SP232ACT-L RS232 Transceiver Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The SP232ACT-L is a 2/2 full-duplex RS232 transceiver manufactured by MaxLinear, Inc., housed in a 16-SOIC surface mount package. This component is classified as obsolete, making equivalent and substitute parts necessary for ongoing system support, redesigns, and production continuity. The part operates within a 4.5V to 5.5V supply voltage range and supports data rates up to 240 kbps with a 500 mV receiver hysteresis specification.

Key Parameters

Parameter	SP232ACT-L
Manufacturer	MaxLinear, Inc.
Type	Transceiver
Protocol	RS232
Number of Drivers/Receivers	2/2
Duplex	Full
Receiver Hysteresis	500 mV
Data Rate	240 kbps
Voltage - Supply	4.5V ~ 5.5V
Operating Temperature	0°C ~ 70°C
Mounting Type	Surface Mount
Package / Case	16-SOIC (0.295", 7.50mm Width)
Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL)	3 (168 Hours)
Product Status	Obsolete

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution of the SP232ACT-L is determined by strict adherence to the following electrical and mechanical parameters:

Protocol: RS232 full-duplex transceiver with 2/2 driver/receiver configuration
Package: 16-SOIC surface mount form factor
Supply Voltage: 4.5V ~ 5.5V operating range
Mounting Type: Surface mount
Functional Equivalence: 2/2 transceiver topology

Substitute parts are grouped into two categories:

Parametric Equivalent (MaxLinear SP202ECT-L): Maintains identical electrical specifications and package form factor with active product status and improved moisture sensitivity rating.

Manufacturer Recommended Alternatives (Analog Devices ADM202 and ADM232 Series): Functionally equivalent RS232 transceivers with identical package geometry, supply voltage compatibility, and 2/2 transceiver configuration. These parts offer extended operating temperature ranges, improved compliance certifications, and active product status.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	SP232ACT-L	SP202ECT-L	ADM202EARWZ	ADM202JRWZ	ADM232AARWZ	ADM232LARZ	ADM232LJRZ
Manufacturer	MaxLinear	MaxLinear	Analog Devices	Analog Devices	Analog Devices	Analog Devices	Analog Devices
Type	Transceiver	Transceiver	Transceiver	Transceiver	Transceiver	Transceiver	Transceiver
Protocol	RS232	RS232	RS232	RS232	RS232	RS232	RS232
Drivers/Receivers	2/2	2/2	2/2	2/2	2/2	2/2	2/2
Duplex	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full	Full
Receiver Hysteresis	500 mV	500 mV	650 mV	400 mV	400 mV	650 mV	650 mV
Data Rate	240 kbps	240 kbps	230 kbps	—	200 kbps	120 kbps	120 kbps
Voltage - Supply	4.5V ~ 5.5V	4.5V ~ 5.5V	4.5V ~ 5.5V	4.5V ~ 5.5V	4.5V ~ 5.5V	4.5V ~ 5.5V	4.5V ~ 5.5V
Operating Temperature	0°C ~ 70°C	0°C ~ 70°C	-40°C ~ 85°C	0°C ~ 70°C	-40°C ~ 85°C	-40°C ~ 85°C	0°C ~ 70°C
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount
Package / Case	16-SOIC	16-SOIC	16-SOIC	16-SOIC	16-SOIC	16-SOIC	16-SOIC
MSL Rating	3 (168 Hours)	3 (168 Hours)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)
RoHS Status	—	RoHS Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active

Engineering Selection Recommendations

For Direct Replacement (Identical Specifications): SP202ECT-L is the primary parametric equivalent, maintaining the same electrical performance and package form factor as the SP232ACT-L. This part carries active product status and improved moisture sensitivity rating (MSL 3), making it suitable for direct substitution in existing designs without circuit modification.

For Extended Operating Temperature Range: ADM202EARWZ and ADM232AARWZ support -40°C to 85°C operating temperature, compared to the SP232ACT-L's 0°C to 70°C range. These parts are appropriate for applications requiring wider thermal operating margins and carry ROHS3 compliance certification.

For Industrial and Commercial Temperature Grades: ADM202JRWZ and ADM232LJRZ maintain the 0°C to 70°C operating temperature range matching the SP232ACT-L while offering active product status and ROHS3 compliance. These variants provide cost-effective alternatives with equivalent thermal specifications.

For Low Data Rate Applications: ADM232LARZ and ADM232LJRZ operate at 120 kbps, suitable for applications where the SP232ACT-L's 240 kbps capability exceeds system requirements. These parts offer extended operating temperature options and improved compliance ratings.

All substitute parts maintain identical 16-SOIC package geometry, 4.5V to 5.5V supply voltage compatibility, and 2/2 full-duplex RS232 transceiver functionality. Selection should be based on operating temperature requirements, compliance certifications, and data rate specifications of the target application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can SP202ECT-L directly replace SP232ACT-L without circuit modification? A: Yes. SP202ECT-L maintains identical electrical specifications (500 mV receiver hysteresis, 240 kbps data rate, 4.5V to 5.5V supply) and 16-SOIC package geometry. The primary difference is active product status and improved MSL rating.

Q: What is the key difference between ADM202 and ADM232 series substitutes? A: Both series are functionally equivalent 2/2 RS232 transceivers in 16-SOIC packages. The ADM202 series offers data rates up to 230 kbps, while ADM232 variants range from 120 to 200 kbps. Selection depends on application data rate requirements and operating temperature specifications.

Q: Are Analog Devices ADM parts pin-compatible with SP232ACT-L? A: Yes. All substitute parts use identical 16-SOIC package geometry with compatible pinout for 2/2 RS232 transceiver functionality. Direct PCB substitution is possible without layout modification.

Q: Which substitute part offers the widest operating temperature range? A: ADM202EARWZ, ADM202EARWZ-REEL, ADM232AARWZ, ADM232AARWZ-REEL, ADM232LARZ, and ADM232LARZ-REEL all support -40°C to 85°C operation, compared to SP232ACT-L's 0°C to 70°C range.

Q: What is the significance of MSL rating differences? A: SP232ACT-L carries MSL 3 (168 hours), while all Analog Devices substitutes carry MSL 1 (unlimited). MSL 1 parts have superior moisture resistance and require less stringent handling during storage and assembly, reducing risk of moisture-induced failures.

Q: Do all substitute parts meet RoHS compliance? A: SP202ECT-L is RoHS Compliant. All Analog Devices substitutes (ADM202 and ADM232 series) are ROHS3 Compliant. The SP232ACT-L does not specify RoHS status.

Q: Which substitute offers the best inventory availability? A: ADM232LJRZ maintains the highest inventory level at 24,596 pieces, followed by ADM232AARWZ at 5,200 pieces. Both support 0°C to 70°C operating temperature matching the original SP232ACT-L specification.

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