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...
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 is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine 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
- An older serial communication standard that uses higher signal voltages than modern microcontroller logic pins. If you are connecting this breakout to a microcontroller, you may need an RS-232 interface or level converter rather than wiring it directly.
- 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.
- UART
- UART is a simple serial connection that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, often labelled TX and RX. It matters because this module is designed to replace a wired UART cable with a wireless link while keeping the same serial data format.
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
