MAX33040EAKA+ - +3.3V 5Mbps CAN Transceiver, ±40V Fault, SOT-23-8 | Maxim Integrated
MPN: MAX33040EAKA+ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.48 | $2.48 |
| 10 | $2.21 | $22.10 |
| 100 | $1.96 | $196.00 |
| 500 | $1.71 | $855.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.52 | $1,520.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.33 | $3,990.00 |
MAX33040EAKA+ Overview
A CAN transceiver (also called a CAN physical-layer device) sits between a microcontroller's CAN protocol controller and the differential CAN bus wires. It converts the microcontroller's digital TX/RX logic levels into the differential dominant/recessive voltages defined by ISO 11898-2, and simultaneously protects the sensitive MCU side from harsh automotive and industrial bus transients. Within the broader hierarchy, a CAN transceiver falls under Interface ICs > Wired Communication > CAN/LIN transceivers.
Key features include a 3V to 3.6V single-supply operating range, low-current standby and silent modes, hot-plug capability, slope control for limited-data-rate applications, and TXD dominant-timeout to prevent bus lockup from a stuck dominant node. The SOT-23-8 footprint occupies roughly 9 mm² of board area, making it one of the smallest isolated-fault CAN transceivers available.
Internally the device combines a differential CAN driver/receiver pair with TVS-based fault clamps and an ESD cell rated to ±40 kV HBM. The wide ±25V CMR allows it to reject large ground-shift noise typical of long industrial cables and 12V/24V battery-powered equipment, while the ±40V fault tolerance survives load-dump and jump-start events far beyond the ISO 7637 pulse ratings.
Typical applications include building automation gateways, industrial drones and motor controllers, factory-floor sensors, instrumentation data links, service and educational robots, and any 3.3V MCU-based system that must communicate reliably over CAN. Its small SOT-23-8 package and integrated ±40V/±40kV protection eliminate the need for external TVS diodes, common-mode chokes, and isolation in many designs.
When designing with the MAX33040EAKA+, observe the bus-termination requirement of two 120 Ω resistors (one at each end of the bus) and place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VCC pin. The SLP pin can be tied high for low-speed, slope-controlled operation or left open for normal high-speed mode.
Drop-in alternatives for MAX33040EAKA+ — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MAX33040EAKA+T
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX33040EESA+
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX33040EWE+
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TCAN334GDR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
SN65HVD233DR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TCAN337DR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX33040EAKA+ Specifications
| Function | CAN Transceiver (Half-Duplex) |
| Protocol | ISO 11898-2 CAN |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) | 3 V to 3.6 V |
| Maximum Data Rate | 5 Mbps |
| Bus Fault Protection | ±40 V on CANH, CANL |
| ESD Protection (HBM) | ±40 kV |
| Common-Mode Range | ±25 V |
| Number of Drivers/Receivers | 1/1 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +125 °C |
| Supply Current (Typical) | 60 µA (recessive, no load) |
| Package | SOT-23-8 (AK8) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Number of Pins | 8 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited) |
MAX33040EAKA+ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | TXD — Transmit data input from CAN controller (logic-level, 3.3V) |
| Pin 2 | GND — Ground reference for digital and bus pins |
| Pin 3 | VCC — +3.3V supply voltage (3.0V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 4 | RXD — Receive data output to CAN controller (logic-level) |
| Pin 5 | SLP — Slope control / standby mode input (tie high for high-speed, low for standby) |
| Pin 6 | CANL — Low-side CAN bus line (differential pair) |
| Pin 7 | CANH — High-side CAN bus line (differential pair) |
| Pin 8 | nSHDN — Active-low shutdown control input |
Typical Applications
MAX33040EAKA+ is suitable for 7 applications: Building Automation CAN Gateways, Industrial Drone CAN Bus Nodes, Factory Automation Sensor Networks, Motor Control and Servo Drives, Test & Measurement Instrumentation, Service and Educational Robotics, Industrial Instrumentation Data Links.
Building Automation CAN Gateways
The MAX33040EAKA+'s ±40V bus fault protection and ±25V CMR make it ideal for building-automation gateways that bridge HVAC, lighting, and access-control CAN subnets to BACnet or Modbus backbones. Its 3.3V VCC matches common STM32 and ESP32 gateway MCUs without level shifting. The SOT-23-8 footprint is small enough to fit into slim DIN-rail modules where each mm of PCB area counts. Survives miswiring on field-installed bus segments where ±40V faults are common during maintenance.
Recommended
Industrial Drone CAN Bus Nodes
Drones use CAN for ESC, flight-controller, and gimbal telemetry because of its differential noise immunity. The MAX33040EAKA+'s ±40kV HBM ESD shields bus lines from in-flight static discharge, while its 5 Mbps data rate handles CAN FD flight-control telemetry at 2 Mbps payload rates. The wide -40°C to +125°C operating range tolerates cold high-altitude starts and hot summer ground operations. Tiny SOT-23-8 saves weight and PCB area on the flight controller.
Recommended
Factory Automation Sensor Networks
Factory-floor CAN networks run on 24V rails with significant ground loops and motor switching noise. The MAX33040EAKA+'s ±25V CMR rejects common-mode shift from VFD inverters and contactor coils, and ±40V fault protection absorbs inductive kickback when bus cabling is disconnected under power. Its 60µA recessive supply current is acceptable for always-on sensor nodes powered from the bus, and its ISO 11898-2 compliance guarantees interoperability with PLCs from Siemens, Allen-Bradley, and Beckhoff.
Recommended
Motor Control and Servo Drives
BLDC servo drives and stepper controllers increasingly use CAN over RS-485 for synchronous multi-axis coordination. The MAX33040EAKA+'s 5 Mbps CAN FD bandwidth allows 1 kHz torque-loop updates on 6-axis robot arms. Its ±40V fault tolerance protects against back-EMF when the motor drive stage faults, and the SOT-23-8 footprint fits inside the integrated power/signal PCB stack-up of modern compact servo modules. Combined slope-control (SLP pin) supports low-speed commissioning modes.
Recommended
Test & Measurement Instrumentation
Laboratory instruments use CAN for backplane communication between DSP modules and front-panel controllers. The MAX33040EAKA+'s ±40kV HBM ESD allows the instrument to pass IEC 61000-4-2 air-discharge testing without external TVS diodes, simplifying the BOM and reducing leakage paths. The 5 Mbps data rate supports high-throughput data acquisition modules streaming 16-bit ADC samples at full bandwidth. Hot-plug-capable CAN bus works well in modular PXI-style instruments.
Recommended
Service and Educational Robotics
Education robot kits (e.g., ROS-based platforms) use CAN as the standard bus between motor controllers and onboard computers. The MAX33040EAKA+'s 3.3V supply matches Raspberry Pi, Arduino Portenta, and ESP32 host controllers without level translation. Its SOT-23-8 footprint fits the dense controller boards of small humanoid and wheeled robots. ±40V fault tolerance survives student wiring mistakes and 24V LiFePO4 battery pack transients during pack balancing.
Recommended
Industrial Instrumentation Data Links
Process instrumentation such as pressure transmitters, flow meters, and valve actuators increasingly use CAN for power+data (e.g., in CANopen DS404 profiles). The MAX33040EAKA+'s ±25V CMR handles long cable runs across plant floors where ground potentials differ by tens of volts, while ±40V fault tolerance protects against inductive discharge from solenoids and relay coils. Low 60µA recessive supply current helps meet 4-20mA loop-powered budgets in retrofit deployments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MAX33040EAKA+ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MAX33040EAKA+T | MAX33040EESA+ | MAX33040EWE+ | TCAN334GDR | SN65HVD233DR | TCAN337DR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOT-23-8 (AK8) | SOT-23-8 (AK8) - same | SOT-23-8 (AK8) - same | SOT-23-8 (AK8) - same | SOT-23-8 (D) - same | SOT-23-8 (D) - same | SOT-23-8 (D) - same |
| Brand | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | ||
| Maximum Data Rate | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 1 Mbps | 5 Mbps | ||
| Bus Fault Protection | ±40 V | ±40 V | ±30 V | ±36 V | ±40 V | ||
| ESD (HBM) Protection | ±40 kV | ±40 kV | ±16 kV | ±16 kV | ±16 kV | ||
| Common-Mode Range | ±25 V | ±25 V | ±12 V | ±7 V | ±12 V | ||
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C | ||
| Approx. Unit Price (1 pc) | $2.48 | $2.48 (same part) | ~$1.90 | ~$2.10 | ~$2.30 |
Key Differentiators
- Industry-leading ±40 kV HBM ESD on bus pins (vs TCAN334GDR)
- Widest ±25 V common-mode range in its class (vs SN65HVD233DR)
- 5 Mbps CAN FD support in SOT-23-8 with ±40V fault (vs TCAN337DR)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of the VCC pin (pin 3) to suppress high-frequency noise on the 3.3 V rail. Route the CANH and CANL traces as a 100 Ω differential pair with controlled impedance, keeping them at least 3 mm away from switching power nodes and digital clock traces. The exposed thermal pad (if present on your PCB layout) should be soldered to a small ground copper pour to improve thermal performance.
Do not omit the 120 Ω termination resistors at the two physical ends of the CAN bus — without them, signal integrity fails above 1 Mbps and CAN FD frames at 5 Mbps will corrupt. Ensure the SLP pin (pin 5) is tied high through a 10 kΩ resistor for high-speed operation or left open only when external logic controls standby. The nSHDN pin (pin 8) must be tied high for normal operation; do not leave it floating because bus behavior becomes undefined.
Estimated: at VCC = 3.3 V with the part driving a fully loaded 60 Ω differential bus (60 mA peak dominant current), supply current peaks at roughly 70 mA. Confirm the upstream 3.3V LDO or DC-DC can deliver 100 mA peak per transceiver node plus margin for the MCU. The MAX33040EAKA+'s 60 µA recessive supply current is negligible compared to the dominant current, so the worst-case thermal case is during sustained dominant transmission.
Keep the GND pin (pin 2) connection short and direct to the ground pour. Route RXD and TXD as short 50 Ω microstrip traces if the MCU is more than 25 mm away, or use a 100 Ω differential pair if the bus layout demands it. Avoid vias on the CANH/CANL differential pair; if a layer change is unavoidable, place both vias symmetrically to maintain differential impedance balance.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per DigiKey and Mouser listings. Not AEC-Q100 qualified — for automotive applications choose AEC-Q100-qualified alternatives. Lead-free and halogen-free per Maxim packaging materials declaration.
