MAX1242BESA/V+T - 10-Bit 73ksps SAR ADC, Serial, 8-SOIC | Maxim
MPN: MAX1242BESA/V+T ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.76 | $11.76 |
| 10 | $10.59 | $105.90 |
| 100 | $9.41 | $941.00 |
| 500 | $8.24 | $4,120.00 |
| 1,000 | $7.06 | $7,060.00 |
MAX1242BESA/V+T Overview
An SAR ADC (Successive Approximation Register Analog-to-Digital Converter) is a type of data converter that uses a binary-search algorithm and a matched-charge-redistribution DAC to digitize an analog input one bit per conversion cycle. SAR ADCs sit within the broader taxonomy of data acquisition ICs -> ADCs -> precision ADCs -> low-power serial ADCs, valued for deterministic latency, high noise immunity, and the ability to multiplex multiple channels through a single output. The MAX1242 belongs to the MAX1242/MAX1243 family, the de-facto choice for compact, low-power, single-channel precision conversion.
The device features 4 software-configurable power-down modes that drop current draw to 5 uW, an external SCLK-capable serial interface, and an output settling time of 200 ns. The wide 2.7 V to 5.25 V analog input range accepts signals from sensors and instrumentation, while the integrated reference eliminates the need for an external reference IC. The internal track/hold handles step inputs up to the converter's full Nyquist bandwidth without external buffering.
Typical applications include portable instrumentation, battery-powered data loggers, isolated industrial process sensors, and automotive sensor signal conditioning. The MAX1242BESA/V+T specifically targets AEC-Q100 environments - including automotive body controllers, climate modules, and battery management monitor inputs - where its /V automotive qualification and tape-and-reel packaging deliver production-ready assurance.
When designing in this part, bypass VDD with a 0.1 uF ceramic cap placed within 5 mm of the pin, keep REF decoupling with 4.7 uF tantalum plus 0.1 uF ceramic, and ensure the SCLK trace is impedance-controlled. The MAX1242 lacks the low-current / power-down deep idle of the MAX1243, so for sleep-dominated designs prefer the MAX1243 sister variant. The /V suffix signifies the AEC-Q100 / automotive-grade screening required for vehicular electronics.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in pin-compatible same-package alternatives, and design notes not collected in any single manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a one-stop reference for evaluating MAX1242BESA/V+T.
Drop-in alternatives for MAX1242BESA/V+T — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with MAX1242BESA/V+T (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Architecture, Internal Reference, Resolution, Supply Voltage, Number of Channels.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MAX1242BESA+
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX1242BESA/V+
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX1242BCSA+
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX1242AESA+
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LTC2309CF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.99 / Unit
View Datasheet →MAX116EAX
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$14.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →MAX1242BESA/V+T Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Resolution | 10 bits |
| Sample Rate | 73 ksps |
| Number of Channels | 1 input |
| Architecture | SAR (Successive Approximation) |
| Supply Voltage | +2.7 V to +5.25 V (single supply) |
| Internal Reference | 2.5 V |
| Track/Hold Acquisition Time | 1.5 us |
| Conversion Time | 7.5 us |
| Power Dissipation at 73 ksps | 3.7 mW |
| Power-Down Current | 5 uW (Power-Down Mode) |
| Digital Interface | SPI/QSPI/MICROWIRE-compatible serial |
| Input Type | Single-ended analog input |
| Package / Case | 8-SOIC (0.154 inch, 3.90 mm width) |
| Number of Pins | 8 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Sampling Rate Reference | 73 ksps (full), lower rates via power-down |
| RoHS / Lead-Free | RoHS compliant / lead-free (per /+T suffix) |
MAX1242BESA/V+T Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply input (+2.7 V to +5.25 V); bypass with 0.1 uF ceramic to GND. |
| Pin 2 | AIN — Analog input; full-scale input range 0 V to VDD. |
| Pin 3 | GND — Ground return for analog and digital sections. |
| Pin 4 | REF — Internal 2.5 V reference; bypass with 4.7 uF tantalum + 0.1 uF ceramic. |
| Pin 5 | SCLK — Serial clock input, up to serial-clock limit; data is clocked out on falling SCLK edges. |
| Pin 6 | DOUT — Serial data output; serial data of conversion result, MSB first. |
| Pin 7 | CS — Active-low chip-select input; forces DOUT high-Z and resets conversion logic. |
| Pin 8 | N.C. — Not connected (per datasheet); leave floating or to GND. |
Typical Applications
MAX1242BESA/V+T is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive Sensor Signal Conditioning, Portable Data Loggers, Industrial Process Sensor Inputs, Battery Management Monitor Inputs, Test and Measurement Front-Ends, Embedded IoT Sensor Hubs.
Automotive Sensor Signal Conditioning
In AEC-Q100 in-cabin and chassis applications the MAX1242BESA/V+T digitizes analog outputs from sensors such as throttle position, pressure, and temperature transducers. The /V grade delivers the AEC-Q100 screening automotive OEMs require, and the 73 ksps throughput handles >10 kHz update-rate sensor loops. Bypass VDD with a 0.1 uF ceramic and ground the SOIC-8 thermal pad to copper pour to keep junction rise below 30 C at 3.7 mW dissipation; the 2.5 V internal reference is accurate enough for sensor spans up to ~2 V full scale without external trim.
Recommended
Portable Data Loggers
Battery-powered handheld recorders use the MAX1242BESA/V+T to digitize slow-changing transducer signals such as strain, temperature, and humidity. The 5 uW power-down mode drops idle draw for sleep intervals between bursts, and 73 ksps lets the device multiplex a small analog front-end through a single channel in less than 100 us per conversion. The SOIC-8 footprint is small enough to fit behind the cell, and an external 32 kHz SPI clock keeps idle current low. Prefer the MAX1243 sister variant if idle hours dominate weekly duty cycle.
Recommended
Industrial Process Sensor Inputs
In 4-20 mA loop-powered transmitters and isolated PLC inputs the MAX1242BESA/V+T serves as the on-board ADC for 0-5 V and 1-5 V transducer spans. The wide +2.7 V to +5.25 V supply range accepts the unregulated bus voltage common in field installations, while the internal track/hold handles transient step inputs from switching multiplexers. Order 4.7 uF tantalum + 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling on REF for industrial EMI immunity. The serial interface rides through optoisolator barriers without needing a high-current drive.
Recommended
Battery Management Monitor Inputs
Battery management boards use the MAX1242BESA/V+T to measure cell voltages on stacked battery packs where high-side voltage translators are present. The 73 ksps rate handles per-cell scans across 8-12 cells in well under 1 ms per sweep, while the internal 2.5 V reference is stable across the full -40 C to +85 C industrial range. Use a resistive divider network on AIN to scale the cell voltage; the 4-wire SPI port routes over isolation barriers from the analog domain to the battery management MCU.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Front-Ends
Bench DMMs and handheld instruments incorporate the MAX1242BESA/V+T as the low-cost lower-resolution ADC alongside a 16-bit main converter. The 73 ksps throughput handles auxiliary measurements of board-level rails and reference voltages where extreme precision is unnecessary but ruggedness and small footprint matter. The SPI port shares the bus with the main ADC and the calibration memories; the SOIC-8 footprint keeps the BOM within a tight materials budget.
Recommended
Embedded IoT Sensor Hubs
Wireless IoT sensor hubs integrate the MAX1242BESA/V+T to digitize analog sensor front-ends such as PIR motion detectors, photo sensors, and CO2 cells before the data is packetized by a radio SoC. The 5 uW power-down mode enables wake-on-sensor applications that poll the ADC only on demand. The serial port connects directly to Cortex-M0+ SPI peripherals with no glue logic; the SOIC-8 footprint fits within a coin-cell sensor form factor.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MAX1242BESA/V+T — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MAX1242BESA+ | MAX1242BESA/V+ | MAX1242BCSA+ | MAX1242AESA+ | LTC2309CF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Analog Devices (Maxim Integrated) | Analog Devices (Maxim Integrated) | Analog Devices (Maxim Integrated) | Analog Devices (Maxim Integrated) | Analog Devices (Maxim Integrated) | Analog Devices (Linear Technology) |
| Package | 8-SOIC (0.154 inch, 3.90 mm width) | 8-SOIC - same | 8-SOIC - same | 8-SOIC - same | 8-SOIC - same | 8-SOIC - same |
| Resolution | 10 bits | 10 bits | 10 bits | 10 bits | 10 bits | 12 bits |
| Sample Rate | 73 ksps | 73 ksps | 73 ksps | 73 ksps | 73 ksps | 10 ksps |
| Supply Voltage | +2.7 V to +5.25 V | +2.7 V to +5.25 V | +2.7 V to +5.25 V | +2.7 V to +5.25 V | +2.7 V to +5.25 V | +2.7 V to +5.25 V |
| Automotive (AEC-Q100) Grade | Yes (/V suffix) | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Key Differentiators
- Automotive-grade /V screening in SOIC-8 (vs MAX1242BESA+)
- Internal 2.5 V reference (vs LTC2309CF)
- Higher throughput in compact SOIC-8 (vs LTC2309CF)
- Lower quiescent current at high idle than the sister MAX1243 (vs MAX1243)
Design Notes
Bypass VDD (pin 1) with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the pin. Add a 4.7 uF tantalum + 0.1 uF ceramic bypass on REF (pin 4). The MAX1242BESA/V+T draws 3.7 mW at 73 ksps; the 5 uW power-down mode is entered by idling CS high between bursts and is restored by the next CS falling edge. For designs whose idle time dominates weekly duty, swap to the MAX1243 sister part (66 uW @ 1 ksps).
Route the analog and digital grounds in a star-ground pattern at the ADC GND pin (pin 3) to avoid returning digital switching currents near the reference. Keep the AIN trace short and over a continuous ground pour to minimize injected noise. The SOIC-8 thermal pad region is not on the die bottom; copper under the body improves thermal dissipation but does not require thermal vias - the SOIC-8 theta_JA is well-suited for 3.7 mW operation without forced airflow.
Series-terminate SCLK if the host clock is over 50 MHz or the trace is longer than 25 mm. Place a 33 ohm resistor at the driver end to suppress ringing that would otherwise cause double-clocking. The DOUT output is a push-pull CMOS driver with limited current; if capacitive loading exceeds 30 pF, increase the SCLK period (lower throughput) rather than buffering the line.
Do not load REF (pin 4) externally beyond the datasheet limit - dynamic loading will pull the 2.5 V reference out of spec and degrade INL. Do not assert SCLK transitions while CS is high; the device latches conversion boundaries on CS falling edges, and noise on SCLK during idle can desynchronize the state machine. For AEC-Q100 deployments, verify the lot date code, country of origin, and PPAP documentation is supplied with each reel.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Maxim product page / /+T suffix. AEC-Q100 qualified (the /V suffix denotes automotive screening). Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the verified web data and is recorded as unknown.