series code bases (vs PIC18LF25K83-I/ML)
Design Notes
Solder the exposed pad (EP) of the 28-QFN to a 6x6 mm copper pour connected to VSS, with at least 8 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pad) stitched through to the inner/ground plane. This keeps theta_JA in the 30-40 C/W range and avoids thermal shutdown at elevated ambient temperatures.
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD/AVDD pair with the trace via connection to the IC pad kept under 2 mm. Add a single 10 uF bulk capacitor within 10 mm of the part, and keep the AVDD trace short and isolated from noisy digital lines to maintain 12-bit ADC accuracy.
Pin 11 is labelled VUSB on PIC18F26J13 silicon but is typically a no-connect (NC) on LF-only designs. Pull MCLR high through a 10 kohm resistor and add a 100 nF cap to ground; without this, the part may randomly reset. Always enter ICSP mode by holding PGM low on entry and clocking PGEC1/PGED1 to avoid programming errors.
Route the analog ADC inputs away from switching signals (PWM, UART) and keep the analog ground (AVSS) tied to digital ground only at a single point near the IC. Use a guard trace around sensitive analog inputs (AN0-AN3) connected to AVSS to reduce digital switching noise coupling into ADC measurements.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is an industrial-grade part, not automotive-grade. Choose AEC-Q100 qualified PIC18 variants for automotive applications.
