RS-232 transceiver, 120 kbps, 2/2 driver/receiver count
The MAX202ECSE+: The 120 kbps data rate is the practical ceiling for the charge-pump-based RS-232 level shifter — above that, the output slew rate degrades and the receiver may miss edges. For 115.2 kbps legacy UART links, this part is a direct fit.
Supply and signal integrity
The 500 mV receiver hysteresis filters out noise on the RS-232 bus — a 250 mV noise spike at the receiver input won't toggle the output, which matters on long cables in industrial environments. If the board sees 85°C inside an unventilated enclosure, this part is outside its guaranteed operating range.
Package and board integration
The 1.27 mm pitch is layout-friendly; two-layer boards route the RS-232 signals and charge-pump capacitors without vias. Supplied in tube packaging — not tape-and-reel. For pick-and-place assembly, plan for tube-fed feeders or request a reeled variant if the BOM quantity justifies a reel.