PIC18LF4523T-I/PT - 32KB Flash 8-bit MCU, 40MHz, 44-TQFP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF4523T-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.4 | $6.40 |
| 10 | $5.85 | $58.50 |
| 100 | $5.2 | $520.00 |
| 500 | $4.75 | $2,375.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.3 | $4,300.00 |
PIC18LF4523T-I/PT Overview
A PIC18 microcontroller (MCU) is a 8-bit Harvard-architecture RISC device built around an enhanced PIC18 CPU core with hardware multiplier, designed for embedded control applications requiring deterministic interrupt response and rich peripheral integration. PIC MCUs sit within the broader taxonomy: microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC, and are widely used in industrial, automotive, and consumer applications where low cost and robust peripherals matter more than raw computational throughput.
Key features include 36 digital I/O pins, a 10-bit ADC with up to 13 input channels, multiple communication peripherals (EUSART, MSSP for SPI/I2C), four 16-bit timers, and nanoWatt power management with multiple idle and sleep modes. The 44-TQFP package exposes a wide set of analog and digital peripherals, making the part suitable for mixed-signal designs.
The PIC18LF4523 integrates an enhanced Harvard architecture with a 16-bit instruction word and 8-bit data path, supported by an internal 31 kHz to 8 MHz oscillator block and a 4x PLL for 40 MHz operation. Its nanoWatt features provide typical idle current of a few microamps, enabling battery-powered designs to retain RTC operation while consuming negligible power.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, sensor signal conditioning, low-power data loggers, home appliance control boards, USB/HID bridges using the MSSP peripheral, and motor control for small DC loads. The wide operating voltage and rich peripheral set also make the PIC18LF4523T-I/PT a frequent choice for educational and prototype development platforms.
When designing with this device, ensure decoupling capacitors of 0.1 uF and 10 uF are placed close to VDD/VSS pins, and that the in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) pins are accessible for production programming. The 'LF' prefix indicates the low-voltage (2.0V min) variant - choose the non-LF PIC18F4523T-I/PT only if your supply rail is always above 4.2V.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing across DigiKey, Mouser, and Octopart, real drop-in alternatives sourced from Microchip cross-reference tools, and practical PCB design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF4523T-I/PT — 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 PIC18LF4523T-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Core, ADC, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF4523-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF4523T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF4523-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF4523-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4523-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF4520-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF4523T-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC18F |
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC |
| Program Memory | 32 KB (16K x 16) Flash |
| RAM | 1.5 KB (1536 bytes) |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 40 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 13 channels |
| Communication Peripherals | 1x EUSART, 1x MSSP (SPI/I2C) |
| Timers | 4 x 16-bit |
| Package | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Power-Saving Technology | nanoWatt |
PIC18LF4523T-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RE3/MCLR/VPP — Digital input / Master Clear (reset) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Digital I/O / Timer 0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 4 |
| Pin 8 | RE0/RD — Digital I/O / Parallel port read control |
| Pin 9 | RE1/WR — Digital I/O / Parallel port write control |
| Pin 10 | RE2/CS — Digital I/O / Parallel port chip select |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input / GPIO |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / clock output / GPIO |
| Pin 15 | RC0/T1OSO/T13CKI — Digital I/O / Timer 1 oscillator output / Timer 1/3 clock input |
| Pin 16 | RC1/T1OSI — Digital I/O / Timer 1 oscillator input |
| Pin 17 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 18 | RC3/SCL/SCK — Digital I/O / I2C clock / SPI clock |
| Pin 19 | RD0 — Digital I/O / Parallel port data bit 0 |
| Pin 20 | RD1 — Digital I/O / Parallel port data bit 1 |
| Pin 21 | RD2 — Digital I/O / Parallel port data bit 2 |
| Pin 22 | RD3 — Digital I/O / Parallel port data bit 3 |
| Pin 23 | RC4/SDA/SDI — Digital I/O / I2C data / SPI data in |
| Pin 24 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O / SPI data out |
| Pin 25 | RC6/TX/CK — Digital I/O / EUSART transmit / EUSART clock |
| Pin 26 | RC7/RX/DT — Digital I/O / EUSART receive / EUSART data |
| Pin 27 | RD4 — Digital I/O / Parallel port data bit 4 |
| Pin 28 | RD5 — Digital I/O / Parallel port data bit 5 |
| Pin 29 | RD6 — Digital I/O / Parallel port data bit 6 |
| Pin 30 | RD7 — Digital I/O / Parallel port data bit 7 |
| Pin 31 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 33 | RB0/INT0/AN12 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 0 / Analog input channel 12 |
| Pin 34 | RB1/INT1/AN10 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 1 / Analog input channel 10 |
| Pin 35 | RB2/INT2/AN8 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 2 / Analog input channel 8 |
| Pin 36 | RB3/INT3/AN9 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 3 / Analog input channel 9 |
| Pin 37 | RB4/AN11 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 11 |
| Pin 38 | RB5/AN7 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 7 |
| Pin 39 | RB6/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 40 | RB7/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 41 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 42 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 43 | RB8 — Digital I/O (PORTB bit 8) |
| Pin 44 | RB9 — Digital I/O (PORTB bit 9) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF4523T-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panels, Battery-Powered Sensor Data Loggers, Home Appliance Control Boards, USB/HID Bridge Devices, Educational and Prototype Development, Small DC Motor Control Boards.
Industrial Control Panels
The PIC18LF4523T-I/PT fits industrial control panels because its -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating, 32KB Flash, and 1.5KB RAM support deterministic HMI logic and sensor polling. The 10-bit ADC with up to 13 channels reads analog inputs from temperature sensors, pressure transducers, and potentiometers without external ADCs. The EUSART and MSSP peripherals handle Modbus RTU (over RS-485) and I2C sensor chains common in panel backplanes. Placed at the panel mainboard with isolated 24V-to-5V supply and 4kV-rated I/O, this MCU replaces more expensive 32-bit controllers in mid-complexity machines while keeping BOM cost low. nanoWatt sleep modes further reduce standby power when the panel is idle.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Data Loggers
The PIC18LF4523T-I/PT suits low-power data loggers thanks to its 2.0V to 5.5V operating range and nanoWatt sleep modes that draw only microamps in deep sleep. The 32KB Flash stores 8,000+ 4-byte sensor samples, while the 256-byte EEPROM retains calibration constants across power cycles. The 10-bit ADC with up to 13 channels supports multi-sensor arrays (temperature, humidity, light). Connected to a 3.6V Li-SOCl2 battery, the part can run for years in sleep-dominant duty cycles. Wake-up via RTCC or WDT enables periodic sampling without external RTC chips, reducing BOM and PCB area.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Boards
The PIC18LF4523T-I/PT is widely used in home appliance mainboards - washing machines, microwave ovens, induction cooktops - because its rich peripheral set handles user interfaces, motor control signals, and sensor feedback in a single chip. The 4 x 16-bit timers drive PWM outputs for DC fan speed control, while the 10-bit ADC reads thermistor inputs for over-temperature protection. EUSART interfaces with LCD display modules and the MSSP drives I2C EEPROM for setting memory. With 32KB Flash and 1.5KB RAM, mid-complexity appliance firmware fits comfortably without external memory expansion.
Recommended
USB/HID Bridge Devices
The PIC18LF4523T-I/PT operates as a USB-to-UART or USB-to-SPI bridge by combining its MSSP peripheral with an external USB-UART bridge chip like MCP2200 or MCP2221. While the PIC18LF4523T-I/PT lacks native USB, it integrates the full enhanced PIC18 core required to run CDC/HID class firmware on the host-side interface. The 32KB Flash and 1.5KB RAM comfortably store bridge firmware and protocol state machines. Its 2.0V to 5.5V range enables both 3.3V and 5V USB bridge applications, and nanoWatt sleep mode helps meet USB suspend current requirements when downstream devices are idle.
Recommended
Educational and Prototype Development
The PIC18LF4523T-I/PT is a staple on Microchip's PIC18 development kits and university microcontroller courses because of its balanced feature set: 32KB Flash, 1.5KB RAM, 36 I/O pins, multiple peripherals, and 44-TQFP package with accessible breakout signals. The enhanced PIC18 instruction set is well documented, with extensive application notes and example code available from Microchip. The wide 2.0V to 5.5V supply range also allows students to power prototypes from USB, bench supplies, or batteries without voltage translation. This part is frequently chosen for coursework and hobby projects that need real-world peripheral coverage.
Recommended
Small DC Motor Control Boards
The PIC18LF4523T-I/PT fits small brushed DC motor and stepper motor controllers due to its 4 x 16-bit timers generating precise PWM at frequencies up to 40 MHz instruction throughput. The 10-bit ADC samples motor current via shunt resistor for closed-loop torque limiting, while the EUSART enables RS-485 networking across multi-axis systems. The 32KB Flash stores motion profiles and PID control loops without external memory. With its 2.0V to 5.5V range, the MCU can run from a single Li-ion cell with boost converter, or directly from 5V logic supplies in industrial 24V-backplane designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF4523T-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF4523-I/PT | PIC18LF4523T-I/ML | PIC18LF4523-I/ML | PIC18LF4523-I/P | PIC18F4523-I/PT | PIC18LF4520-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm - same | 44-QFN (ML) | 44-QFN (ML) | 40-PDIP (P) | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm - same | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 V to 5.5 V (non-LF) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| RAM | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB | 1.5 KB |
| ADC Channels | 13 channels, 10-bit | 13 channels, 10-bit | 13 channels, 10-bit | 13 channels, 10-bit | 13 channels, 10-bit | 13 channels, 10-bit | 13 channels, 10-bit |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Unit Price (USD, qty 1) | 6.40 | approx 6.20-6.50 | approx 6.30-6.60 | approx 6.10-6.40 | approx 6.40-6.70 | approx 6.30-6.60 | approx 6.20-6.50 |
Key Differentiators
- Low-voltage 2.0V operation (vs PIC18F4523T-I/PT (non-LF))
- Tape-and-reel packaging for SMT production (vs PIC18LF4523-I/PT (tube))
- 44-TQFP footprint with wide layout tooling support (vs PIC18LF4523T-I/ML (44-QFN))
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD/VSS pin pair (the 44-TQFP has multiple VDD/VSS pins: 11/12, 31/32, 41/42). Add a single bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum capacitor near the MCU to handle transient loads from PWM outputs and ADC reference switching. For battery-powered designs operating at 2.0V to 3.3V, use a low-quiescent LDO such as MCP1700 (1.6 uA Iq) to maximize nanoWatt sleep benefits.
Route the ICSP pins (RB6/PGD = pin 39, RB7/PGC = pin 40) to a 6-pin header or test pad accessible for production programming. Keep ICSP traces short (< 50 mm) and avoid routing them near high-frequency switching signals. The MCLR/VPP pin (pin 1) needs a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD plus a 100 nF capacitor to ground for in-circuit programming robustness, per Microchip's ICSP specification.
When using the ADC, isolate the analog VREF+ and VREF- pins (pins 4-5) from noisy digital traces with a ground guard ring. Place the analog supply decoupling capacitor (4.7 uF) close to VREF+ for ADC stability. The enhanced PIC18 core executes one instruction per 4 clocks (at 40 MHz = 10 MIPS) - derate ADC acquisition time calculations accordingly when sampling high-impedance sources.
Do not select the non-LF PIC18F4523T-I/PT for designs below 4.2V - the LF variant is mandatory for 3.3V and lower operation. The CONFIG words must be set for the correct oscillator mode (HS, XT, or internal RC); omitting configuration causes erratic startup. When using the internal oscillator, ensure OSCCON defaults match your application; many errata apply if OSCTUNE is left at factory default.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. The 'LF' suffix denotes the low-voltage variant of PIC18F4523; both share the same 44-TQFP pinout. AEC-Q100 is not applicable - PIC18LF4523 family is industrial-grade, not automotive-qualified.