Adafruit RS232 Full Breakout with DE9-M

If you want to interface with telco, retro, or industrial equipment, you'll probably run into RS-232 interfaces. The Adafruit RS232 Full-Pinout Breakout is perfect for such cases, offering 5 input and 3 output channels of UART to RS-232 level shifting. The high/negative voltage generation is managed on this low-cost breakout board, leveraging the reliable MAX3243 from TI for operation up to 250Kbps.

RS-232 precedes USB and was commonly used with devices like mice, modems, and barcode scanners. Although many now opt for a USB to RS-232 adapter, devices with RS-232 ports are still around. This version comes with a DE9-M male pin connector, perfect for direct connection to compatible devices or cables.

This breakout board facilitates communication between microcontrollers and RS-232 ports via a built-in serial port/UART and level shifter necessary for converting voltages from typical 0-3.3V or 0-5V levels to RS-232's ±6 to ±10V. It eliminates the need for manual wiring and capacitor assembly, providing ready-to-use connectivity with a DE-9 connector.

Supporting all 8 data pins, it enables the use of flow control signals like RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, and RI. Additional lines, 'Valid' and 'Off', enhance functionality by signaling connection status and enabling power reduction, respectively. The board supports 3.3V power and logic, uncommon in older chips, and comes fully assembled for immediate integration with a UART side for low-voltage and a DE-9M RS-232 side for high-voltage signals. Included headers aid quick breadboard soldering.