Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
| Package | Tube,Tube |
| ProductStatus | Obsolete |
| Type | Transceiver |
| Protocol | RS232 |
| NumberofDrivers/Receivers | 2/2 |
| Duplex | Full |
| ReceiverHysteresis | 500 mV |
| DataRate | 120Kbps |
| Voltage-Supply | 4.5V ~ 5.5V |
| OperatingTemperature | 0°C ~ 70°C |
| MountingType | Surface Mount |
| Package/Case | 16-SOIC (0.154, 3.90mm Width) |
Overview
Description
MAX232ECSE is a dual RS-232 transceiver in the MAX232 family. It provides two drivers (TTL/CMOS to RS-232) and two receivers (RS-232 to TTL/CMOS), letting a microcontroller talk to a PC’s RS-232 port without discrete level shifters. The device uses an internal charge pump to generate RS-232 voltage levels from a single supply (typically 5 V) and usually requires four external capacitors. Key specs (variant-dependent) include a 4.5–5.5 V supply range, standard RS-232 output swing, and support for common UART baud rates, with low pin-count and simple interfacing. The ECSE suffix indicates a specific packaging/temperature/RoHS variant; check the datasheet for exact package type, temperature range, and electrical limits. Common applications: MCU-to-PC serial links, GPS receivers, modems, and other UART-based peripherals.
Equivalent
Equivalent RS-232 transceivers to MAX232ECSE include:
- ST232 (STMicroelectronics)
- ADM232 (Analog Devices)
- SP232 (Exar, now Renesas)
- MAX3232 (Maxim Integrated)
These are 2-channel RS-232 transceivers with charge-pump capacitors and similar 5V operation; check pinout/package differences for your design.
- ST232 (STMicroelectronics)
- ADM232 (Analog Devices)
- SP232 (Exar, now Renesas)
- MAX3232 (Maxim Integrated)
These are 2-channel RS-232 transceivers with charge-pump capacitors and similar 5V operation; check pinout/package differences for your design.
Features
Here are the core features of MAX232ECSE:
- Dual RS-232 driver/receiver: two transmitters and two receivers
- TTL/CMOS to RS-232 level translation and vice versa
- On-chip charge pump generating RS-232 voltages from a single supply
- Requires four external capacitors for the charge pump
- Single-supply operation (typically 3V–5.5V, depending on variant)
- RS-232 output swing ~±6V to ±10V, meeting EIA/TIA-232
- Data rate up to about 120 kbps (typical)
- Available in a 16-pin ECSE package
Note: Always check the specific datasheet for exact voltage ranges and capacitor values for your exact part and package.
- Dual RS-232 driver/receiver: two transmitters and two receivers
- TTL/CMOS to RS-232 level translation and vice versa
- On-chip charge pump generating RS-232 voltages from a single supply
- Requires four external capacitors for the charge pump
- Single-supply operation (typically 3V–5.5V, depending on variant)
- RS-232 output swing ~±6V to ±10V, meeting EIA/TIA-232
- Data rate up to about 120 kbps (typical)
- Available in a 16-pin ECSE package
Note: Always check the specific datasheet for exact voltage ranges and capacitor values for your exact part and package.
Pinout
- Pin count: 16 pins (DIP-16/SO-16).
- Function: Dual RS-232 transmitter/receiver (two drivers and two receivers) with an on‑chip charge pump to generate RS-232 voltage levels from a single supply. Pins include T1IN, T2IN (TTL inputs), T1OUT, T2OUT (RS-232 outputs), R1IN, R2IN (RS-232 inputs), R1OUT, R2OUT (TTL outputs), V+, V−, C1+, C1−, C2+, C2− (external charge-pump caps), VCC and GND.
- Function: Dual RS-232 transmitter/receiver (two drivers and two receivers) with an on‑chip charge pump to generate RS-232 voltage levels from a single supply. Pins include T1IN, T2IN (TTL inputs), T1OUT, T2OUT (RS-232 outputs), R1IN, R2IN (RS-232 inputs), R1OUT, R2OUT (TTL outputs), V+, V−, C1+, C1−, C2+, C2− (external charge-pump caps), VCC and GND.
Manufacturer
- Manufacturer: Maxim Integrated (now part of Analog Devices, Inc., ADI).
- What kind of company: A fabless semiconductor company that designs and sells analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits.
- What kind of company: A fabless semiconductor company that designs and sells analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits.
Application
Application areas for MAX232ECSE (RS-232 line driver/receiver):
- RS-232 serial interface between microcontrollers/MCUs (TTL/CMOS) and RS-232 devices (PC COM ports, modems, printers)
- Embedded systems and consumer electronics needing a simple RS-232 link on a 5 V supply
- Industrial automation gear (PLCs, data loggers, instrumentation, test equipment)
- Point-of-sale terminals, cash registers, telemetry and remote sensors
- OEM serial adapters, laboratory equipment, GPS and other serial peripherals
In short: any application requiring reliable, single-supply RS-232 level shifting to/from TTL/CMOS logic.
- RS-232 serial interface between microcontrollers/MCUs (TTL/CMOS) and RS-232 devices (PC COM ports, modems, printers)
- Embedded systems and consumer electronics needing a simple RS-232 link on a 5 V supply
- Industrial automation gear (PLCs, data loggers, instrumentation, test equipment)
- Point-of-sale terminals, cash registers, telemetry and remote sensors
- OEM serial adapters, laboratory equipment, GPS and other serial peripherals
In short: any application requiring reliable, single-supply RS-232 level shifting to/from TTL/CMOS logic.
Package
16-pin SOIC (surface-mount) package.
