PIC18LF26J13-I/SS - 64KB Flash 8-bit MCU 48MHz SSOP-28 | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF26J13-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.81 | $1.81 |
| 10 | $1.65 | $16.50 |
| 100 | $1.42 | $142.00 |
| 500 | $1.25 | $625.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.08 | $1,080.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.95 | $2,850.00 |
PIC18LF26J13-I/SS Overview
A PIC microcontroller is a Harvard-architecture 8-bit MCU built around a RISC instruction set, on-chip Flash program memory, RAM, EEPROM and rich peripherals including ADC, timers and serial communication blocks. Within the broader taxonomy the part sits at: microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> PIC18 family -> PIC18 J-series -> nanoWatt XLP variants. The LF prefix denotes the LF (Low-Voltage/Frequency) variant scaled for 2.0-2.75V wide-range supply rails typical of single-cell Li-ion or 2-AA battery systems, whereas the F variant (PIC18F26J13) shares the same silicon die but supports the wider 2.15-3.6V range.
Key features include 64KB self-programmable Flash with 4KB SRAM, 10-bit and 12-bit ADC channels, dual USART, dual SPI and I2C interfaces, and 22 general-purpose digital I/O pins. nanoWatt XLP technology adds deep sleep, doze and idle modes that drop quiescent current into the sub-microamp range, enabling multi-year coin-cell lifetimes in sleep-dominant applications.
The architecture combines a 16-bit instruction word with an 8-bit data path, plus a peripheral-rich core that integrates comparators, capture/compare/PWM modules, a real-time clock and a CTMU charge-time measurement unit for capacitive touch sensing. Hardware multiplier and hardware DMA-style peripheral arbitration minimise CPU overhead in mixed-signal designs.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, portable medical devices, industrial control and HMI panels, USB-to-UART bridges, capacitive touch human-machine interfaces, and home automation controllers. The dual-USART plus dual-SPI combination makes it especially attractive for multi-bus sensor aggregation. Designers targeting multi-rail power domains or systems requiring sequenced shutdown benefit from the LF-variant low-voltage threshold.
When using this part, ensure VDD decoupling uses a 100 nF ceramic plus 1 uF bulk within 5 mm of the pins, and configure the CONFIG register for the correct oscillator mode (HS, XT or INTOSC) before code lock. For capacitive touch applications allocate a 10 ms scan budget and route the CTMU pins with guarded ground to suppress noise injection.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric comparison tables, pin-compatible drop-in alternatives and practical design notes that extend the manufacturer datasheet context.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF26J13-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 PIC18LF26J13-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Package, Communication Interfaces, Comparators.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26J13-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF26J11-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF26J13-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 RISC 8-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16) |
| RAM | 4 KB (3.8K x 8) |
| Max CPU Clock | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 2.75 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 (general-purpose digital, multiplexed) |
| ADC | 10-bit and 12-bit channels |
| Communication Interfaces | 2x USART, 2x SPI, 1x I2C |
| Timers | Multiple 8/16-bit with CCP/PWM |
| Comparators | On-chip analog comparators (data not stated) |
| CTMU | Charge-Time Measurement Unit for capacitive touch |
| Power-Saving Modes | nanoWatt XLP: Deep Sleep, Doze, Idle |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) |
| Package | 28-SSOP (0.209 in / 5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free / Halogen-Free | Lead-free, RoHS compliant (per distributor listing) |
PIC18LF26J13-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/CVREF+/P1B — PORTA bit 0; analog input AN0; comparator CVREF+; PWM1 B-output |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/CVREF- — PORTA bit 1; analog input AN1; comparator CVREF- |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/C1IND/C2IND — PORTA bit 2; analog input AN2; comparator 1/2 inverted |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/C1INC/C2INC — PORTA bit 3; analog input AN3; comparator 1/2 non-inverting |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4/C1OUT/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4; analog AN4; comparator 1 output; Timer0 clock in |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5/C2OUT — PORTA bit 5; analog AN5; comparator 2 output |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage 2.0-2.75V |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator in; external clock in; PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator out; clock out; PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0; Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/CCP2E — PORTC bit 1; CCP2 enhanced PWM output |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2; CCP1 capture/compare/PWM |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCL1 — PORTC bit 3; I2C1 clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDA1 — PORTC bit 4; I2C1 data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO1 — PORTC bit 5; SPI1 data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/SDI1/TX1/CK1 — PORTC bit 6; SPI1 data in / USART1 TX / USART1 clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/SCK1/RX1/DT1 — PORTC bit 7; SPI1 clock / USART1 RX / USART1 data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage 2.0-2.75V |
| Pin 21 | RB0/AN8/C1INA/INT0 — PORTB bit 0; analog AN8; comparator 1 input A; external INT0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/AN9/C2INA — PORTB bit 1; analog AN9; comparator 2 input A |
| Pin 23 | RB2/AN10/CTMUI — PORTB bit 2; analog AN10; CTMU input |
| Pin 24 | RB3/AN11/CTMUD — PORTB bit 3; analog AN11; CTMU discharge |
| Pin 25 | RB4/AN12 — PORTB bit 4; analog AN12 |
| Pin 26 | RB5/AN13 — PORTB bit 5; analog AN13 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6; ICSP clock (programming) |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7; ICSP data (programming) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF26J13-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Capacitive Touch Human-Machine Interface, Portable Medical Monitoring Device, Industrial Sensor Aggregation Controller, USB-to-UART Bridge (no integrated USB variant), Home Automation / Smart Home Edge Node.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC18LF26J13-I/SS is well-suited to battery-powered IoT sensor nodes thanks to its 2.0-2.75 V native VDD that aligns directly with a single-cell Li-ion (2.5 V nominal) without boost conversion. nanoWatt XLP Deep Sleep drops current into the sub-microamp range, while the integrated 12-bit ADC and CTMU enable direct sensor signal acquisition and capacitive water/touch measurement on-chip. With 64 KB Flash you can host TLS-lite plus local logic and still leave room for future updates, and 22 GPIO pins plus dual USART/SPI make it easy to attach multiple sensors behind the same node.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Human-Machine Interface
The PIC18LF26J13-I/SS integrates a CTMU (Charge-Time Measurement Unit) plus 12-bit ADC, making it well-suited for capacitive touch HMI panels with multiple keys or sliders. The CTMU produces fully hardware-managed charge timing per pin, freeing CPU cycles for protocol handling, while deep-sleep wake-on-touch via the on-chip interrupt controller avoids polling current drain between touches. Designers can pair it with a small TFT LCD driven over SPI and a piezo buzzer for complete user-feedback control. Choosing a QFN variant (PIC18LF26J13-I/ML) on dense touch PCBs reduces overall board area for capacitive pads.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Device
The PIC18LF26J13-I/SS suits portable medical monitoring devices where battery life and analog precision matter. Its 12-bit ADC provides resolution suitable for pulse-oximetry front-ends and digital thermometer bridges, while the LF voltage class supports 2xAA alkaline rail operation down to the 2.0 V brownout threshold without needing boost circuitry. nanoWatt XLP modes preserve backup battery life when the monitor is idle, and the cryptographic-grade Flash lock bits support FDA-design controls for code integrity. Dual UARTs enable simultaneous connection to a Bluetooth HCI bridge plus a bedside telemetry bus.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Aggregation Controller
The PIC18LF26J13-I/SS works as an industrial sensor aggregation controller bridging multiple field-bus sensors to a centralized PLC or SCADA node. Its dual USART and dual SPI peripheral set can handle Modbus RTU on one USART, RS-485 half-duplex on another, plus SPI temperature sensor chains, all concurrently without DMA overhead thanks to the deep peripheral interrupt architecture. The 64 KB Flash can host Modbus plus DNP3 stacks, and the 4 KB RAM buffers incoming frames. The 2.0-3.6V extended supply range (F variant swap) accommodates industrial 24V systems via a wide-Vin DC-DC front-end.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge (no integrated USB variant)
Although the PIC18LF26J13-I/SS itself does not integrate USB, it serves effectively as a low-cost UART-to-SPI/I2C bridge in legacy serial-port designs where minimal power and reliability are critical. The LF variant's 2.0-2.75V VDD matches a 3.3V LDO directly with margin, simplifying BOM cost in industrial gateway designs. Pair it with an external FTDI-style bridge or use a PIC18F2550 (from Site MPN list) where USB-on-MCU is required. The dual UART capability also allows simultaneous bridge and debug-printf output without extra logic.
Recommended
Home Automation / Smart Home Edge Node
The PIC18LF26J13-I/SS fits home automation edge nodes handling multi-protocol sensor fusion between Zigbee/Thread-like radios (over UART), I2C environmental sensors, and SPI-controlled lighting drivers. Its low-power design extends battery lifetime in wireless switches and window sensors that sleep for years between user interactions, and dual USART plus SPI lets it bridge two radios concurrently. The compact 28-SSOP package is well-suited to in-wall box designs with constrained PCB real estate, while the extended industrial temperature range supports outdoor and attic-mount installations with full reliability.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF26J13-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26J13-I/SS | PIC18LF26J13-I/ML | PIC18LF26J13-I/SP | PIC18LF46J13-I/PT | PIC18LF26J11-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-QFN (different) | 28-SPDIP (different) | 44-TQFP (different) | 28-SSOP (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 48 KB (-25%) |
| RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB |
| Max Clock / MIPS | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 2.75 V | 2.15 V to 3.6 V (wider range) | 2.0 V to 2.75 V | 2.0 V to 2.75 V | 2.0 V to 2.75 V | 2.0 V to 2.75 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 34 (+54%) | 22 |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit and 12-bit | 10-bit and 12-bit | 10-bit and 12-bit | 10-bit and 12-bit | 10-bit and 12-bit | 10-bit and 12-bit |
| NanoWatt XLP | Yes (Deep Sleep, Doze, Idle) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) |
Key Differentiators
- Native 2.0-2.75V operation without boost converter (vs PIC18F26J13-I/SS (F-variant))
- Larger 64 KB Flash versus 48 KB in J11 family member (vs PIC18LF26J11-I/SS)
- nanoWatt XLP Deep Sleep current under 100 nA (vs PIC18F26K83T-I/SO)
Design Notes
Estimated: at CPU active 48 MHz + I/O driving 10 mA, the LF26J13 draws approximately 15-25 mA at 2.5 V VDD. During Deep Sleep the chip drops to <100 nA quiescent current, enabling multi-year coin-cell lifetimes in duty-cycled IoT endpoints. Place a 1 µF bulk plus 100 nF high-frequency ceramic decoupling on each VDD pin (pins 8 and 20) within 5 mm of the package to suppress switching-spike noise.
Route the CTMU-capable RB2/RB3 traces with a guarded ground plane below them and avoid running noisy switcher traces within 3 mm to maintain capacitive touch sensitivity. The 28-SSOP pin pitch (0.65 mm) tolerates 4-layer 0.1 mm trace/space design rules - confirm DRAM if you route them under a QFN option (PIC18LF26J13-I/ML on Site MPN list). Crystal traces on OSC1/OSC2 must be short (<10 mm) and guarded to minimize jitter.
Do not apply >3.6 V to any pin - the LF26J13 LF voltage class has a 3.6 V absolute-maximum rating. The F-variant PIC18F26J13 supports up to 3.6 V and is the correct drop-in alternative if your rail is 3.3 V. Missing the VDD/VSS bypass caps near pins 8 and 20 commonly causes spurious resets in field deployments - never rely solely on bulk capacitance.
Assign the comparator inputs (RA2/RA3/RA4/RA5) and CTMU pins (RB2/RB3) on adjacent quiet tracks so analog signal conditioning is not corrupted by digital switching crosstalk. The PORTC pins that double as USART/SPI should be reserved for wired comms, while PORTB RB6/RB7 are reserved for ICSP programming - never wire these to drive-only loads without isolation. RB5 is also usable as digital I/O but is sometimes reserved for diagnostic LEDs.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliance confirmed by distributor listing (infinity-electron / Microchip USA). Reach, halogen-free and conflict-minerals declarations require verification against the official Microchip Material Declaration Sheet - not present in fetched data, marked unknown.
