Mouser stocks a dizzying array of Ta capacitors. Any suggestions on which ones would suffice? (I'm looking for the cheapest ones that will do the job.)
Now, does the MAX232 need 1.0 uF capacitors? Or will 1 uF be good enough?
Hi, Michael. The MAX232 uses the 1uF tantalum caps as a charge pump voltage doubler/inverter to change the +5V into a +/-10V for the RS-232. Tantalum is used because it has low ESR at the charge pump frequency (above 10KHz AFAIK). Any solid tantalum cap will do, cheaper is OK. You didn't specify whether you wanted radial or axial through hole leads, or whether you wanted SMT caps, so you don't get a definitive answer, but you can look yourself.
I took an opportunity to look at the Mouser selecttion using their product selector, and found that most of the items listed are non-stock, or require a large minimum order. If you want a cheapie onesies part, and you can live with a radial through-hole part, their P/N 80-T350A105M25AT (1uF 25V molded radial lead, Kemet) goes for $0.31 ea. in single quantity. It will work, and you could do worse.
Make sure to watch the polarities of the caps -- they *will* explode in quite startling fashion if you install them bass-ackwards.
Is tantalum actually required? I later looked at a TI MAX232 spec sheet (again from Mouser), and there's a Note 2 there: Nonpolarized ceramic capacitors are acceptable... (page 7)
Is it ok to take this advice, or am I better off just getting the tantalum...? (reduced noise, etc.?)
The charge pump droop is proportional to the ESR of the caps. I've used many of the x232 parts (now second sourced by TI) and ceramics work great without the problems of tants.
1uF ceramics rated at 2x the expected peak voltage should be just fine.
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