Specs side by side
2 parts compared · 0 differing specs across 5 total parameters.
| Parameter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Case | DIP-16 / SOIC-16 | DIP-16 / SOIC-16 |
| Component Category | RS-232 Line Drivers / Receivers | RS-232 Line Drivers / Receivers |
| Market Reality | The MAX232 is the chip that taught two generations of engineers what a charge pump does: a 5V RS-232 transceiver that generates its own positive and negative rails for the serial port with four capacitors and nothing else. Its long life produced three capacitor generations that get mixed freely at the bench - the original MAX232 with 1uF caps, the MAX232A at 0.1uF, and the MAX3232 which is pin-compatible, runs from 3.3V as well, and draws a tenth of the current. The substitution works in the good direction almost always; the failure mode is fitting 0.1uF caps to a genuine original MAX232 and wondering why the port is dead. | The MAX232 is the chip that taught two generations of engineers what a charge pump does: a 5V RS-232 transceiver that generates its own positive and negative rails for the serial port with four capacitors and nothing else. Its long life produced three capacitor generations that get mixed freely at the bench - the original MAX232 with 1uF caps, the MAX232A at 0.1uF, and the MAX3232 which is pin-compatible, runs from 3.3V as well, and draws a tenth of the current. The substitution works in the good direction almost always; the failure mode is fitting 0.1uF caps to a genuine original MAX232 and wondering why the port is dead. |
| Role In Circuit | Original Reference Part | Original Reference Part |
| Sourcing Status | Active Shenzhen Spot Sourcing (24–48h) | Active Shenzhen Spot Sourcing (24–48h) |