MAX3488EPA+ - 3.3V 10Mbps RS-485/RS-422 Transceiver
MPN: MAX3488EPA+ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.561 | $4.56 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
MAX3488EPA+ Overview
An RS-485/RS-422 transceiver is an interface IC that converts logic-level transmit and receive signals into balanced differential line signals. These differential signals reject common-mode noise and are used for reliable communication over cables, industrial buses, and distributed equipment. The MAX3488EPA+ combines a driver, receiver, and bus-direction control in one compact interface device.
The MAX3488EPA+ operates at 10 Mbps and uses slew-rate limiting to reduce unwanted reflections and electromagnetic interference on longer or poorly terminated interconnects. Its 3.3 V supply operation is suitable for modern embedded systems, while the one-driver, one-receiver arrangement supports RS-422 point-to-point links and RS-485 multidrop networks when configured with appropriate bus transceivers.
Typical applications include industrial control links, building automation, instrumentation, data acquisition, serial interfaces between microcontrollers and remote sensors, and embedded communication networks. The device is also appropriate where a compact through-hole package simplifies prototyping and repair.
Designers should verify supply voltage, termination, biasing, grounding, and logic levels against the system requirements. The verified snippets identify the MAX3488EPA+ as a 3.3 V, 10 Mbps, slew-rate-limited RS-485/RS-422 transceiver, but complete pin-level electrical data and package dimensions should be taken from the manufacturer datasheet before production release.
This page combines verified distributor and manufacturer-search information with application guidance and comparison context for engineers evaluating the MAX3488EPA+ interface IC.
Drop-in alternatives for MAX3488EPA+ — 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 MAX3488EPA+ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Driver Count, Receiver Count.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MAX3488EEPA
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX3488EPA
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX3488CPA+
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →MAX3490CPA
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ADM488ANZ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MAX3488EPA+ Specifications
| Product Type | RS-485/RS-422 transceiver |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Data Rate | 10 Mbps |
| Driver Count | 1 driver |
| Receiver Count | 1 receiver |
| Standards | RS-422 and RS-485 |
| Slew-Rate Limiting | Yes |
| Package | 8-pin PDIP |
| Mounting Type | Through-hole |
| Termination | External termination required according to bus design |
MAX3488EPA+ 8-pin pdip Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MAX3488EPA+ (8-pin pdip package). Pin numbering, functions, and connection diagrams are defined in the manufacturer datasheet. Refer to it for the exact footprint and soldering guidelines.
No detailed pinout data available for MAX3488EPA+.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MAX3488EPA+ is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Links, Building Automation Networks, Data Acquisition Systems, Remote Sensor and Actuator Communication, Test and Measurement Communication, Embedded Communication Peripherals.
Industrial Control Links
The MAX3488EPA+ fits industrial control links that require a balanced, noise-resistant interface between a 3.3 V controller and remote actuators, sensors, or I/O modules. Its verified 3.0 V to 3.6 V supply range, one-driver/one-receiver arrangement, and 10 Mbps capability provide a useful foundation for point-to-point RS-422 and compatible RS-485 links. The slew-rate-limited output helps limit fast edge energy that can couple into nearby equipment. In a real installation, the designer must still verify logic thresholds, cable length, grounding, termination, surge protection, and industrial EMC requirements.
Recommended
Building Automation Networks
The MAX3488EPA+ can be used in building-automation equipment that bridges a low-voltage controller to a balanced field bus. The verified 10 Mbps rating supports short, high-speed links, while slew-rate limiting can reduce ringing and radiated emissions compared with an unrestricted-edge implementation. A typical design would connect the transceiver to a building controller, place protection near the cable entry, and use termination only where required by the bus topology. Because the supplied data does not specify temperature range, ESD rating, or common-mode limits, these requirements must be checked before selecting the part for a regulated building-control installation.
Recommended
Data Acquisition Systems
The MAX3488EPA+ is suitable for linking a data-acquisition controller to remote measurement equipment over RS-422 or RS-485. The 3.3 V supply range is suitable for many embedded acquisition platforms, and the 10 Mbps data-rate specification permits short links carrying commands, status, or measurement data. For sensor networks, keep the transceiver close to the cable interface, maintain a consistent ground strategy, and account for input common-mode voltage in the complete system. The part's verified description does not provide a precision input-current budget or noise figure, so measurement accuracy and grounding should be validated at the analog front end rather than attributed to the transceiver alone.
Recommended
Remote Sensor and Actuator Communication
The MAX3488EPA+ can connect a microcontroller-based controller to a remote sensor or actuator over a balanced serial cable. Its one-driver and one-receiver structure suits a point-to-point RS-422 arrangement, while RS-485 use can support a multidrop bus when the system includes the required biasing and termination. The verified 3.3 V operation aligns with common embedded logic, and the 10 Mbps rating can accommodate high-rate short-distance links. Designers should calculate cable loss and grounding, add protection for exposed industrial wiring, and avoid assuming that the transceiver alone solves isolation, surge, or ESD requirements.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Communication
The MAX3488EPA+ is appropriate for test and measurement equipment that needs a compact, 3.3 V serial interface between an instrument controller and an external fixture. The 8-pin PDIP package is useful for prototypes and repairable equipment, while the 10 Mbps rating supports fast command and data transfer over short balanced cables. Keep the transceiver's supply decoupling close to the device and isolate noisy analog or switching sections from the cable interface. The verified data does not state input capacitance, output impedance, or temperature limits, so instrument designers should obtain the full datasheet and verify those parameters for their cable and grounding architecture.
Recommended
Embedded Communication Peripherals
The MAX3488EPA+ can add a balanced communications port to an embedded controller that otherwise exposes only UART or general-purpose logic I/O. Connecting the controller's UART signals to the transceiver allows the MAX3488EPA+ to provide the physical layer for RS-422 or RS-485. Its verified 3.3 V supply range and 10 Mbps rating are attractive for compact embedded modules, while slew-rate limiting helps manage signal integrity. Direction control, bus idle bias, termination, and fault recovery must be implemented in the surrounding circuit. Verify whether the selected system needs a transceiver with galvanic isolation, fail-safe idle state, or higher ESD protection.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MAX3488EPA+ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MAX3488EEPA | MAX3488EPA | ADM488ANZ | MAX3488CPA+ | MAX3490CPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-pin PDIP | 8-pin PDIP | 8-pin PDIP | 8-pin PDIP package reported in comparison search | 8-pin SOIC | 8-pin SOIC |
| Brand | Analog Devices | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated | Analog Devices | Maxim Integrated | Maxim Integrated |
Key Differentiators
- 3.3 V operation in an 8-pin PDIP package (vs MAX3488CPA+)
- 10 Mbps rated operation (vs ADM488ANZ)
- Slew-rate-limited differential transceiver (vs MAX3490CPA)
Design Notes
Use the MAX3488EPA+ with a termination strategy appropriate to the cable and topology. For point-to-point RS-422, place termination at the receiving end; for multidrop RS-485, evaluate termination placement with the actual cable length and node count. The verified 10 Mbps rating does not guarantee reliable operation over every cable length, so validate edge rate, reflections, stub lengths, and receiver thresholds in the assembled system.
Keep the transceiver, connector, protection components, and ground-return path close together. Route the balanced pair as a differential pair with controlled geometry where practical, minimize stub branches, and keep switching or high-current paths away from the receiver input. The supplied data does not specify bypass capacitance, so use the capacitor values and layout guidance from the complete manufacturer datasheet rather than guessing values.
The verified supply range is 3.0 V to 3.6 V, so design the host rail for a stable 3.3 V nominal source and verify startup, noise, and tolerance requirements. Place local supply decoupling close to the transceiver pins and ensure the controller and interface share a compatible ground reference unless isolation is added elsewhere. Do not infer a quiescent-current value or regulator capacity from the available snippets.
Do not treat family-name similarity as proof of interchangeability. MAX3488CPA+ is listed as SOIC-8, so it is not a direct physical replacement for an 8-pin PDIP footprint. Likewise, confirm driver-enable logic, receiver enable behavior, fail-safe biasing, supply limits, and package pin numbering for any proposed substitute before changing a released design.
Compliance Information
The supplied verified snippets do not state RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, conflict-minerals, or automotive qualification information. Compliance fields remain unknown rather than inferred.