What this switch is and where it fits
The Maxim MAX4602CPE+ is a quad SPST-NO analog switch in a 16-pin DIP package. Each of the four switches closes when the control pin is driven high, with a 1:1 multiplexer/demultiplexer configuration. The headline spec is the 2.5 Ohm maximum on-resistance — low enough to pass precision analog signals with minimal voltage drop, but not so low that you would use it for power switching. It runs on a single supply from 4.5V to 36V, or a dual supply from ±4.5V to ±20V, which makes it a natural fit for ±15V analog backplanes common in industrial signal conditioning and lab instrumentation. The through-hole DIP package is a field-service advantage — it sockets into standard 0.300-inch 16-pin DIP sockets, so you can swap it on site with a puller and a thumb, no hot-air station required. The 250 ns turn-on and 350 ns turn-off times keep up with moderate-speed analog multiplexing, audio crosspoint switching, and relay-replacement applications where mechanical contacts wear out.
Supply range and signal handling
The dual-supply capability is the key flexibility feature. If your board already has ±15V rails for op-amps, this switch drops straight in without a charge pump. Running single-supply at 12V or 24V is equally valid — the switch handles the full rail-to-rail analog swing. The 500 pA max off-leakage keeps channel isolation clean even in high-impedance circuits, and the 55 pF off-capacitance per channel is manageable for signals up to a few hundred kHz. Crosstalk is -59 dB at 1 MHz. Charge injection is 120 pC.
Temperature grade and deployment context
Rated for 0°C to 70°C ambient, this is a commercial-temperature part. It belongs in indoor test equipment, bench-top instruments, audio gear, and office-environment control boards. Do not plan on using it in an engine bay, an outdoor telecom cabinet, or a rooftop sensor node without a heated enclosure — the silicon is not rated for that.