PIC18LF26K40-E/SP - 8-Bit 64MHz XLP MCU 64KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF26K40-E/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.77 | $2.77 |
| 10 | $2.55 | $25.50 |
| 100 | $2.3 | $230.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.85 | $1,850.00 |
PIC18LF26K40-E/SP Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory, and peripherals onto one silicon die; the PIC18 architecture sits within Microchip's hierarchy of 8-bit microcontrollers (PIC10/12/16/18) -> RISC MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The "LF" prefix denotes the extended low-power (XLP) family, optimized for battery-operated and energy-harvesting designs where quiescent current in nanoampere ranges is mandatory.
The device operates from 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF variant) and supports up to 16 MIPS at 64 MHz. It features Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) such as the Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT), and Cyclic Redundancy Check with Memory Scan (CRC/SCAN) that offload tasks from the CPU and improve deterministic real-time response. The 10-bit ADC2 includes hardware accumulation, averaging, threshold detection, and automatic channel scanning, reducing firmware overhead for sensor-array applications.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered instrumentation, home automation controllers, low-power wireless sensor platforms, and consumer appliances. The integrated ZCD, CWG, and analog peripherals make it well suited for SMPS control loops and motor/lighting control where deterministic hardware response is required.
Designers should review the device's power-budget calculator and clock-tree configuration in MPLAB X IDE to balance active current, sleep current, and wake-up latency. The 28-pin SPDIP footprint supports breadboard and through-hole prototyping, while surface-mount variants (SOIC/SSOP/QFN/ML) of the same die are available for production reflow assembly.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives from Microchip, and practical design notes that supplement - but do not replace - the manufacturer datasheet and the MPLAB XC8 compiler documentation.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF26K40-E/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 PIC18LF26K40-E/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Comparators, Package, Program Memory (Flash), Core.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F26K40-E/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF25K40-E/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF26K40-E/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16) |
| Data RAM | 4 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 10-bit ADC2 with Computation |
| DAC | 5-bit DAC |
| Comparators | Yes |
| PWM Channels | Multiple (PWM/CCP/CWG) |
| Timers | Multiple 8/16-bit with WWDT |
| CRC/SCAN Engine | Yes |
| Zero-Cross Detection (ZCD) | Yes |
| HLT Peripheral | Yes |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (0.300", 7.62 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF26K40-E/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input or digital I/O RE3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 / analog input / DAC output / IOC |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — PORTA bit 4 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — PORTA bit 5 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — PORTA bit 7 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 10 | RA6 — PORTA bit 6 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0 — PORTB bit 0 / analog input / IOC / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 / analog input / IOC |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 / analog input / IOC / ICP |
| Pin 27 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 / analog input / IOC / PGC |
| Pin 28 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 / analog input / IOC / PGD |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF26K40-E/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Controller, Industrial Sensor Transmitter (4-20 mA), Home Automation / Smart Home Controller, Consumer Appliance Control Board, Portable Medical Monitoring Device.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC18LF26K40-E/SP is ideal for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes operating from a CR2032 or 2xAA battery in the 1.8 V to 3.6 V range. Its nanoamp-range sleep current and fast wake-up via WWDT minimize idle energy, while the 64 KB Flash comfortably fits LoRaWAN or BLE MCU host stacks. The 10-bit ADC2 with hardware averaging handles thermistor, photocell, or soil-moisture sensing without CPU intervention. Compared with 32-bit MCUs, the PIC18LF26K40 draws roughly 1/10 the deep-sleep current while delivering deterministic CIP-based sensor processing.
Recommended
Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Controller
The integrated Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), Zero-Cross Detection (ZCD), and high-speed comparators make the PIC18LF26K40-E/SP well suited as a digital SMPS controller. The CWG drives synchronous rectifier FETs with programmable dead-band, while the comparator-based peak-current-mode control loop closes in hardware for sub-microsecond response. The 64 MHz CPU and 10-bit ADC2 with computation support closed-loop voltage-mode or current-mode control of buck/boost topologies in LED drivers, battery chargers, and isolated DC-DC converters up to several hundred kHz.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter (4-20 mA)
The 28-SPDIP through-hole footprint and -40C to +125C extended temperature range suit the PIC18LF26K40-E/SP for industrial 4-20 mA sensor transmitters and process-control front ends. The XLP current profile (sub-uA sleep) and 10-bit ADC2 with hardware oversampling enable battery-backed loop-powered transmitters with multi-year battery life. The integrated comparators and ZCD support HART modem signaling or AC line-voltage zero-cross timing in smart-meter and motor-protection applications.
Recommended
Home Automation / Smart Home Controller
For home-automation hubs, the PIC18LF26K40-E/SP balances cost, peripheral richness, and deterministic response. Its 64 KB Flash and 4 KB RAM fit Zigbee/BLE-MCU host bridging, keypad scanning, and PWM-driven LED dimming. Multiple PWM/CCP/CWG channels enable precise dimming and RGBW color-mixing for connected lighting fixtures, while the CRC/SCAN engine ensures non-intrusive background memory integrity checking for IEC 60730 class-B safety compliance. ZCD enables AC-line synchronization for TRIAC dimming without external components.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Board
White-goods control boards (washing machines, dishwashers, coffee machines) benefit from the PIC18LF26K40-E/SP's mix of 28-SPDIP through-hole assembly (easy field-repair) and rich peripheral set. The CWG drives TRIAC gates for AC load control, the comparators sense water level or motor overcurrent, and the WWDT provides functional-safety supervision. The 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply rail simplifies power-tree design and supports direct Li-ion battery backup for clock RTC retention during power-loss events.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Device
The PIC18LF26K40-E/SP serves portable medical monitoring devices such as pulse oximeters, glucose meters, and handheld spirometers, where its XLP nanoamp sleep and deterministic CIP-based signal processing minimize battery load. The 10-bit ADC2 with oversampling handles pulse-oximetry photodiode current measurements; the 5-bit DAC drives LED bias currents. Compared with 32-bit Cortex-M0+ parts at the same price point, the PIC18LF26K40-E/SP offers lower sleep current and a more deterministic interrupt response critical for medical IEC 60601-1-8 alarm timing.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF26K40-E/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F26K40-E/SP | PIC18LF25K40-E/SP | PIC18LF26K40-E/MV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SPDIP (0.300") | 28-SPDIP - same footprint | 28-SPDIP - same footprint | 28-UQFN - different package |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB - same | 32 KB (-50%) | 64 KB - same |
| Data RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB - same | 2 KB (-50%) | 4 KB - same |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V (F) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) - same | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) - same |
| CPU Speed | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS - same | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS - same | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS - same |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B - same | 256 B - same | 256 B - same |
| Pin Count | 28 | 28 - same | 28 - same | 28 - same |
| RoHS Compliance | Yes | Yes - same | Yes - same | Yes - same |
Key Differentiators
- XLP nanoamp sleep current extends battery life 5-10x vs standard PIC18F parts (vs PIC18F26K40-E/SP)
- 64 KB Flash / 4 KB RAM doubles the memory of the lower-cost 25-series (vs PIC18LF25K40-E/SP)
- Through-hole SPDIP for breadboard/prototyping and field-repairable designs (vs PIC18LF26K40-E/MV (QFN))
- Core Independent Peripherals (CWG/WWDT/CRC-SCANT) reduce CPU load (vs Generic 8-bit MCUs without CIP)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD=3.3V, FOSC=64MHz active mode, the PIC18LF26K40-E/SP draws approximately 8-10 mA active (per Microchip DC characteristics). For sleep modes, the XLP variant achieves sub-1 uA typical with RTC and WWDT running. Use MPLAB X IDE's Power Budget Calculator to optimize active vs. sleep ratios; for battery life estimation, sum (Iactive x tactive) + (Isleep x tsleep) and divide by battery capacity with derating.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 20) with short traces to the nearest VSS (pin 19). For high-frequency noise suppression, add a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the VDD rail near the MCU. The AVDD/AVSS pins (if used for ADC reference) require separate low-noise filtering: 10 ohm ferrite + 100 nF + 10 uF pi-filter. Keep analog and digital ground returns separate and join only at the MCU's VSS pin to avoid digital switching noise coupling into ADC readings.
Do not apply voltages above VDD+0.3V to any digital I/O pin - the PIC18LF26K40 is NOT 5V tolerant on I/O. When migrating from a 5V system, use level shifters (e.g., TXB0108) for inter-MCU communications. The MCLR pin requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; without it, the device may enter unpredictable reset states. The ICSP programming pins PGC/PGD (RB6/RB7) must not be strapped low at reset or the MCU enters programming mode unexpectedly.
Keep the 28-SPDIP through-hole footprint on a standard 2.54 mm pitch DIP land pattern for breadboard compatibility. For dual-footprint designs that also accept SMD variants, route a 'SPDIP-to-SOIC adapter' pattern using 0.300" SPDIP pads extended to allow either package. The exposed pad on QFN variants (when migrating to /MV package) MUST be soldered to a ground copper pour with multiple thermal vias to meet theta_JA datasheet values.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product documentation. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose automotive-grade PIC18F variants with /VAO suffix for automotive applications. Standard PIC18LF26K40-E/SP is suitable for industrial and consumer designs.
