PIC18LF45J10-I/P - 8-bit 40MHz 32KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF45J10-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.2 | $5.20 |
| 10 | $4.65 | $46.50 |
| 100 | $3.95 | $395.00 |
| 500 | $3.4 | $1,700.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.95 | $2,950.00 |
PIC18LF45J10-I/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory, data memory, and peripherals onto one silicon die. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC18LF45J10 belongs to the 8-bit MCU category, then to the PIC18 family of enhanced Harvard-architecture devices, then to the Microchip PIC microcontroller family, and finally to the broader class of embedded microcontrollers and microprocessors. Its 8-bit data path is paired with a 16-bit instruction word that enables single-cycle execution of most operations, delivering higher throughput than legacy PIC16 designs at the same clock rate.
Key features include a 10-bit ADC with multiple input channels, two enhanced USART peripherals (one with LIN master/slave support), two MSSP (Master Synchronous Serial Port) modules capable of SPI and I2C (with address masking), a 32-segment LCD driver option on sibling parts, and 32 general-purpose digital I/O pins arranged across multiple ports. An integrated oscillator, two 8-bit timers, and three 16-bit timers provide flexible timekeeping, while the nanoWatt power management feature with multiple idle and sleep modes helps reduce quiescent current to single-digit microamps for power-sensitive applications.
Typical applications include industrial control nodes, low-cost consumer appliances, sensor conditioning front-ends, USB-to-UART bridges using external transceivers, and educational/development platforms. The wide software ecosystem (MPLAB X IDE, XC8 compiler, MPLAB Code Configurator) and the rich peripheral set make the part a popular choice for replacing older PIC16 designs that require more code space and higher clock speed.
When designing with the PIC18LF45J10-I/P, observe the 3.6V absolute maximum on VDD, place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor adjacent to each power pin, and ensure in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) lines are brought out to a header for production programming. Prefer the LF variant when operating from a single Li-ion cell (2.0V to 3.6V); otherwise, the non-LF PIC18F45J10 offers more headroom for 5V-tolerant designs.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric comparison data, and design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet, including a curated drop-in alternative list of PIC18LF45K22 and PIC18LF45J11 options sharing the same 40-pin PDIP footprint for drop-in upgrades with more memory or peripherals.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF45J10-I/P — 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 PIC18LF45J10-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Timers, ADC, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF45J11-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF44J10-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF45K22-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F45J10-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F44J10-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF4520-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF45J10-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC18J |
| Core | PIC18 (8-bit RISC) |
| Instruction Set | 8-bit data, 16-bit instruction word |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB (16K x 16) |
| Data RAM | 1024 bytes (1 KB) |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 32 |
| ADC | 10-bit, multiple channels |
| Data Bus Width | 8 bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Style | Through Hole |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP (DIP) |
| Communication Interfaces | 2x EUSART (one with LIN), 2x MSSP (SPI/I2C) |
| Timers | 2x 8-bit + 3x 16-bit |
| Low Power Feature | nanoWatt (multiple idle/sleep modes) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF45J10-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input or digital input RE3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Port A bit 2 / Analog input 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Port A bit 3 / Analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Port A bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4 — Port A bit 5 / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/RA7 — Oscillator input or Port A bit 7 |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/RA6 — Oscillator output or Port A bit 6 |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Port C bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI — Port C bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — Port C bit 2 / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCL/SCK — Port C bit 3 / I2C SCL / SPI SCK |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDA/SDI — Port C bit 4 / I2C SDA / SPI SDI |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — Port C bit 5 / SPI SDO |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — Port C bit 6 / EUSART TX / EUSART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — Port C bit 7 / EUSART RX / EUSART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT0 — Port B bit 0 / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/INT1 — Port B bit 1 / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/INT2 — Port B bit 2 / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/INT3/CCP2 — Port B bit 3 / External interrupt 3 / CCP2 |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 29 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 30 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 31 | RD0 — Port D bit 0 |
| Pin 32 | RD1 — Port D bit 1 |
| Pin 33 | RD2 — Port D bit 2 |
| Pin 34 | RD3 — Port D bit 3 |
| Pin 35 | RD4 — Port D bit 4 |
| Pin 36 | RD5 — Port D bit 5 |
| Pin 37 | RD6 — Port D bit 6 |
| Pin 38 | RD7 — Port D bit 7 |
| Pin 39 | RE0 — Port E bit 0 |
| Pin 40 | RE1 — Port E bit 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF45J10-I/P is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface Node, Battery-Powered Portable Instrument, USB-to-UART Bridge (with external transceiver), HVAC Thermostat Controller, Educational Microcontroller Trainer Board, Automotive Aftermarket Accessory Module.
Industrial Sensor Interface Node
The PIC18LF45J10-I/P is well-suited for industrial sensor aggregation nodes that read 4-20 mA loops, thermistors, or digital sensors and forward data over RS-485. Its 32 KB Flash comfortably fits C-coded Modbus RTU slave stacks, while the 40 MHz core delivers deterministic scan rates above 1 kHz for multi-channel ADC sweeps. The 2.0V-3.6V supply range allows the node to run from a 3.3V LDO regulator; one EUSART can drive an RS-485 transceiver (e.g., MCP2551) while a second EUSART provides LIN support for sub-networks. The 32 I/O pins accommodate parallel sensor matrices and status LEDs without extra glue logic. Industrial temperature rating (-40C to +85C) handles factory-floor ambient. Engineers should add external ESD protection (TVS arrays) and a watchdog supervisor for unattended deployments.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Instrument
For handheld instruments running from two AA cells or a single Li-ion cell, the PIC18LF45J10-I/P's 2.0V-3.6V supply range eliminates the need for a boost converter. The PIC18 nanoWatt technology drops quiescent current into the microamp range during sleep, extending battery life by an order of magnitude versus always-on designs. The 10-bit ADC with internal voltage reference enables direct measurement of battery voltage without external parts. The 32 KB Flash is sufficient for USB-CDC class-emulation libraries (when paired with an external transceiver), while the 40 MHz core handles display refresh and button-debounce in real time. Designers should add a reverse-polarity protection FET on the battery input and a load-sharing circuit if USB charging is implemented.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge (with external transceiver)
Although the PIC18LF45J10-I/P lacks native USB, it can be paired with an external USB-to-UART bridge such as the MCP2200 or MCP2221 to provide a CDC-virtual-COM-port data path. The two EUSART peripherals simultaneously drive a debug console and a field-bus slave, leaving the MSSP ports free for SPI sensor chips. The 40 MHz instruction throughput sustains 921,600 bps UART traffic without bit-rate errors. The LF voltage range is exactly what 3.3V-only USB bridges require, so no level shifters are needed. A typical reference design dedicates one timer to the USB-suspend heartbeat and uses the ADC to monitor bridge supply voltage. Firmware can be upgraded via the bridge, eliminating ICSP header access in the field.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat Controller
The PIC18LF45J10-I/P's 10-bit ADC, 32 KB Flash, and 32 I/O pins make it a strong fit for HVAC thermostat controllers driving triac-based heater/cooler stages. The 2.0V-3.6V supply aligns with 24VAC-derived DC rails commonly found in thermostat back-plates. Two MSSP peripherals can run a graphical LCD and a wireless modem (e.g., sub-GHz transceiver) concurrently, while one EUSART supports service-port diagnostics. The nanoWatt sleep modes cut standby power below EnergyStar idle thresholds. Industrial temperature rating is essential for plenum-mounted designs. Engineers should debounce all mechanical inputs in software, add a hardware watchdog (e.g., MCP1316), and verify triac zero-crossing timing with an interrupt-on-change pin.
Recommended
Educational Microcontroller Trainer Board
Educational labs benefit from the PIC18LF45J10-I/P's breadboard-friendly 40-pin PDIP package and Microchip's free MPLAB X IDE + XC8 toolchain. Students can experiment with timer interrupts, ADC sampling, PWM generation, and I2C sensor reads without surface-mount soldering. The 32 KB Flash supports realistic firmware projects such as small RTOS kernels and protocol stacks. The 40 MHz instruction rate is fast enough to demonstrate latency vs throughput trade-offs. The low-voltage 3.3V operation reduces the risk of accidental damage during lab exercises. Universities should bundle the device with a curriculum covering C programming, register-level peripherals, and a capstone UART-based data-logger project.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Accessory Module
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the PIC18LF45J10-I/P is widely used in non-safety automotive aftermarket accessories (interior lighting, gauge clusters, OBD-II readers) where the Industrial temperature grade suffices. The 32 KB Flash accommodates OBD-II P-code parsing libraries, while the dual EUSARTs can run LIN and a debug console simultaneously. The 2.0V-3.6V supply is compatible with 12V-buck-derived 3.3V rails, simplifying power tree design. A custom PWM module can drive RGB LED strips for interior ambient lighting, with the 10-bit ADC monitoring battery voltage. Engineers must add reverse-battery and load-dump protection (TVS + Schottky) on the supply input to survive the automotive electrical environment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF45J10-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF45J11-I/P | PIC18LF44J10-I/P | PIC18LF45K22-I/P | PIC18F45J10-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 40-pin PDIP | 40-pin PDIP - same | 40-pin PDIP - same | 40-pin PDIP - same | 40-pin PDIP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| RAM | 1024 bytes | 1024+ bytes | 1024 bytes | 1536 bytes | 1024 bytes |
| Max Clock Frequency | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 64 MHz | 40 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 32 | 32 | 32 | 35 | 32 |
| ADC | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| USB Support | No (external bridge required) | No | No | No | No |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial |
Key Differentiators
- Same 40-pin PDIP drop-in across the LF45J10, LF45J11, and LF45K22 families (vs PIC18LF45K22-I/P)
- Native 2.0V-3.6V single-cell Li-ion operation without level shifters (vs PIC18F45J10-I/P)
- Free professional toolchain with no commercial-license hassle (vs Most ARM Cortex-M0 MCUs)
Design Notes
Decouple each VDD/VSS pair with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the IC pins; add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum polymer cap at the regulator output. The PIC18LF45J10-I/P has multiple VDD pins (20 and 30); both must be powered. Operate strictly within 2.0V to 3.6V; voltages above 3.6V may permanently damage the Flash and analog peripherals.
Estimated: at 40 MHz, VDD=3.3V, all peripherals active, typical I_active is around 12 mA and I_sleep is around 0.1 uA (per Microchip datasheet 39682E typical curves). At 3.3V this yields about 40 mW active dissipation, well below the 1 W thermal limit of the 40-pin PDIP package, so no heatsink is required. For sleep-mode designs, ensure the Watchdog Timer is calibrated for the slowest wake interval to minimize average current.
Keep crystal traces short and symmetric; route OSC1/OSC2 over a continuous ground pour. If using an external crystal, place load capacitors within 3 mm of the OSC pins. Reserve a 6-pin ICSP header (MCLR, VDD, VSS, PGD, PGC) for in-circuit programming and debugging, even on production boards - this enables field firmware updates without desoldering the MCU.
Do not connect MCLR directly to VDD without a pull-up resistor; an external reset supervisor (e.g., MCP1316) is recommended for industrial environments to prevent code-execution errors during brown-out. When migrating from PIC16 to PIC18, remember the CONFIG bits are different and must be set explicitly; leaving them at default may lock the oscillator mode. Also ensure the IVT (Instruction Vector Table) is properly initialized before enabling interrupts.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) indicated by 'I' suffix. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose AEC-Q100 PIC18 family variants for automotive safety applications.
