PIC18LF26K42-E/SS - 8-Bit 64MHz 64KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF26K42-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.92 | $2.92 |
| 10 | $2.61 | $26.10 |
| 100 | $2.18 | $218.00 |
| 500 | $1.84 | $920.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.62 | $1,620.00 |
PIC18LF26K42-E/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path, integrating a CPU core, Flash/ROM program memory, SRAM data memory, EEPROM, and a rich set of on-chip peripherals. The PIC18LF26K42 belongs to the PIC18 XLP (eXtreme Low Power) family, which extends battery-powered node lifetimes via nanoWatt XLP sleep modes. In the broader taxonomy: 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The "LF" prefix designates the 1.8V-3.6V wide-voltage low-power tier, while the trailing "F" in PIC18F26K42 indicates the 2.3V-5.5V variant.
Key features include 64KB Flash with self-programmability, 4KB SRAM, 1KB EEPROM, a hardware Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller, vectored interrupts for fast interrupt response, and Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) such as Configurable Logic Cells (CLC), Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), Numerical Controlled Oscillator (NCO), and Zero-Cross Detect (ZCD). Intelligent analog includes a 12-bit ADC with Computation (ADCC) and 8-bit DAC reference modules.
Architecture-wise the PIC18LF26K42 uses an enhanced Harvard RISC core with a hardware multiplier, 31-level stack, and a 16-bit instruction word. The 64MHz internal oscillator (derived from a 16MHz HFINTOSC plus 4x PLL) eliminates external crystals in many designs. The DMA engine moves data between memory and peripherals without CPU wake-up, sharply reducing average active current and making the part attractive for low-power sensor nodes.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered consumer products, industrial control loops, home automation, low-power wireless sensor hubs, USB-to-UART bridges, motor-control fan drivers, and LED lighting controllers. The Extended (-40C to +125C) temperature grade qualifies it for harsh industrial enclosures.
Design tip: place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of VDD and a 1uF bulk capacitor on VDD/VSS, and route the ICSP/ICD signals (PGECx/PGEDx) away from high-speed switching traces to avoid programming glitches. When migrating code from PIC18F26K42, only the voltage-range and IDD limits change; the peripheral set is identical.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family and cross-brand alternatives, and practical design notes not consolidated on a single manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF26K42-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 PIC18LF26K42-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core Architecture, Family, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF26K42-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26K42-E/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF26K22-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF26K42-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 (8-bit Harvard RISC) |
| Family | PIC18F K42 (XLP nanoWatt) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16) |
| Data SRAM | 4 KB |
| EEPROM | 1 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 64 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF variant) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended grade) |
| Package | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| I/O Pins | 25 (typical for 28-pin K42) |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC with Computation (ADCC) |
| DMA Controller | Yes (hardware, peripheral-to-memory) |
| Communication Peripherals | UART, SPI, I2C (CIP mix on K42 family) |
| Core Independent Peripherals | CLC, CWG, NCO, ZCD, DSM, PWM |
| Internal Oscillator | 64 MHz HFINTOSC (16 MHz + 4x PLL) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Tube Quantity | 47 per tube (SSOP) |
PIC18LF26K42-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master clear (reset) input, active low; tie to VDD via 10k resistor for normal operation |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 (digital I/O or analog input) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Port A bit 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — Port A bit 3 |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Port A bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — Port A bit 5 |
| Pin 8 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 |
| Pin 10 | RB0 — Port B bit 0 |
| Pin 11 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 12 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 13 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 14 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 15 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 16 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 (ICSP programming clock on PPS variants) |
| Pin 17 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 (ICSP programming data on PPS variants) |
| Pin 18 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8V-3.6V for LF variant) |
| Pin 21 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 |
| Pin 22 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 |
| Pin 23 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 24 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 25 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 |
| Pin 26 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 27 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 / PGED3 (ICSP data) |
| Pin 28 | PGEC3 — ICSP programming clock / alternate digital I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF26K42-E/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Industrial Control Loop MCU, Home Automation Hub / Sensor Bridge, Low-Power Wireless Sensor Hubs, USB-to-UART / Sensor Bridge Converter, LED Lighting and Driver Controller, Medical Health-Monitoring Wearable.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC18LF26K42-E/SS is a strong fit for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes: its 1.8V-3.6V LF supply lets it run directly from a single CR2032 or 2x AA cell, while 64KB Flash and 4KB SRAM hold IPv6/6LoWPAN or LoRaWAN stacks. The hardware DMA engine streams ADC samples without waking the CPU, and nanoWatt XLP sleep modes drop quiescent current below 100nA - extending coin-cell life into years. According to Microchip, the 12-bit ADCC with oversampling achieves effective 14-bit resolution for temperature, humidity, and gas sensors.
Recommended
Industrial Control Loop MCU
The Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade and 12-bit ADCC with hardware averaging make the PIC18LF26K42-E/SS suitable for industrial control loops such as PID valve positioning, fan-speed control, and pressure regulators. The CLC and CWG Core Independent Peripherals implement peak-current-mode control and synchronous rectification without burdening the CPU. With 25 I/O pins and 64MHz core, the part can handle encoder feedback and CAN-style comms via SPI-to-CAN bridges in compact DIN-rail enclosures.
Recommended
Home Automation Hub / Sensor Bridge
In a Zigbee or Matter-over-Thread bridge, the PIC18LF26K42-E/SS can act as the local co-processor hosting user-button scanning, LED PWM dimming, and capacitive touch via the CLC-based hardware touch peripheral. Its DMA engine offloads the wireless module's UART/SPI traffic, while the CWG generates complementary PWM for LED drivers without software jitter. With 1KB EEPROM, configuration persists across power cycles - a key requirement for installed home-automation products.
Recommended
Low-Power Wireless Sensor Hubs
For Sub-GHz or BLE sensor hubs, the PIC18LF26K42-E/SS handles local sensor fusion and store-and-forward buffering while the radio sleeps. The on-chip NCO generates precise DTMF or FSK tones without a crystal, and the 8-bit DAC combined with the CLC produces programmable waveform outputs for audio feedback. Peripheral pin select allows UART, SPI, and I2C to be remapped to almost any I/O, simplifying PCB routing of the radio module alongside the MCU.
Recommended
USB-to-UART / Sensor Bridge Converter
Although the PIC18LF26K42-E/SS has no native USB, it can pair with a USB-to-UART bridge IC to provide sensor-to-PC connectivity for industrial diagnostics. The 64MHz core sustains 1 Mbaud UART throughput, while the DMA engine offloads the UART receive buffer, freeing the CPU to filter or compress data. 64KB Flash is sufficient to host command interpreters, Modbus RTU framing, and data-logging firmware in a single chip.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Driver Controller
In LED lighting modules, the PIC18LF26K42-E/SS generates smooth logarithmic-dimming PWM using the CWG peripheral and CLC for triac-style leading-edge dimming compatibility. The 12-bit ADCC with hardware oversampling reads ambient light sensors accurately, while the 64KB Flash stores color-temperature curve tables for tunable-white luminaires. Operating from 1.8V to 3.6V directly from a buck LED driver's output rail eliminates auxiliary supply regulators in compact fixture designs.
Recommended
Medical Health-Monitoring Wearable
The PIC18LF26K42-E/SS fits compact medical wearables such as pulse-oximeter patches and continuous-glucose monitor transmitters thanks to its nanoWatt XLP sleep modes (sub-100nA retention) and on-chip DMA that streams ADC samples while the CPU sleeps. Its 12-bit ADCC with oversampling delivers the precision required for SpO2 PPG front-ends, and 64KB Flash accommodates encryption libraries for HIPAA-style data protection. The extended -40C to +125C grade supports sterilisation-tolerant enclosures.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF26K42-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF26K42-I/SS | PIC18F26K42-E/SS | PIC18LF26K22-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) | 28-SSOP (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 2 KB |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| DMA Controller | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ADC Type | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 10-bit ADC |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
Key Differentiators
- On-chip DMA controller eliminates CPU wake-ups (vs PIC18LF26K22-I/SS)
- 64KB Flash versus 16KB on K22 sibling (vs PIC18LF26K22-I/SS)
- 12-bit ADCC with hardware computation (vs PIC18F2550-I/SP)
Design Notes
Decoupling: place one 100nF X7R ceramic capacitor within 3mm of each VDD/VSS pair, plus a 1uF-10uF bulk capacitor on the main VDD rail. According to the Microchip K42 datasheet, peak transient current during ADC conversions can exceed 5mA; insufficient bulk capacitance causes the ADCC to read non-monotonically at high sampling rates.
MCLR must be tied to VDD through a 10k resistor (or driven by a supervisor / debugger) - leaving MCLR floating causes erratic reset behaviour, especially in electrically noisy environments. The on-board MCLR weak pull-up is disabled by default; explicitly enable the WPU in firmware or add an external pull-up.
Route ICSP/PGEC3 (pin 28) and PGED3 (pin 27) as a matched-length differential pair straight to a 6-pin header, keeping them away from switching power traces. According to Microchip programming specifications, trace capacitance above 30pF on either line may require adjusting the PGCx/PGDx drive strength in the programmer settings or reducing clock rate during ICSP.
At 64MHz and 3.3V the LF26K42-E/SS draws approximately 8mA active - around 26mW - well within SSOP-28 thermal limits even at +125C ambient. Estimated: with theta_JA near 70 C/W for SSOP mounted on 1oz 2-layer copper, junction rise is roughly 2C, leaving substantial margin. No heatsinking is required.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page; not AEC-Q100 qualified (industrial/consumer use only). For automotive, consider PIC18F26K42-E/SO with AEC-Q100 qualification.
