PIC18LF26K22-E/SS - 64KB Flash 8-bit nanoWatt XLP MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF26K22-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.45 | $3.45 |
| 10 | $3.1 | $31.00 |
| 100 | $2.74 | $274.00 |
| 500 | $2.4 | $1,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.12 | $2,120.00 |
PIC18LF26K22-E/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), and programmable peripherals on one die. The PIC18 family sits in the 8-bit RISC category of MCUs, which trades raw clock speed for deterministic instruction timing, predictable interrupt latency, and a compact C-friendly instruction set. PIC18 devices are typically chosen over 16-bit and 32-bit parts when BOM cost, code simplicity, and ultra-low sleep current are more important than arithmetic throughput. Within the Microchip portfolio, PIC18 belongs to the larger microcontroller -> embedded MCU -> semiconductor taxonomy.
Key features of the PIC18LF26K22-E/SS include 64KB (32K x 16) self-programmable Flash, 256 bytes of EEPROM, a 12-bit ADC with up to 19 channels, two Enhanced USART modules, two MSSP (SPI/I2C) peripherals, and a 5-bit DAC. The device also supports capacitive touch sensing via the mTouch framework and integrates a 16-bit timer/counter with capture/compare.
Architecturally the PIC18LF26K22 uses an 8-bit RISC core with hardware multiply, a 16-bit instruction word, and a vectored interrupt controller. The wide operating voltage window (1.8-3.6V) makes it ideal for direct connection to a single-cell Li-ion or 2xAA battery, while the nanoWatt XLP sleep modes extend battery life in intermittently active products.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, low-cost consumer appliances, touch-interface front panels, industrial control modules, and portable medical devices such as glucose meters or spirometers. The combination of EEPROM, multiple serial interfaces, and rich analog peripherals enables single-chip implementation of many mixed-signal embedded designs.
When designing with this part, keep in mind that the "E" suffix denotes the -40C to +125C extended temperature grade and the "LF" prefix denotes the low-voltage core variant. Decoupling the AVDD/AVSS analog rails separately from VDD/VSS reduces ADC noise, and unused I/O pins should be configured as outputs low to minimize sleep current. Designers migrating from the PIC18F26K22 (F = 1.8-5.5V) need to re-validate analog performance, because several analog specs degrade at the LF lower input rail.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible PIC18 alternatives, and practical low-power design notes not found in the bare manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF26K22-E/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 PIC18LF26K22-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core Architecture, MSL Level, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF26K22-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF25K22-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.24 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K22-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF46K22-E/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F46K22-E/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F25K22-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF24K22-E/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF26K22-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16) |
| Data RAM | 3,968 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF core) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E grade) |
| I/O Pins | 24 |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 19 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Enhanced USART | 2 |
| MSSP (SPI / I2C) | 2 |
| Timers (8-bit / 16-bit) | 3 x 8-bit, 4 x 16-bit |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free / Halogen-Free | Yes |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life at <30 C / 85 % RH) |
| Technology | nanoWatt XLP eXtreme Low Power |
PIC18LF26K22-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input / digital I/O pin |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0/C1IN+/CVREF — PORTA bit 0 / analog input 0 / comparator 1 input + / CVREF output |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1/C1IN-/VBG — PORTA bit 1 / analog input 1 / comparator 1 input - / bandgap reference |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/C2IN+/DACOUT — PORTA bit 2 / analog input 2 / comparator 2 input + / DAC output |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/C2IN-/C1IN+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / comparator input |
| Pin 6 | RA4/AN4/C1OUT/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / analog input 4 / comparator 1 output / Timer0 clock |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN5/C2OUT/SS1 — PORTA bit 5 / analog input 5 / comparator 2 output / SPI1 slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — PORTA bit 7 / oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 10 | RA6/OSC2/CLKO — PORTA bit 6 / oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 11 | RC0/SOSCO/SCLKI — PORTC bit 0 / secondary oscillator out / SOSC clock in |
| Pin 12 | RC1/SOSCI/SCCIO — PORTC bit 1 / secondary oscillator in / SCCIO |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SEG11/SCL2 — PORTC bit 3 / LCD segment 11 / I2C2 clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SEG10/SDA2 — PORTC bit 4 / LCD segment 10 / I2C2 data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SEG9/SDO1 — PORTC bit 5 / LCD segment 9 / SPI1 data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/SEG8/TX1/CK1 — PORTC bit 6 / LCD segment 8 / USART1 TX / USART1 clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/SEG7/RX1/DT1 — PORTC bit 7 / LCD segment 7 / USART1 RX / USART1 data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground (digital) |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0/AN12/C2IN-/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / analog input 12 / comparator input / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/AN10/C1IN3-/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / analog input 10 / comparator input / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/AN8/C2IN2-/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / analog input 8 / comparator input / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/AN9/C1IN2-/INT3 — PORTB bit 3 / analog input 9 / comparator input / external interrupt 3 |
| Pin 25 | RB4/AN11/SDA1 — PORTB bit 4 / analog input 11 / I2C1 data |
| Pin 26 | RB5/AN13/SCL1 — PORTB bit 5 / analog input 13 / I2C1 clock |
| Pin 27 | RB6/ICSPCLK — PORTB bit 6 / in-circuit serial programming clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/ICSPDAT — PORTB bit 7 / in-circuit serial programming data |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF26K22-E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Capacitive Touch Control Panel, Portable Medical Device (Glucose Meter / Spirometer), Industrial Sensor / 4-20 mA Transmitter, Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Controller, Hobby / Education Development Board.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC18LF26K22-E/SS fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its 1.8-3.6 V VDD range accepts a single Li-ion or 2xAA cell directly, and nanoWatt XLP sleep drops quiescent current below 100 nA with full RAM retention. The 12-bit ADC with up to 19 channels reads multiple analog sensors without an external MUX, while the 64 KB Flash supports a sub-GHz or BLE stack alongside application firmware.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Control Panel
For capacitive touch front panels, the PIC18LF26K22-E/SS is a strong fit thanks to its mTouch peripheral support, 24 I/O pins for up to 12 touch channels, and 5-bit DAC for haptic or LED feedback. The 48 MHz core runs Microchip's mTouch library with sub-10 ms response, while the SSOP-28 footprint is small enough for appliance and consumer faceplates.
Recommended
Portable Medical Device (Glucose Meter / Spirometer)
In portable medical devices such as glucose meters and spirometers, the PIC18LF26K22-E/SS provides deterministic real-time behavior, low sleep current for shelf-life, and the EEPROM for calibration constants. Its 12-bit ADC resolves photoelectric or flow-sensor signals, while the Enhanced USART talks to BLE or NFC modules for handset pairing.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor / 4-20 mA Transmitter
For industrial sensor transmitters and 4-20 mA loops, the PIC18LF26K22-E/SS -E temperature grade spans -40C to +125C and the SSOP-28 package tolerates conformal coating. Two Enhanced USARTs handle RS-485 half-duplex plus debug logging, while the MSSP peripherals drive SPI/I2C sensors. The LF core is a clean fit for 3.3V regulated sensor rails.
Recommended
Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Controller
In low-cost consumer appliances (coffee makers, fans, air purifiers), the PIC18LF26K22-E/SS provides enough Flash for user-interface logic and motor control state machines, plus two PWM channels for triac or BLDC commutation. The XLP sleep current keeps standby power below 0.5 W, helping meet EU ERP lot-6 regulations.
Recommended
Hobby / Education Development Board
For hobby and education platforms, the PIC18LF26K22-E/SS is supported by MPLAB X IDE, XC8 compiler, and the Curiosity Development Board (DM182024). The 28-SSOP is easy to hand-solder on breakout boards, and 64 KB Flash is roomy enough for C-based coursework, USB stacks via the MSSP, and graphical LCD demos.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF26K22-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF26K22-I/SS | PIC18LF25K22-E/SS | PIC18F26K22-E/SS | PIC18F25K22-E/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB |
| RAM | 3,968 B | 3,968 B | 1,536 B | 3,968 B | 1,536 B |
| VDD Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| CPU Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Temperature Grade | E (-40C to +125C) | I (-40C to +85C) | E (-40C to +125C) | E (-40C to +125C) | E (-40C to +125C) |
| Approx. Unit Price (qty 100, USD) | 2.74 | 2.55 | 2.30 | 2.85 | 2.40 |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash in the PIC18LF K22 28-pin SSOP family (vs PIC18LF25K22-E/SS)
- LF low-voltage core with nanoWatt XLP for ultra-low standby (vs PIC18F26K22-E/SS)
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade (vs PIC18LF26K22-I/SS)
Design Notes
Estimated: when designing battery-powered products with the PIC18LF26K22-E/SS, leverage the LF variant's 1.8-3.6 V VDD range to run directly from a single Li-ion or 2xAA cell. Configure unused I/O pins as outputs low rather than inputs, and disable unused peripherals in the PMD registers. Sleep current drops below 100 nA typical in Sleep mode with full RAM retention when the ADC and BOR are disabled.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD/VSS pins and add a bulk 1-10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the supply rail. Keep the analog AVDD/AVSS pair decoupled separately from digital VDD/VSS when the ADC is active to avoid digital switching noise coupling into conversions. Maintain a ground plane under the SSOP-28 package to lower EMI and provide thermal relief.
Avoid configuring the MCLR/RE3 pin as a general-purpose output on the PIC18LF26K22-E/SS: it is open-drain only and requires the internal weak pull-up enabled for reset operation. Also note that the LF variant's ADC total unadjusted error degrades at VDD below 2.0 V; if precision analog readings are needed at low battery, use the F variant or add an external reference. Last, do not assume ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK on RB7/RB6 can be repurposed freely - they are required for in-circuit programming.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free and halogen-free. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; the PIC18F26K22-E/SS and PIC18LF26K22-E/SP variants are commonly used in automotive designs, but AEC-Q100 qualification must be verified per specific part number.
