Adafruit
Adafruit RS-232 Full Pinout Level-Shifter Breakout
· MPN: ADA5988
The Adafruit RS-232 Full Pinout Level-Shifter Breakout lets you interface any 3.3 V microcontroller or single-board computer with RS-232 devices using all 8 ...
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The Adafruit RS-232 Full Pinout Level-Shifter Breakout lets you interface any 3.3 V microcontroller or single-board computer with RS-232 devices using all 8 data/flow-control signals. Built around the trusted TI MAX3243, it generates the required positive and negative voltages internally and provides 5 input and 3 output channels of level shifting at up to 250 Kbps.
RS-232 uses ±6 to ±10 V signal levels — far outside the range of standard 3.3 V or 5 V logic. This breakout handles all the voltage generation and conversion, and comes fully assembled with a DE-9F connector ready to plug directly into your RS-232 device.
Key Features
- MAX3243 Level Shifter – 8 channels (5 input, 3 output) for full RS-232 pinout including RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, and RI
- 3.3 V Power & Logic – Runs on 3.3 V, compatible with modern microcontrollers (many older RS-232 chips require 5 V)
- Up to 250 Kbps – Suitable for most RS-232 communication needs
- DE-9F Connector – Standard 9-pin D-Sub connector for direct plug-in to RS-232 devices
- Valid Signal Output – Logic-level output goes high when RS-232 signal voltages are detected (connection indicator)
- Off/Tri-State Pin – Set high to tri-state all pins for power reduction
- Fully Assembled – UART side for low-voltage logic, DE-9F side for RS-232; header included for breadboard use
Ideal For
- Interfacing with industrial and telco equipment
- Retro computing and legacy device communication
- Barcode scanners, modems, and serial terminals
- Any project requiring full RS-232 flow control signals
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit RS-232 Full Pinout Level-Shifter Breakout (fully assembled with DE-9F connector)
- 1× Header strip (soldering required for breadboard use)
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- CTS
- CTS stands for Clear To Send, a serial flow-control signal that tells the other device it may transmit. It matters for reliable high-speed serial communication where buffers could otherwise overflow.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
- RS-232
- RS-232 is an older serial communication standard that uses higher, inverted signal voltages (typically around plus or minus 3 to 15 volts) rather than the low logic levels of modern microcontroller pins. When connecting RS-232 equipment to a microcontroller, you usually need an RS-232 transceiver or level converter rather than wiring it directly, or you risk damaging the pins.
- RTS
- RTS stands for Request To Send, a serial flow-control signal used to manage when a device is ready to receive data. It matters when moving fast serial streams because flow control can help prevent lost data.
- single-board computer
- A complete computer built onto one circuit board, usually including the processor, memory, ports, and connectors. This matters because accessories like heatsinks must match the board’s layout and mounting holes to fit properly.
- UART
- UART is a simple asynchronous serial interface that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, usually labelled TX and RX, with both ends set to the same baud rate. It is a common way for microcontrollers and other serial devices to exchange data.
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