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Texas Instruments MAX232DR — Interface & Transceivers

MAX232DR RS-232 Transceiver, 120 kbps, 16-SOIC

MPNMAX232DR
Active

Texas Instruments MAX232DR, RS-232 transceiver, full-duplex, 2/2 drivers/receivers, 120 kbps data rate, 4.5V–5.5V supply, 16-SOIC package, 0°C–70°C operating temperature.

$0.9900Ref. price · indicative, final on quote
Packaging16-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width)
RoHSROHS3 Compliant
Independent supplier — new & surplus stockAuthenticity-screened · ESD-safe packingListing updated Aug 2026

Specifications

MAX232DR specifications
ParameterValue
TypeTransceiver
MountingSurface Mount
Supply voltage4.5V ~ 5.5V
ProtocolRS232
Operating temperature0°C~70°C
DuplexFull
PackageTape & Reel (TR); Cut Tape (CT)
Data rate120Kbps
Case16-SOIC (0.154\", 3.90mm Width)
Receiver hysteresis500 mV
Number of drivers (Receivers)2/2

Product details

Data rate is rated at 120 kbps, which covers the original RS-232 spec and common legacy serial protocols (9600 baud to 115200 baud).

At 120 kbps the MAX232DR is fast enough for standard UART communication up to 115200 baud with margin. If your design needs RS-232 above 1 Mbps (e.g., for high-speed instrumentation or multi-drop polling), this part is not the right fit — look at the MAX3222 or MAX3232 family for 250 kbps or 1 Mbps options.

Supply voltage and charge-pump reality

It cannot operate at 3.3 V. The internal charge-pump uses four external 1 µF capacitors (typically 0.1 µF to 1 µF ceramic) to generate the ±10 V RS-232 levels. Board area for those caps is part of the footprint budget.

It is ROHS3 compliant.

Frequently asked questions

What is the data rate of MAX232DR?

The MAX232DR is rated for a data rate of 120 kbps.

What is the closest pin-compatible alternative to MAX232DR?

The MAX232 family includes multiple package and temperature variants. The MAX232DR is the 16-SOIC, 0°C to 70°C, tape-and-reel version. For higher data rates, the MAX3222 or MAX3232 families offer 250 kbps or 1 Mbps in similar pinouts.