RS-485/RS-422 transceiver for industrial bus interfaces
The Maxim MAX3074EESA+T is a full-duplex transceiver supporting both RS-422 and RS-485 protocols in a single 8-pin SOIC package. It integrates one driver and one receiver (1/1 configuration) and operates from a 3V to 3.6V supply rail. The device is rated for industrial temperature environments from -40°C to 85°C, making it suitable for factory automation, building management, and instrumentation backplanes where a differential serial bus runs between controllers and remote nodes.
500 kbps data rate — bus timing and cable length
The 500 kbps data rate is the practical ceiling for this transceiver. At this speed on a typical RS-485 bus, cable length is limited to roughly 400–500 metres before signal degradation from DC resistance and capacitance becomes a concern. For shorter runs (under 100 metres) the part will hold margin on the eye diagram without external termination beyond the standard 120 Ω at each end. If your application requires 1 Mbps or higher, this part is not the fit — look at the MAX3076E or MAX3485 families instead.
Supply voltage and 5V tolerance
The supply range is 3V to 3.6V, so the part is strictly a 3.3V bus transceiver. It is not 5V tolerant on the supply or the bus pins. If your system has a 5V logic side, you will need a level translator between the UART and the transceiver, or pick a 5V-rated RS-485 part such as the MAX485. The receiver hysteresis of 100 mV helps reject noise on the differential pair without external biasing, which is useful on long cable runs where common-mode noise can couple in.
Package and footprint
Housed in an 8-pin SOIC (0.154" body width, 3.90 mm wide), the MAX3074EESA+T uses the standard narrow SOIC footprint common to many RS-485 transceivers. The supplier device package is also 8-SOIC, so no footprint variation between the generic and supplier-specific designators. The part is surface-mount only — no through-hole option exists in this order code.
Lifecycle and sourcing
ROHS3 compliant.