PIC18LF26K22-E/SO - 64KB Flash 8-bit XLP MCU, 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF26K22-E/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.41 | $3.41 |
| 10 | $2.99 | $29.90 |
| 100 | $2.55 | $255.00 |
| 500 | $2.21 | $1,105.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.96 | $1,960.00 |
PIC18LF26K22-E/SO Overview
A PIC microcontroller (MCU) is a compact programmable processor that integrates CPU, memory, and peripherals on a single silicon die. PIC microcontrollers from Microchip sit at the intersection of 8-bit microcontrollers -> RISC microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor IC, and have been a foundational building block of embedded systems since the 1990s. They are widely used in applications where deterministic behavior, low power, and a mature toolchain (MPLAB X IDE, XC8 compiler) are valued.
Key features of the PIC18LF26K22 family include nanoWatt XLP technology for sleep currents down to the nanoampere range, peripheral flexibility with multiple capture/compare/PWM modules, an enhanced 8/16-bit timer block, and a wide operating temperature range. The 'LF' prefix designates the wide-voltage-range silicon variant, while the 'E' suffix indicates the Extended (industrial) temperature grade of -40C to +125C. The 28-SOIC (SO) package is a JEDEC-standard 300-mil plastic small-outline package suitable for hand-soldering and reflow on conventional PCBs.
Typical applications include low-power sensor nodes, battery-operated handheld instruments, industrial control front-ends, automotive body electronics (non-AEC-Q100 grade), USB device interfaces when paired with the PIC18F/K series, and educational/development boards. The on-chip 10-bit ADC and CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit) make the device well suited to capacitive touch and analog sensing.
When designing with this MCU, ensure decoupling capacitors of 100 nF and 10 uF are placed close to VDD/VSS, that the MCLR pin has a proper pull-up, and that unused I/O are configured as outputs low to minimize current. For migration to smaller packages, the same die is offered in 28-QFN (PIC18LF26K22-E/ML) and 40-PDIP/SPDIP form factors.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF26K22-E/SO — 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 PIC18LF26K22-E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Communication Peripherals, Core Processor, EEPROM Size.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26K22-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF26K22T-E/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF26K22-E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Architecture | 8-bit PIC18 RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB |
| RAM | 3968 bytes |
| EEPROM | 1024 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 40 MHz (64 MHz internal oscillator with PLL) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.2 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 34 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 19 channels |
| Package | 28-SOIC (SO), 300-mil |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended grade) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Communication Peripherals | UART, SPI, I2C |
| Timers | 8-bit and 16-bit, multiple modules |
| PWM Modules | CCP/ECCP, multiple channels |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF26K22-E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage / digital I/O |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 (analog AN0) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 (analog AN1) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 (analog AN2) |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 (analog AN3) |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — PORTA bit 4 (analog AN4 / Timer0 clock) |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — PORTA bit 5 (analog AN5) |
| Pin 8 | RE0 — PORTE bit 0 (analog AN6) |
| Pin 9 | RE1 — PORTE bit 1 (analog AN7) |
| Pin 10 | RE2 — PORTE bit 2 (analog AN8) |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (4.2 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/RA7 — External oscillator input / PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/RA6 — External oscillator output / PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 15 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 16 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 17 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 18 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 19 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 20 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 21 | RB0/PGD — PORTB bit 0 / ICSP data |
| Pin 22 | RB1/PGC — PORTB bit 1 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 |
| Pin 28 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF26K22-E/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Low-Power Wireless Sensor Node, Industrial 5V Control Front-End, Battery-Powered Handheld Instrument, Capacitive Touch User Interface, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), USB-to-UART Bridge / Educational Platform.
Low-Power Wireless Sensor Node
The PIC18LF26K22-E/SO's nanoWatt XLP architecture delivers sleep currents in the ~30 nA range with RTCC and WDT active, making it an ideal host MCU for battery-powered sensor nodes transmitting on sub-GHz or BLE transceivers. Its 64KB Flash holds Zigbee/BLE stack libraries plus custom application code, and 3968 bytes of RAM is sufficient for protocol buffers. Combined with 34 I/O pins for SPI/I2C sensor interfaces and 10-bit ADC for analog sensors, this MCU supports years of operation from a coin cell or 2xAA cells. For comparison, the PIC18LF25K80 and PIC18LF25K83 are alternate Microchip XLP families used in similar sensor-hub roles.
Recommended
Industrial 5V Control Front-End
The PIC18LF26K22-E/SO's 4.2V to 5.5V supply range and Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade make it well matched to 5V industrial control front-ends, including PLC I/O modules, motor-control drivers, and human-machine interface (HMI) panels. Its 10-bit ADC with up to 19 channels supports multi-sensor monitoring, while the multiple CCP/ECCP PWM modules drive stepper motors or solenoids. The 28-SOIC package is friendly to hand-repair on industrial-spec PCBs. Use this MCU as the supervisory controller paired with dedicated motor-driver ICs such as the DRV8871 or L293D.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Handheld Instrument
Designed for portable test equipment, the PIC18LF26K22-E/SO balances 64KB Flash for USB CDC/HID stacks and 3968 bytes RAM for measurement buffers, while the nanoWatt XLP technology keeps idle draw below 1 uA. The 28-SOIC footprint simplifies prototype iteration on bench-top boards, and the 40 MHz / 16 MIPS performance handles real-time DSP tasks like RMS calculation or frequency counting. Paired with a low-power LCD, this MCU powers multimeters, insulation testers, and medical handheld devices. As an upgrade path, the PIC18F26K22-I/SO offers 1.8V operation for additional battery life.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC18LF26K22-E/SO integrates the Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU), which provides accurate time measurement for capacitive touch sensing on any of its 34 I/O pins - no external touch IC required. Combined with the 10-bit ADC for slider/wheel position decoding and ample Flash for mTouch libraries, this MCU drives 8 to 16-button touch panels and proximity sensors. The Extended temperature grade supports appliance and automotive-cabin applications. Reference Microchip AN1175 for CTMU-based touch firmware on this MCU family.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
The PIC18LF26K22-E/SO with Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade handles non-safety automotive body modules such as interior lighting controllers, seat-position memories, mirror adjusters, and HVAC blend-door actuators. The 5V supply range matches legacy 12V-bus-derived rails, and the ECCP PWM modules drive FET bridges directly. AEC-Q100 Grade 1 is not qualified on this part; for safety-critical modules, use the PIC18F46K22-E/SO or PIC18F46J72-I/PT instead. Microchip provides AN1259 'Interfacing PICmicro MCUs to Automotive Networks' for LIN/CAN bus examples.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge / Educational Platform
With 64KB Flash, 3968 bytes RAM, and a 40 MHz CPU, the PIC18LF26K22-E/SO runs the Microchip USB stack (if you select a USB-capable variant like PIC18F26K22-I/SO via firmware emulation using internal comparators) or serves as the UART-SPI-I2C bridge controller in development tools. The 28-SOIC footprint fits standard PIC18 hobbyist boards and trainer kits, while the extended temperature and wide supply range survive student-bench abuse. Universities and makers use this MCU to teach register-level embedded C and assembly; PICkit 3 / MPLAB Snap programmers connect via RB6/RB7 ICSP pins.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF26K22-E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26K22-I/SO | PIC18LF26K22T-E/SO | PIC18LF46K22-E/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC (40-pin larger variant available) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) |
| CPU Clock (max) | 40 MHz external / 64 MHz with PLL | 40 MHz external / 64 MHz with PLL | 40 MHz external / 64 MHz with PLL | 40 MHz external / 64 MHz with PLL |
| RAM | 3968 bytes | 3968 bytes | 3968 bytes | 3968 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature grade (-40C to +125C) (vs PIC18F26K22-I/SO)
- nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep current down to ~5 nA typical (vs PIC18F46K22-I/PT)
- 34 I/O pins in 28-SOIC package vs 24 in typical SOIC (vs PIC18LF25K22-I/SO)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of pin 11, plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum-polymer capacitor on the same net. The PIC18LF26K22-E/SO internal voltage regulator for the core domain is robust, but high-current transitions on I/O switching can induce VDD bounce if the bulk capacitor is omitted. Estimated: at 40 MHz CPU + active ADC + UART + I2C, total VDD current stays under 15 mA typical per datasheet DC characteristics.
Route the ICSP pins RB6/RB7 to a 6-pin or 2-pin header with series 10 kohm pull-downs on PGD/PGC. Do not place capacitors on these pins - they form the load capacitance required for in-circuit serial programming. The MCLR pin (pin 1) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF decoupling cap to ground; omitting the MCLR cap causes spurious resets on noisy supply rails. Keep the oscillator traces short and symmetric for the 28-SOIC package footprint.
Do not apply voltages below 4.2V to VDD on the 'LF' silicon - the LF variant requires the higher minimum voltage. If your design supplies 3.3V, choose the PIC18F26K22-I/SO instead. When migrating from a PIC18F to PIC18LF design, double-check the CONFIG registers because the LF silicon has different oscillator configuration bits. Estimated: the LF silicon uses a different bandgap reference than the F silicon, which alters ADC absolute accuracy by ~1 LSB - calibrate per design.
The 28-SOIC package has a theta_JA of approximately 80 C/W on a standard 4-layer JEDEC test board. At maximum operating current of 15 mA and 5V supply, internal power dissipation is 75 mW, producing a self-heating rise of ~6 C - well within the -40C to +125C operating envelope. For continuous operation at 125C ambient, derate by 5-10% and ensure the PCB copper area under the exposed lead frame is maximized. Estimated: industrial designers should treat 95C ambient as the practical continuous ceiling on this package.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product declaration; AEC-Q100 not qualified - for safety-critical automotive use, choose PIC18F46K22-E/PTrsl or PIC18F86J72-I/PT grade parts. Lead-free (Pb-free) finish is Matte Tin (Sn).
