Adafruit
Adafruit RS232 Pal - Two Channel UART to RS-232 Level Shifters
· MPN: ADA5987
The Adafruit RS232 Pal provides two duplex channels of UART-to-RS-232 level shifting in a compact breakout board. Built around the trusted TI MAX3232E, it ha...
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The Adafruit RS232 Pal provides two duplex channels of UART-to-RS-232 level shifting in a compact breakout board. Built around the trusted TI MAX3232E, it handles the positive and negative voltage generation internally and supports communication at up to 250 Kbps on 3.3 V power and logic.
With two full-duplex channels, you get both RX/TX plus two additional flow control signals like RTS and CTS. The board breaks out the RS-232 voltage rails as well, in case you need to reference them directly.
Key Features
- MAX3232E Level Shifter – 2 duplex channels for TX, RX, and flow control (e.g. RTS/CTS)
- 3.3 V Power & Logic – Runs on 3.3 V, compatible with modern microcontrollers
- Up to 250 Kbps – Suitable for most RS-232 communication needs
- Internal Voltage Generation – Generates the required ±6 to ±10 V RS-232 signal levels from 3.3 V
- Voltage Rail Breakout – Doubled and negative voltage rails accessible for external use
- Fully Assembled – UART side for low-voltage logic, RS-232 side for high-voltage signals; header included
Also Consider
- RS-232 Full Pinout Level-Shifter Breakout (DE9-F) – 8-channel version with full flow control and DE-9 connector
- RS-232 Full Breakout with DE9-M – 8-channel version with male DE-9 connector
Ideal For
- Simple TX/RX plus flow control RS-232 connections
- Interfacing with industrial, telco, or retro equipment
- Modem, barcode scanner, and serial terminal communication
- Projects that only need 2 channels and don't require a full DE-9 connector
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit RS232 Pal breakout (fully assembled)
- 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.
- full-duplex
- Full-duplex means data can be sent and received at the same time. It matters for interactive serial links where commands and responses may need to travel in both directions without taking turns.
- 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.
- RX
- RX means receive, usually showing data being received by the board. An RX indicator LED can help with troubleshooting USB or serial communication.
- TX
- TX means transmit, usually showing data being sent from the board. A TX indicator LED can help you see when the board is communicating or uploading code.
- 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.
Related Tutorials
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