The MAX485ESA+ from Maxim Integrated (now part of Analog Devices) is a low-power transceiver designed for RS-485 and RS-422 communication protocols. It contains one driver and one receiver, making it ideal for half-duplex bidirectional data transmission over long distances or in electrically noisy environments.
The device operates from a single +5V supply and features an unlimited driver slew rate, enabling error-free data transmission up to 2.5Mbps. It draws only 300µA to 500µA of supply current when unloaded or with disabled drivers, making it suitable for power-sensitive applications.
Built-in protection features include short-circuit current limiting and thermal shutdown circuitrythat places driver outputs into a high-impedance state during excessive power dissipation. The receiver fail-safe feature guarantees a logic-high output if the input is open circuit. Bus pins are protected against ±15kV ESD shocks without latchup, ensuring robustness in harsh industrial environments.
The MAX485ESA+ is designed for half-duplex applications, using the same pair of wires for both transmission and reception with direction control via the driver enable (DE) and receiver enable (RE) pins.




