
RS232 input is a serial communication standard that uses a 9-pin or 25-pin connector to transmit data between devices. It's commonly used for debugging and testing purposes.
A single RS232 line can carry up to 128 KB of data, making it a reliable choice for applications that require a high data transfer rate. The maximum cable length for RS232 is 50 feet, which can be extended with repeaters.
RS232 is widely used in industrial automation, medical devices, and test equipment due to its simplicity and reliability.
RS-232 Basics
RS-232 is a protocol that standardizes communication between devices, using asynchronous serial communication to exchange data one bit at a time.
The protocol defines that each message contains start and stop bits that separate individual frames, which are indivisible packets of bits. A common approach is to use a start bit, followed by the data bits, an optional parity bit for error checking, and one or more stop bits.
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The sending device shifts bits over the TX line into the receiver's RX input in each transmission, requiring two wires for bi-directional communication. The TX signal's idle state is low, indicating no message is being transmitted, and the start bit is required to signal the receiver to expect a message.
Here's a breakdown of the basic components of an RS-232 message frame:
- Start bit: signals the receiver to expect a message
- Data bits: the actual data being transmitted
- Parity bit: an error-correcting measure (optional)
- Stop bit: indicates the end of the message
Ed400 E 111 4d N4
The Ed400 E 111 4d N4 is a NEMA4 rated outdoor display, making it perfect for harsh environments. It's visible up to 190 feet, giving you a clear view from a distance.
This display uses RS232 Serial Input, which is a standard way of sending data. You can connect it to any device that supports RS232.
The Ed400 E 111 4d N4 has a bright 4.0" High LED Display, making it easy to read even in direct sunlight. It's also compact, measuring 22" L x 11" H x 4" D.

You can customize the display to fit your needs by connecting it to a device using two customer-supplied contacts (Data / Ground). Mounting brackets are also included for easy installation.
Here's a quick rundown of the features:
- NEMA4 rated outdoor display
- Visible up to 190 feet
- RS232 Serial Input using Standard ASCII Characters
- Bright 4.0" High LED Display
- Terminal Block to Wire in Two Customer Supplied Contacts (Data / Ground)
- Mounting Brackets
- Factory Service One-Year Warranty on Parts and Labor
- Unlimited Technical Phone Support
Fail-Safe
In a half-duplex RS-485 network, the master transceiver tri-states the bus after transmitting a message to the slaves, leaving the receiver's output state undefined.
The receiver's output state is undefined because the difference between A and B tends towards 0V, causing the receiver output to be "0" in some cases.
This can lead to a framing error because the slaves interpret the "0" output as a new start bit and attempt to read the following byte, resulting in a stop bit that never occurs.
Different runs of chips can produce different output signals on RO for a 0V differential input, which can cause some nodes to fail in a later production run.
To solve this problem, you can bias the bus as shown in Figure 7 under Multidrop/Fail-Safe Termination, ensuring that the receiver output remains "1" when the bus is tri-stated.
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RS-232 Electrical
RS-232 uses negative and positive voltage levels to encode bits in messages, unlike other protocols that use 0V and a positive voltage level to represent digital zeros and logic highs.
The RS-232 standard represents a logic 1 using a negative voltage between -15V and -3V, and a logic 0 using a positive voltage between +3V and +15V.
A typical RS-232 signal swings positive and negative, and an overall translation from TTL/CMOS to RS-232 and back to TTL/CMOS restores the data's original polarity.
Table 1 shows the RS-232 electrical specifications, including the driver output voltage, receiver input resistance, and maximum load capacitance.
The distributed capacitance of a longer cable can degrade slew rates by exceeding the maximum specified load (2500pF), which is why RS-232 transmissions seldom exceed 100 feet.
Ed1200d-111-4d-N1
The Ed1200d-111-4d-N1 is a device that can transmit signals up to 575 feet, giving you a decent amount of range for your RS-232 setup.

This device uses RS232 Serial Input, which communicates using standard ASCII characters. I've found that this makes it relatively easy to work with, even for those who are new to RS-232.
The Ed1200d-111-4d-N1 measures 52" L x 17.7" H x 3" D, so it's a fairly compact device that won't take up too much space in your setup.
It also comes with a terminal block that allows you to wire in two customer-supplied contacts, specifically for DATA and GND. This can be useful if you need to customize your setup.
Mounting brackets are also included, making it easy to secure the device in place.
The Ed1200d-111-4d-N1 comes with a one-year factory service warranty on parts and labor, as well as unlimited technical phone support. This level of support can be a big plus if you're new to RS-232 or need help troubleshooting an issue.
Pinout Diagram
The pinout diagram for the RS232 click is a crucial part of understanding how it connects to the mikroBUS socket. This table shows the correspondence between the two.
The table has 10 rows, each representing a pin on the mikroBUS socket. Let's break it down.
The first row shows that pins 1 and 16 are not connected (NC) and are used for other purposes. Pin 1 is used for PWM, while pin 16 is used for NC.
The second row shows that pins 2 and 15 are connected to the mikroBUS socket. Pin 2 is connected to the RST pin, and pin 15 is connected to the INT pin. Pin 3 is connected to the UART RTS pin.
The third row shows that pin 3 is connected to the UART RTS pin, while pin 14 is connected to the RX pin. Pin 14 is also connected to the UART TX pin.
The fourth row shows that pins 4 and 13 are connected to the mikroBUS socket. Pin 4 is connected to the SCK pin, and pin 13 is connected to the TX pin. Pin 13 is also connected to the UART RX pin.
The fifth row shows that pins 5 and 12 are connected to the mikroBUS socket. Pin 5 is connected to the MISO pin, and pin 12 is connected to the SCL pin.
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The sixth row shows that pins 6 and 11 are connected to the mikroBUS socket. Pin 6 is connected to the MOSI pin, and pin 11 is connected to the SDA pin.
The seventh row shows that pins 7 and 10 are connected to the power supply. Pin 7 is connected to the 3V3 pin, and pin 10 is connected to the 5V pin.
The eighth row shows that pins 8, 9, and 9 are connected to the ground. Pin 8 is connected to the GND pin, and pin 9 is also connected to the GND pin.
Here is a summary of the pin connections in a table format:
RS-232 Protocol
The RS-232 protocol is a standard for serial communication between devices. It's commonly used in devices that support RS-232 communication, such as computers and modems.
The protocol uses a DB-9 connector, which typically includes the TX, RX, and GND signals. However, there are four control signals still relevant in modern applications: Data Terminal Ready (DTR), Data Set Ready (DSR), Request to Send (RTS), and Clear to Send (CTS).
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These control signals are used to indicate readiness to receive data and to prepare for data frames. The DTR signal tells the receiver to get ready to receive data, while the DSR signal informs the computer that the modem is ready. The RTS and CTS lines indicate to the computer and modem, respectively, that they should prepare to receive data frames.
RS-232 uses signal levels that range from ±5V up to ±15V, and the equipment is required to withstand short circuits for any voltage, up to ±25V, during an indefinite time interval. This requires special protection features, such as the MAX3232 device, which has up to ±15kV ESD protection.
RS-232/Rs-485 Protocol Translators
The MAX3162 is an unique device that contains both RS-232 and RS-485 receivers and transmitters, allowing bidirectional conversion between RS-232 and RS-485 signals.
This device is particularly useful in point-to-point applications, where it can convert RS-232 and RS-485 signals in both directions. The circuit in Figure 8 illustrates this configuration.
The MAX3162 can also be configured as an RS-232/RS-485 multipoint protocol translator, as shown in Figure 9. This configuration allows the device to translate single-ended RS-232 signals to differential RS-485 signals and vice versa.
The direction of translation is controlled through the RTS signal, R1IN, which determines whether the RS-485 transceiver acts as a transmitter or a receiver. This line on the RS-232 port is a common means for controlling bus direction in circuits that convert from RS-232 to RS-485.
The system must monitor the RS-485 driver input, DI, to ensure that a byte of data in the UART's transmit buffer has been transmitted before using the DE input to change the bus direction. This can be done by allowing a fixed time delay or actively monitoring the DI input.
Other direction-control techniques include using a microcontroller and driving the DE input with data while pulling the A-B lines apart. This can be achieved by connecting a pull-up resistor from A to 5V and a pull-down resistor from B to ground.
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RS-232 Message Frames
RS-232 defines asynchronous serial communication, where information is transmitted one bit at a time without a dedicated clock signal.
Each message frame contains start and stop bits that separate individual frames, which are indivisible packets of bits.
The composition of message frames isn't precisely defined by RS-232, but a common approach is to use a start bit, followed by the data bits, an optional parity bit for error checking, and one or more stop bits.
Data is sent from the sender's TX output to the recipient's RX input, requiring two wires for bi-directional communication.
The protocol is simplex, meaning devices can't send and receive data simultaneously, and they must take turns sending and receiving messages.
The TX signal's idle state is low, indicating no message is being transmitted, and the sender must pull the TX line to a high state to signal the receiver to expect a message.
The sender transmits seven data bits starting with the least significant bit (LSB) at a previously agreed baud rate, followed by the parity bit, and finally the stop bit.
The parity bit is used for error-correcting measures, and the partners can use either even, odd, or no parity.
The message frame ends with the stop bit, which the transmitter pulls the TX line high to allow the receiver to detect the next start bit in a consecutive message frame.
How It Works
The RS-232 protocol is based on a low-power RS-232 transceiver from Texas Instruments, specifically the MAX3232IDRG4.
This device has up to ±15kV ESD protection, ensuring no electrical discharge damages the circuit on the input side.
The MAX3232 has two receivers and two transmitter channels, which are used to bridge the physical differences between CMOS/TTL signal levels and RS-232 bus levels.
CMOS/TTL signal levels typically range from 0V to 5V, while RS-232 uses signal levels that range from ±5V up to ±15 V.
The MAX3232 IC uses two internal charge pumps to obtain the required driving levels of ±5V on its transceiver sections.
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The RS-232 Click board offers two inputs and two outputs, which feature CMOS/TTL logic levels.
These lines can be used to either drive the RS-232 bus or receive the incoming data from the bus.
Receivers convert RS-232 signals to MCU-acceptable UART-type signals, while transmitters convert MCU UART signals to RS-232 levels.
The MAX3232 device can maintain a 120kbps data rate with the worst-case scenario - load of 3kΩ in parallel with 1000pF.
The typical communication speed goes up to 232 kbps.
The RS232 Click comes equipped with the SUB D connector, typically found on many devices that use the RS-232 interface.
The RS-232 protocol uses a standard 2-Wire UART interface to communicate with the host MCU.
If using it with soldered J2 and J3 jumpers, you can use the UART RTS and CTS hardware flow control pins.
Understanding RS-232 Control Signals
RS-232 Control Signals are a crucial part of the RS-232 protocol, allowing devices to communicate with each other effectively. These signals were originally designed for computer-to-modem communication and are still relevant today in modern applications.
The Data Terminal Ready (DTR) signal is used by the sending device to indicate to the receiver that it should get ready to receive data. Conversely, the Data Set Ready (DSR) signal informs the computer that the modem is ready.
Four control signals are still relevant in modern applications: DTR, DSR, Request to Send (RTS), and Clear to Send (CTS). These signals are used to control the flow of data between devices.
Here's a brief explanation of each control signal:
These control signals are essential for effective communication between devices using the RS-232 protocol. By understanding how they work, you can ensure that your devices are communicating with each other correctly.
RS-232 Limitations
RS-232 has a maximum cable length of 50 feet, which can be a challenge for installations that require longer cable runs.
This limitation is due to the signal degradation that occurs over long distances.
The maximum data transfer rate for RS-232 is 115.2 kilobits per second, which can be slow compared to modern communication standards.
RS-232 is a serial communication standard, which can make it difficult to troubleshoot and debug.
RS-232 uses a 9-pin D-subminiature connector, which can be fragile and prone to damage.
Additional reading: Rs232 Serial Communication Cable
Frequently Asked Questions
What devices use RS-232?
RS-232 typically connects desktop computers to devices like modems, printers, and special-purpose peripherals. Common RS-232 devices include modems, printers, and other special-purpose peripherals.
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