MAX202CPE+ - +5V RS-232 Transceiver, 2 Drivers/2 Receivers | Maxim Integrated
MPN: MAX202CPE+ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.14 | $6.14 |
| 10 | $5.45 | $54.50 |
| 100 | $4.62 | $462.00 |
| 500 | $3.98 | $1,990.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.55 | $3,550.00 |
MAX202CPE+ Overview
An RS-232 transceiver is a line driver/receiver IC that translates between logic-level (0/5V CMOS or TTL) signals on a microcontroller UART and the ±5V to ±15V bipolar signaling required by the RS-232 standard. In the broader interface hierarchy, the RS-232 transceiver sits between the UART peripheral and the DB-9/DB-25 connector, complementing other interface ICs such as RS-485 transceivers, USB-to-UART bridges, and CAN transceivers. The MAX202 family is one of the most widely adopted +5V RS-232 solutions, with the MAX202CPE+ being the commercial-grade 16-pin PDIP variant.
Key features include guaranteed ±5V EIA/TIA-232E output levels, integrated dual charge pump requiring only 0.1uF capacitors, a low 15 mA supply current, and an enable pin on each receiver for shutdown management in battery-powered designs. The device operates from a single +4.5V to +5.5V supply, supports drivers that withstand continuous shorts to ±15V RS-232 outputs, and includes robust ESD protection on the RS-232 I/O pins.
The MAX202CPE+ uses a proprietary monolithic BiCMOS charge-pump architecture to develop ±10V from the +5V rail without inductive components. This eliminates the need for ±12V power rails typical of older RS-232 designs, simplifying PCB layout and reducing BOM cost. The receiver inputs include hysteresis for noise immunity in industrial environments where long cable runs are common.
Typical applications include legacy PC serial-port interfaces, industrial PLCs and HMIs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, embedded microcontroller UART bridges, and instrumentation with DB-9 connectors. The 16-pin PDIP package makes the MAX202CPE+ particularly suited for through-hole prototypes, educational kits, repair-of-legacy-equipment, and industrial control boards where socketed ICs simplify field replacement.
When designing with this part, place the four 0.1uF charge-pump capacitors as close to the IC pins as possible to minimize ripple on the generated ±10V rails. The MAX202 family is functionally interchangeable with the MAX232, but the MAX202 uses smaller 0.1uF capacitors instead of the 1.0uF capacitors required by the MAX232, saving board space. Order today for shipping within XAIPART's standard lead times.
This page synthesizes pricing from 18 distributor listings, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives, and practical PCB layout notes that go beyond what is in the bare datasheet, helping engineers choose between MAX202CPE+ and MAX232 variants with confidence.
Drop-in alternatives for MAX202CPE+ — 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 MAX202CPE+ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Mounting Type, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MAX202CPE+
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →MAX202EPE+
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX232CPE+
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX232AEPE+
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX202CD
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.1781 / Unit
View Datasheet →MAX202CPE+ Specifications
| Function | RS-232 Transceiver (2 Drivers / 2 Receivers) |
| Data Rate | 120 kbps (min) |
| Supply Voltage | +4.5 V to +5.5 V |
| Supply Current (no load) | 15 mA (typ) |
| External Capacitors | 4 x 0.1 uF |
| Driver Output Voltage Swing | +/-5 V EIA/TIA-232E compliant |
| Receiver Input Voltage Range | +/-25 V |
| Receiver Hysteresis | 0.5 V (typ) |
| ESD Protection (RS-232 pins) | 15 kV HBM (per Maxim datasheet) |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
| Package | 16-PDIP (through-hole, 0.300 inch / 7.62 mm row spacing) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (THT) |
| Drivers per Package | 2 |
| Receivers per Package | 2 |
| Duplex | Full Duplex |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Pb-free '+' suffix) |
| Lead-Free / Halogen-Free | Lead-Free (Pb-free finish, '+' suffix) |
MAX202CPE+ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | C1+ — Charge-pump flying capacitor 1 positive terminal |
| Pin 2 | V+ — Charge-pump +5V (typically +8V to +10V) reservoir output |
| Pin 3 | C1- — Charge-pump flying capacitor 1 negative terminal |
| Pin 4 | C2+ — Charge-pump flying capacitor 2 positive terminal |
| Pin 5 | C2- — Charge-pump flying capacitor 2 negative terminal |
| Pin 6 | V- — Charge-pump -5V (typically -8V to -10V) reservoir output |
| Pin 7 | T2OUT — RS-232 driver 2 output |
| Pin 8 | R2IN — RS-232 receiver 2 input |
| Pin 9 | R2OUT — TTL/CMOS receiver 2 output |
| Pin 10 | T2IN — TTL/CMOS driver 2 input |
| Pin 11 | T1IN — TTL/CMOS driver 1 input |
| Pin 12 | R1OUT — TTL/CMOS receiver 1 output |
| Pin 13 | R1IN — RS-232 receiver 1 input |
| Pin 14 | T1OUT — RS-232 driver 1 output |
| Pin 15 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 16 | VCC — +4.5V to +5.5V supply |
Typical Applications
MAX202CPE+ is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy DB-9 Serial Port Interface, Industrial PLC / HMI Communication, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal, Embedded Microcontroller UART Bridge, Test & Measurement Instrument Interface, Educational / Hobbyist Electronics Kits.
Legacy DB-9 Serial Port Interface
Bridge a microcontroller UART to a PC or industrial controller DB-9 connector using the MAX202CPE+. The 16-PDIP package through-hole pinout is the proven industry-standard solution used in millions of legacy designs, and the device guarantees ±5V EIA/TIA-232E output swings with 120 kbps capability - more than adequate for the 9600-115200 baud rates typical of industrial PLC, HMI and POS terminal links. Unlike FPGAs that need soft RS-232 cores, the MAX202CPE+ provides hardware-compliant level translation on a single +5V rail. Two drivers and two receivers (2/2) match the classic RTS/CTS, TX/RX four-signal configuration. As a drop-in pin-compatible upgrade path, the 16-PDIP footprint lets designers swap in the MAX232EPE+ for extended-temperature operation without PCB rework.
Recommended
Industrial PLC / HMI Communication
Provide robust RS-232 isolation to factory floor PLCs and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) panels where the MAX202CPE+'s ±25V receiver input tolerance and 0.5V hysteresis handle electrically noisy environments. The integrated charge pump generates the ±10V rails from a single +5V supply, eliminating bulky ±12V power stages common in older PLC designs. Driver outputs withstand continuous shorts to ±15V per the EIA/TIA-232E specification, making the part resilient against miswired field cables. Engineers choose the MAX202CPE+ specifically for its 16-PDIP socketed package, allowing operators to swap a blown IC without desoldering - critical for 24/7 industrial plants. For -40C to +85C cabinets choose the industrial-grade MAX202EPE+ in the same footprint.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal
Drive cash-drawer kickers and serial peripherals in retail POS terminals using the MAX202CPE+ as the RS-232 level translator between the main application processor and receipt printers, barcode scanners, and customer displays. The 16-PDIP through-hole IC handles thousands of insert/remove cycles when cash drawers open, and the ±5V EIA/TIA-232E swing covers cable lengths up to 15 meters at 9600 baud - the standard POS link distance. With four 0.1uF ceramic capacitors it fits inside compact retail enclosures where taller electrolytics used by the MAX232 would not. The MAX202CPE+ is widely stocked at distributors serving the retail-OEM channel, helping POS integrators avoid supply disruptions.
Recommended
Embedded Microcontroller UART Bridge
Connect a 5V-tolerant microcontroller UART to a host computer via the MAX202CPE+, where its single +5V supply matches the legacy MCU rails and its charge pump generates ±10V locally. The MAX202CPE+'s 2-driver/2-receiver architecture supports hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) plus TX/RX in one IC, eliminating the need for a second transceiver. Receiver hysteresis of 0.5V rejects noise on long internal cable harnesses between the MCU board and the panel-mount DB-9 connector. Compared to USB-CDC bridges like the CP2102, the MAX202CPE+ requires no driver installation on the host, simplifying deployment in lab and field environments that still rely on COM ports.
Recommended
Test & Measurement Instrument Interface
Provide the RS-232 service port found on bench multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators and lab instrumentation. The MAX202CPE+'s 120 kbps data rate covers the typical GPIB-replacement command sets used by SCPI instruments, and its ±5V output swings meet the strict EIA/TIA-232E specification required by IEEE-488-to-RS232 converters. The through-hole 16-PDIP package is well-suited to hand-soldered prototypes and repair of older instruments in calibration labs. As test-equipment firmware updates increasingly move to USB, designers often keep the MAX202CPE+ as a backward-compatibility path for tools installed in industrial sites, where upgrading every host is impractical.
Recommended
Educational / Hobbyist Electronics Kits
Teach RS-232 fundamentals using the MAX202CPE+ on breadboards and through-hole PCBs - its 16-PDIP package drops cleanly into a 0.300 inch-wide DIP socket, ideal for class labs and hobby kits where students can hot-swap blown parts. The 0.1uF ceramic-capacitor requirement makes the bill of materials cheaper and faster to assemble than the MAX232 with its 1.0uF electrolytic caps. Many Arduino-shield and Raspberry-Pi GPIO tutorials still use the MAX202CPE+ because it runs from the same +5V rail common on classic dev boards. The 2/2 driver-receiver count mirrors the textbook DTE/DCE diagrams, making it the canonical pedagogical example.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MAX202CPE+ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MAX202CPE+ | MAX202EPE+ | MAX232CPE+ | MAX232AEPE+ | MAX202CD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Analog Devices (Maxim Integrated) | Analog Devices | Analog Devices | Analog Devices | Analog Devices | Texas Instruments |
| Package | 16-PDIP | 16-PDIP (same) | 16-PDIP (same) | 16-PDIP (same) | 16-PDIP (same) | 16-PDIP (same) |
| Supply Voltage | +4.5V to +5.5V | +4.5V to +5.5V | +4.5V to +5.5V | +4.5V to +5.5V | +4.5V to +5.5V | +4.5V to +5.5V |
| External Capacitors | 4 x 0.1 uF | 4 x 0.1 uF | 4 x 0.1 uF | 4 x 1.0 uF | 4 x 1.0 uF | 4 x 0.1 uF |
| Data Rate | 120 kbps | 120 kbps | 120 kbps | 120 kbps | 120 kbps | 120 kbps |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C | 0 C to +70 C |
| Drivers / Receivers | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| RoHS / Lead-Free | Yes (+' suffix) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Smallest charge-pump capacitors in a 16-PDIP RS-232 transceiver (vs MAX232CPE+)
- Industry-standard 16-PDIP through-hole package (vs MAX202CSE+ (SOIC-16))
- Cross-brand second source from Texas Instruments (vs MAX202CD (TI))
Design Notes
Place the four 0.1uF charge-pump capacitors (C1 across pins 1-3, C2 across pins 4-5, C3 on pin 2 V+, C4 on pin 6 V-) within 50 mils of their respective pins, using short wide traces to the GND and VCC planes. Long capacitor leads or traces introduce ripple on the generated ±10V rails, degrading RS-232 output swing margin at high data rates. Use X7R ceramic dielectrics rated for at least 16V because the reservoir caps see up to ±10V in normal operation.
Do not confuse MAX202 (0.1uF caps) with MAX232 (1.0uF caps) - they share the same 16-PDIP pinout but require different capacitor values. Replacing a MAX232 in-circuit with a MAX202CPE+ without reworking the BOM to 0.1uF will produce severely degraded RS-232 output levels and may fail EIA/TIA-232E compliance. Always cross-check the capacitor markings when swapping these two part numbers, even though both come in 16-PDIP packages.
For cable runs longer than 3 meters at 115200 baud, place 10k-ohm pull-up resistors on the TTL/CMOS inputs (T1IN, T2IN) and add small series damping on the RS-232 outputs to control reflections. The MAX202CPE+ driver outputs are designed to drive 5kohm loads in parallel with 2500pF, but exceeding the 2500pF limit causes the output slew to degrade and the ±5V swing to collapse under heavy capacitive loads such as long cable harnesses.
Compliance Information
'+' suffix denotes lead-free RoHS-compliant per Maxim/ADI part-numbering convention. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is a commercial/industrial-grade consumer interface IC, not an automotive part.
