max232 projects

[reverendm]

i recently obtained 4 max232's. i've come upon moderatly complex rs232 projects before but i can't seem to find any now.

i'm looking for projects that will: data acquisition, pc to pc comunication, modem, wireless modem, things with ram/rom, stand alone unit for programing/debuging w/ debug display for BS2, mountable solidstate pc drive. even your favorite pic programers.

i would like links to schematics that you know of and even your own projects, if you have any.

also. i would like to make my own "flash" memory for usb. also, if there is, the usb version of the max232 that is typicly used. n package please. i cant surface mount solder.

i'm not particularly interested in robots. but basicly robot projects simply employ the i/o as robot enviroment and robot movement. wich is still a data acquisition and controll/response circuit. only if you know of an interesting robot, i would like a look.

thanks to those who read and even more to those that respond.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

A MAX232 is just a level converter, it converts between the +12V/-12V RS232 levels, to the 0V/5V TTL level used in computers. It contains four converters, two transmit, and two receive, these also invert the logic used.

Have a look at my RS232 PIC tutorials, they use one to convert RS232 to suitable levels for the PIC.

USB is a VERY different thing to RS232, and requires MUCH more complicated processing to use - you can buy USB to RS232 converter chips, but they are all surface mount.

 

[plot]

Becuase of the forum you posted in, i'm assuming you want a microcontroller based project that can be plugged into the serial port... so, the easiest way is to get a microcontroller with a built in UART, then just throw it inline with the max232 to change the levels from TTL to RS232 levels.

 

[BF9000]

rs232 module

I've found it easiest to just use an rs232 module for prototyping like the one from circuitblocks.com. The capacitors get a bit cumbersome. www.microchip.com has a nice app note one their web page.

 

[Oznog]

Re: rs232 module

I've found it easiest to just use an rs232 module for prototyping like the one from circuitblocks.com. The capacitors get a bit cumbersome. www.microchip.com has a nice app note one their web page.

If you're that concerned about caps, you don't need a "module", there's a common version of the MAX232 that doesn't use external caps. I don't have the part # handy though.

 

[marxmax]

The capacitor less version of MAX232 is MAX233, actually the operation is the same, only thing is you dont need any external capacitors.

If you want try USB connection, then u can either use microchip PIC16C745 or the y have Falch version in the 18F series. Have a look at microchip website, they got everything, the coding and HID drivers.