PIC18LF45K50-E/P - 8-Bit USB MCU 48MHz 32KB DIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF45K50-E/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.45 | $3.45 |
| 10 | $3.1 | $31.00 |
| 100 | $2.74 | $274.00 |
| 500 | $2.38 | $1,190.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.08 | $2,080.00 |
PIC18LF45K50-E/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, data RAM, and a rich set of peripherals. The PIC18 core uses an enhanced RISC architecture with 16-bit instructions, optimized for deterministic interrupt response. Microcontrollers serve as the decision-making brain in embedded systems across industrial, consumer, automotive, and IoT segments, where they translate sensor input into actuator output under software control.
Key features of the PIC18LF45K50-E/P include 32KB (16K x 16) of self-programmable Flash, 2048 bytes of SRAM, 256 bytes of EEPROM, 36 digital I/O pins, a 25-channel 10-bit ADC, two analog comparators, two CCP modules, an enhanced USART, MSSP (I2C/SPI), and a USB 2.0 full-speed (12 Mbps) interface with on-chip transceiver. The integrated USB PHY eliminates the need for external pull-up resistors in low-speed mode and supports HID, CDC, and vendor-class device firmware stacks. XLP sleep currents as low as 20 nA enable multi-year coin-cell battery operation.
Architecturally, the PIC18LF45K50-E/P pairs the standard PIC18 pipeline with a USB SIE that handles packet framing and CRC, freeing the CPU for application code. Programmable brown-out reset, watchdog timer, and on-chip debug support (via ICSP) accelerate firmware development with MPLAB X IDE and the MPLAB Snap/Pickit programmers.
Typical applications include USB HID peripherals (keyboards, mice, custom input devices), USB-to-UART bridge dongles, low-power wireless sensor nodes, battery-powered data loggers, industrial control panels, and consumer accessories that require a stable USB stack without external PHY circuitry. The 40-pin PDIP package suits breadboarding, educational kits, and legacy through-hole production lines where socketed serviceability matters.
When designing with this part, evaluate the 1.8V to 3.6V supply range carefully against your system bus voltage (USB 3.3V regulated rails are typical). The DIP-40 footprint occupies substantial PCB real estate compared to TQFP/QFN siblings (PIC18LF45K50-I/PT, /ML), so plan layout for socketed prototypes or harness board revisions.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified same-package drop-in alternatives drawn from the same PIC18LFxxK50 family, and practical design notes not found on a single manufacturer page, giving engineers a one-stop reference for sourcing and replacement decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF45K50-E/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 PIC18LF45K50-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Package, Mounting Type, Core.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F45K50-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F45K50-E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF45K50-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF45K22-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF45K42-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF45K50-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC18LFxxK50 |
| Core | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| CPU Bit Width | 8-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 32 KB (16K x 16) FLASH |
| Data RAM | 2048 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 25 channels |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended, E suffix) |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps), on-chip transceiver |
| Communication Peripherals | MSSP (I2C/SPI), EUSART, USB SIE |
| PWM / CCP Modules | 2 x CCP |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP (0.600 in / 15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC18LF45K50-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RE3 — Master Clear (Reset) input / Programming voltage / PORTE bit 3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 (analog AN0) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 (analog AN1) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 (analog AN2) |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 (analog AN3) |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — PORTA bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — PORTA bit 5 (analog AN4) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7/OSC1 — PORTA bit 7 / External oscillator input |
| Pin 10 | RA6/OSC2 — PORTA bit 6 / External oscillator output |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 29 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 30 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 31 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 32 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 33 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 34 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 35 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 36 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 / USB ICSPCLK (variant) |
| Pin 37 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 38 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 39 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 40 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF45K50-E/P is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID Input Devices, USB-to-UART Bridge Dongles, Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Industrial Control Panels, Educational and Prototyping Boards, USB-Connected Data Loggers.
USB HID Input Devices
The PIC18LF45K50-E/P's integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver and SIE make it ideal for HID-class peripherals (keyboards, mice, game controllers, custom input panels). Its 48MHz core delivers 16 MIPS, sufficient for HID report synthesis and debounce algorithms. The on-chip PHY removes external pull-up resistor complexity, cutting BOM cost and PCB area versus an external FTDI or MCP2200 bridge. Microchip's USB stack provides CDC, HID, vendor, and composite class templates that integrate with the MPLAB X IDE for rapid HID firmware bring-up.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge Dongles
For cable replacement and serial-over-USB dongles, the PIC18LF45K50-E/P combines USB 2.0 with an enhanced USART, eliminating the need for an external PHY or FTDI chip. The EUSART supports auto-baud detection, RS-232/RS-485 voltage translation through external line drivers, and 9-bit mode for multi-drop protocols. The 32KB Flash accommodates Microchip's CDC class firmware plus a full-feature application shell, while 2048 bytes of SRAM handles ring buffers for 115200+ bps traffic without flow control.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The PIC18LF45K50-E/P's nanoWatt XLP technology delivers sleep currents as low as 20 nA, making it well-suited for coin-cell or Li-ion powered sensor nodes that sleep for years between active events. The wide 1.8V-3.6V supply range tolerates the discharge curve of two- or three-AA batteries directly without a regulator. The integrated 25-channel 10-bit ADC supports multi-sensor sampling (temperature, light, battery voltage), while the MSSP peripheral can drive I2C/SPI sensors. Extended -40C to +125C temperature rating covers outdoor and industrial deployments.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panels
Industrial control panels benefit from the PIC18LF45K50-E/P's 36 I/O pins, two CCP modules for PWM valve/motor control, and two analog comparators for threshold detection. The enhanced USART plus MSSP deliver multi-bus industrial networking (RS-485 via external transceiver plus SPI/I2C sensor expansion). The extended -40C to +125C operating range handles factory-floor temperature swings, while the 32KB Flash holds state-machine logic, calibration tables, and Modbus firmware without external memory. ICSP allows field firmware updates via the MPLAB Snap/Pickit.
Recommended
Educational and Prototyping Boards
The 40-pin PDIP package is breadboard-friendly, making the PIC18LF45K50-E/P a strong choice for university embedded systems courses and rapid prototyping. Through-hole pin access simplifies logic analyzer probing and oscilloscope clip attachment, while DIP sockets enable field-replacement during firmware bring-up. The same USB stack used in commercial products trains students on real-world class drivers rather than abstract peripherals. MPLAB X IDE is free, and a PICkit 4 or Snap debugger (~$50) is the only hardware required for program/debug.
Recommended
USB-Connected Data Loggers
The PIC18LF45K50-E/P supports portable data loggers that store sensor readings in 32KB Flash or external EEPROM, then dump data over USB to a host PC. The 2048 bytes of SRAM buffer continuous ADC conversions, while the MSSP peripheral (I2C or SPI) extends storage to external 25LC256 SPI EEPROM. Self-programmable Flash enables log-rotation strategies. The 1.8V-3.6V range supports direct Li-ion battery operation, and the 25-channel 10-bit ADC accepts voltage, current, temperature, and analog sensor inputs without external multiplexing.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF45K50-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F45K50-I/P | PIC18F45K50-E/P | PIC18LF45K50-I/P | PIC18LF45K22-I/P | PIC18LF45K42-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 40-pin PDIP | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology (same) | Microchip Technology (same) | Microchip Technology (same) | Microchip Technology (same) | Microchip Technology (same) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V (+39%) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V (+39%) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (same) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (same) | 1.8 V to 3.3 V (-8%) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E, same) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB (same) | 32 KB (same) | 32 KB (same) | 32 KB (same) | 32 KB (same) |
| SRAM | 2048 bytes | 2048 bytes (same) | 2048 bytes (same) | 2048 bytes (same) | 1536 bytes (-25%) | 2048 bytes (same) |
| USB 2.0 Transceiver | Yes (on-chip) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | No | No |
| Max CPU Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz (same) | 48 MHz (same) | 48 MHz (same) | 64 MHz (+33%) | 64 MHz (+33%) |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes (same) | 256 bytes (same) | 256 bytes (same) | 256 bytes (same) | 256 bytes (same) |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 (same) | 36 (same) | 36 (same) | 36 (same) | 36 (same) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver (vs PIC18LF45K22-I/P)
- nanoWatt XLP extreme low-power technology (vs PIC18LF45K22-I/P)
- Extended temperature grade as standard (vs PIC18F45K50-I/P)
- 48MHz core with 16 MIPS throughput (vs PIC18LF45K42-I/P)
Design Notes
The PIC18LF45K50-E/P is a 1.8V to 3.6V part; ensure your system bus never exceeds 3.6V even during hot-plug or inrush. For 5V-tolerant designs, choose the PIC18F45K50 variant instead. Decouple VDD with a 100nF ceramic cap close to each VDD/VSS pair, and add a bulk 10uF tantalum or ceramic on the main rail. Enable the nanoWatt XLP sleep modes for battery applications — sleep current can drop to ~20 nA when peripherals are gated off.
Do not assume the K22 family has USB — the PIC18LF45K22 has the same 40-pin PDIP footprint but no on-chip USB transceiver. Drop-in replacements for USB applications must stay within the K50 (or F45K50 / PIC18F46K50) sub-family. Also watch the voltage suffix: LF variants cap at 3.6V, F variants reach 5.5V. Mixing them on a 5V rail will destroy the LF part.
USB signal integrity requires careful PCB layout. Keep the D+/D- traces short, matched in length within 2mm, and routed as a differential pair with 90-ohm differential impedance (per USB 2.0 spec). Place the internal pull-up resistor (1.5k ohm to 3.3V) on D- (low-speed) or D+ (full-speed) per device class. For through-hole DIP designs, place a 100nF bypass capacitor directly on each VDD pin pair, with traces to ground planes no longer than 5mm to minimize parasitic inductance.
Estimated: at 48MHz with all peripherals active and 3.3V supply, the core draws ~10-15 mA, dissipating roughly 33-50 mW. The 40-pin PDIP thermal resistance theta_JA is approximately 50 C/W, giving a junction temperature rise of only 1.5-2.5C above ambient — no thermal management needed. Even at +125C ambient, the device stays well below its 150C junction limit.
Compliance Information
Microchip PIC18LF45K50-E/P is RoHS-compliant and lead-free per the product page. AEC-Q100 qualification status was not confirmed in the verified data; PIC18F45K50 automotive-grade variants are AEC-Q100 qualified but the LF part is typically industrial-grade.
