Datasheet
(V
CC
 = +5V ±10%, C1–C4 = 0.1μF‚ MAX220, C1 = 0.047μF, C2–C4 = 0.33μF, T
A
 = T
MIN
 to T
MAX
‚ unless otherwise noted.) (Note 3)
Note 3:  All units are production tested at hot. Specifications over temperature are guaranteed by design.
Note 4:  MAX243 R2OUT is guaranteed to be low when R2IN ≥ 0V or is unconnected.
PARAMETER CONDITIONS MIN TYP MAX UNITS
Receiver Propagation Delay RS-232 to TLL 
(Normal Operation)
t
PHLR
, Figure 2
MAX222/MAX232A/MAX233/
MAX242/MAX243 
0.5 1
µs
MAX220 0.6 3
t
PLHR
, Figure 2
MAX222/MAX232A/MAX233/
MAX242/MAX243 
0.6 1
MAX220 0.8 3
Receiver Propagation Delay RS-232 to TLL 
(Shutdown)
t
PHLS
, Figure 2 MAX242  0.5 10
µs
t
PHLS
, Figure 2 MAX242 2.5 10
Receiver-Output Enable Time  t
ER
  MAX242, Figure 3 125 500 ns
Receiver-Output Disable Time  t
DR
MAX242, Figure 3 160 500 ns
Transmitter-Output Enable Time
(SHDN Goes High) 
t
ET
MAX222/MAX242, 0.1µF caps 
(includes charge-pump start-
up), Figure 4
250 µs
Transmitter-Output Disable Time
(SHDN Goes Low) 
t
DT
MAX222/MAX242,
0.1µF caps, Figure 4
600 ns
Transmitter + to - Propagation Delay 
Dierence (Normal Operation) 
t
PHLT
 - t
PLHT
MAX222/MAX232A/MAX233/
MAX242/MAX243 
300
ns
MAX220  2000
Receiver + to - Propagation Delay 
Dierence (Normal Operation) 
t
PHLR
 - t
PLHR
MAX222/MAX232A/MAX233/
MAX242/MAX243 
100
ns
MAX220  225
11
10
4
0 10 40 60
AVAILABLE OUTPUT CURRENT
vs. DATA RATE
6
5
7
9
8
MAX220-02
DATA RATE (kb/s)
OUTPUT CURRENT (mA)
20 30 50
OUTPUT LOAD CURRENT
FLOWS FROM V+ TO V-
V
CC
 = +5.25V
ALL CAPS
1µF
ALL CAPS
0.1µF
V
CC
 = +4.75V
+10V
-10V
MAX222/MAX242
ON-TIME EXITING SHUTDOWN
+5V
+5V
0V
0V
MAX220-03
500ms/div
V+, V- VOLTAGE (V)
1µF CAPS
V+
V+
V-
V-
SHDN
0.1µF CAPS
1µF CAPS
0.1µF CAPS
10
8
-10
0 5 15 25
OUTPUT VOLTAGE vs. LOAD CURRENT
-4
-6
-8
-2
6
4
2
MAX220-01
LOAD CURRENT (mA)
OUTPUT VOLTAGE (V)
10
0
20
0.1µF
EITHER V+ OR V- LOADED
V
CC 
= +5V
NO LOAD ON
TRANSMITTER OUTPUTS
(EXCEPT MAX220, MAX233A)
V- LOADED, NO LOAD ON V+
V+ LOADED, NO LOAD ON V-
1µF
1µF
0.1µF
MAX220–MAX249 +5V-Powered, Multichannel
RS-232 Drivers/Receivers
www.maximintegrated.com
Maxim Integrated 
│
  4
Electrical Characteristics—MAX220/222/232A/233A/242/243 (continued)
Typical Operating Characteristics
MAX220/MAX222/MAX232A/MAX233A/MAX242/MAX243










