Max232 Type Rs232 Chips - What Type Of Capacitors, MAX232 Charge pump capacitors

[dxpwny]

I am building a project using a type of RS232 level translator that runs on just +5 Vdc.
The actual part is a Sipex/Exar SP207HCP, but I guess my question would apply to any similar IC that use charge pumps to build up the RS232 level voltages.

My Question is, must I used polarized capacitors as the charge pump capacitors ?

I have non-polarized caps that would fit much better and would prefer to use them.

I'm only going to running at 112K Baud and below - though likely no greater then 56k.

 

[davenn]

hi there

google the datasheet, it has all the info you need

Dave

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

No, you don't need to use polarised capacitors. It's just that the suggested capacitance values may be easier (and cheaper) to obtain in polarised types (e.g. tantalum, or aluminium electrolytic).

As long as the capacitors you have are the right value, and your circuit won't be operating at extreme temperatures (ceramic caps can lose quite a lot of capacitance at low temperatures), you'll be OK with non-polarised caps.