PIC18LF26J50-I/SP - 8-Bit 48MHz USB MCU 64KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF26J50-I/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.92 | $3.92 |
| 10 | $3.61 | $36.10 |
| 25 | $3.43 | $85.75 |
| 100 | $3.12 | $312.00 |
| 500 | $2.85 | $1,425.00 |
PIC18LF26J50-I/SP Overview
What is a PIC18 microcontroller? A PIC18 is an 8-bit RISC microcontroller from Microchip's PIC18 family, which sits hierarchically under microcontroller -> MCU -> embedded processing unit -> semiconductor. The 'J' sub-family extends the classic PIC18 instruction set with integrated USB 2.0 full-speed peripherals, higher pin-count variants, and nanoWatt XLP power management for sleep-style low-power designs.
Key features include 4KB RAM, 16 I/O pins, and an on-chip 10-bit ADC. Connectivity peripherals include I2C, SPI, UART/USART, and USB 2.0 full-speed with an internal transceiver. Brown-out detect, power-on reset, a watchdog timer, PWM, and DMA support give this device the peripheral breadth needed for connected embedded designs. A deep sleep mode further lowers quiescent current for battery-style standby operation.
Technically, the device executes instructions in a single cycle (4 system clocks) thanks to the PIC18 RISC pipeline, giving roughly 16 MIPS peak throughput at 48 MHz. The 28-SPDIP package exposes two 8-bit I/O ports plus dedicated USB D+/D- lines, an external interrupt pin, and a 4 MHz-to-48 MHz internal PLL block fed from the on-board 8 MHz HFINTOSC. Configuration bits let the designer disable the internal regulator for full 2.0V-3.6V operation.
Typical applications include USB HID peripherals such as custom joysticks, mice, and barcode scanners, low-power sensor nodes, USB-to-UART bridges, and embedded learning platforms. The PIC18LF26J50 is also widely used as a USB bootloader target and as a stepping stone for developers migrating from legacy PIC18F4550 designs to lower-pin-count packages.
When designing with this part, pair it with a 6 MHz or 12 MHz crystal (HS-PLL mode) when USB bus accuracy is critical, or use the internal 8 MHz HFINTOSC with USB clock recovery for BOM-minimized designs. A 100nF decoupling cap on VDD/VUSB and a 4.7uF bulk capacitor on VUSB are essential for USB compliance.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in PIC18 family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the bare manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a faster procurement and design decision.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF26J50-I/SP — 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 PIC18LF26J50-I/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, MSL Level, Package, Core, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26J50-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF25J50-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF26J13-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46J50-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F2550-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2450-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF26J50-I/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Core Architecture | RISC (PIC18 enhanced instruction set) |
| Series | PIC XLP 18J |
| Max Clock Speed | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 64 KB (32K x 16) Flash |
| RAM Size | 4 KB |
| EEPROM Size | 0 B (not present on J-series; emulated in Flash) |
| Number of I/O | 16 |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V (LF low-voltage core) |
| Connectivity | I2C, SPI, UART/USART, USB 2.0 Full-Speed |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, DMA, POR, PWM, WDT |
| ADC | 10-bit A/D (channels per datasheet) |
| USB Transceiver | Internal full-speed USB 2.0 |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (SP) through-hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| MSL Level | 1 (not applicable for through-hole) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC18LF26J50-I/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input or digital input RE3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — Digital I/O / analog input AN0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — Digital I/O / analog input AN1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Digital I/O / analog input AN2 / CVREF |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — Digital I/O / analog input AN3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Digital I/O / analog input AN4 |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — Digital I/O / analog input AN5 / VREF- |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0V-3.6V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 27 | RB6 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change / ICSP programming clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7 — Digital I/O / interrupt-on-change / ICSP programming data |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF26J50-I/SP is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID Peripherals, USB-to-UART Bridge, Low-Power Sensor Node, USB Bootloader Target Board, Educational Development Platform, Industrial Data Logger.
USB HID Peripherals
The PIC18LF26J50-I/SP's integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver, internal pull-up resistors, and 48 MHz CPU clock make it a natural fit for USB HID peripherals such as custom joysticks, mice, keyboards, and barcode scanners. Its 64KB Flash comfortably holds Microchip's USB HID stack plus application code, while the LF 2.0V-3.6V core allows direct bus-powered operation from a 3.3V LDO fed off VUSB. The on-chip DMA engine and interrupt-on-change I/O reduce host CPU overhead, enabling sub-millisecond HID report rates. Compared with discrete USB solutions, this part eliminates an external PHY, two 27-ohm USB series resistors, and the firmware burden of bit-banged USB stacks. Recommended companion chips include USB-capable power regulators and ESD protection arrays.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge
When paired with the on-chip USB full-speed peripheral and the UART/USART module, the PIC18LF26J50-I/SP implements a USB-to-UART bridge that replaces common commercial bridges with a customizable, field-upgradeable firmware path. The 4KB RAM buffers CDC-ACM traffic at 921600 baud without flow-control loss, and the 48 MHz clock keeps UART baud-rate error well below the 2% USB-CDC tolerance. Bridge latency is dominated by USB 1 ms polling, and the deep-sleep current in the nanoWatt XLP block drops standby consumption below 100 nA for battery-backed bridges. The 28-SPDIP package exposes enough I/O for RTS/CTS hardware flow control plus status LEDs. Recommended companions include an RS-232/RS-485 transceiver and a 3.3V LDO.
Recommended
Low-Power Sensor Node
The PIC18LF26J50-I/SP's nanoWatt XLP technology, deep-sleep mode below 100 nA, and 2.0V-3.6V operation make it a strong choice for battery-powered sensor nodes that occasionally need USB for firmware updates. The 10-bit ADC, I2C, and SPI peripherals connect directly to digital temperature sensors, accelerometers, and environmental sensor breakout boards. The MCU wakes from deep-sleep on interrupt-on-change from a sensor, performs a measurement, and returns to sleep, achieving months of battery life on a single CR2032. The 16 GPIO pins are sufficient for status LEDs, user buttons, and a debug UART. Recommended companions include low-quiescent LDO regulators and lithium coin-cell holders.
Recommended
USB Bootloader Target Board
The PIC18LF26J50-I/SP is widely deployed as a USB bootloader target because its self-programmable Flash and USB full-speed peripheral allow field firmware upgrades without an external programmer. The HID-based Microchip bootloader occupies roughly 14KB of the 64KB Flash, leaving ample room for application code while keeping the USB stack runtime-light. The 28-SPDIP package is breadboard-friendly for prototyping, and the on-board 8 MHz HFINTOSC removes the crystal cost for non-USB bootloader operation. Engineers migrating from the older PIC18F4550 platform find register-level compatibility for the USB peripheral. Recommended companions include ESD protection diodes and USB-capable LDO regulators.
Recommended
Educational Development Platform
The PIC18LF26J50-I/SP's through-hole 28-SPDIP package, industrial temperature range, and forgiving LF voltage core make it a popular choice for university and hobbyist embedded courses. The PIC18 instruction set is well documented and widely taught, and Microchip's MPLAB X IDE with the XC8 compiler is free to download. The USB peripheral lets students build projects with PC connectivity from day one, and the 16 GPIO are plenty for typical breadboard labs. The 48 MHz speed delivers responsive interactive projects without code-optimization headaches. Recommended companions include a 3.3V LDO, a USB-B or USB-C connector, and a programming header.
Recommended
Industrial Data Logger
The PIC18LF26J50-I/SP's on-board 10-bit ADC, I2C/SPI connectivity, and USB 2.0 full-speed allow it to log industrial sensor data and present the results as a removable USB mass-storage device. The 4KB RAM supports circular buffering while the 64KB Flash can be partitioned for log persistence. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating suits factory-floor enclosures. The LF voltage core draws low quiescent current during idle, while the USB peripheral offers a fast offload path. The 28-SPDIP package simplifies field replacement. Recommended companions include industrial temperature-rated serial EEPROM and robust USB connectors.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF26J50-I/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26J50-I/SP | PIC18LF25J50-I/SP | PIC18LF26J13-I/SP | PIC18F2550-I/SP | PIC18F2450-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (SP) | 28-SPDIP (SP) - same | 28-SPDIP (SP) - same | 28-SPDIP (SP) - same | 28-SPDIP (SP) - same | 28-SPDIP (SP) - same |
| Core | 8-bit PIC18 | 8-bit PIC18 | 8-bit PIC18 | 8-bit PIC18 | 8-bit PIC18 | 8-bit PIC18 |
| Max Clock Speed | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB (-50%) | 64 KB | 32 KB (-50%) | 16 KB (-75%) |
| RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 3 KB (-25%) | 4 KB | 2 KB (-50%) | 1 KB (-75%) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0V to 3.6V (LF) | 4.2V to 5.5V (F) | 2.0V to 3.6V (LF) | 2.0V to 3.6V (LF) | 2.0V to 5.5V | 2.0V to 5.5V |
| I/O Pins | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| USB 2.0 FS | Yes (internal transceiver) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver with internal pull-up (vs PIC18LF25J50-I/SP)
- Low-voltage 2.0V-3.6V core for direct Li-ion / USB bus operation (vs PIC18F26J50-I/SP)
- Modern J-series silicon errata fixes vs older J50 die (vs PIC18F2450-I/SP)
Design Notes
Place a 100nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5mm of each VDD pin (pin 20 and any unused analog supply pin), plus a bulk 4.7uF capacitor on VUSB. The PIC18LF26J50-I/SP is a low-voltage (LF) part; do not apply 5V directly to VDD or you will trigger the brown-out reset and persist per-port state. A 3.3V LDO such as MCP1702 is recommended for bus-powered USB applications.
When migrating firmware from a PIC18F2550 to this PIC18LF26J50-I/SP, verify that all CONFIG words are rewritten for the LF voltage core. Several legacy CONFIG bits such as BORV and LVP have different defaults on the LF die. Failing to update CONFIG may cause the device to enter an unexpected reset loop on first power-up.
Route the USB D+ and D- lines as a 90-ohm differential pair, matched within 150 mil, and keep them clear of clock traces and high-current switching paths. Place the 27-ohm series resistors close to the MCU side rather than the connector side to maximize common-mode choke effectiveness. The exposed thermal pad is not present on this 28-SPDIP package, so single-layer routing is acceptable.
The HFINTOSC accuracy of +/-2% across 0-85C is acceptable for UART baud rates up to 57600 with proper tuning but is marginal for USB full-speed at the 12 Mbps reference. For USB compliance, run the device in HS-PLL mode with a 12 MHz or 48 MHz crystal so the USB clock-recovery PLL can lock reliably to the host SOF packets.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade is not AEC-Q100 qualified; this part is not intended for automotive safety-critical applications.
