RS485 Quick Guide

TIA/EIA-485-A Standard
RS485 conveys data differentially over a terminated twisted pair, permitting up to 10Mbps data rates. The standard specifies electrical characteristics of a driver and receiver, and does not specify any data protocol or connectors. RS485 is popular for inexpensive local networks, multidrop communication links and long haul data transfer over distances of up to 4,000 feet. The use of a balanced line means RS485 has excellent noise rejection and is ideal for industrial and commercial applications. Youll find RS485 in applications as diverse as monitoring oil wells and linking POS terminals, to alarm systems, motion control and HVAC controls. Extended capability transceivers offer data rates up to 100Mbps and up to 256 nodes, as well as 2500VRMS isolation and fault protection up to 60V.
Specification Mode of Operation Number of Drivers and Receivers Allowed on One Line Maximum Cable Length Maximum Data Rate Maximum Voltage Applied to Driver Output Differential Driver Output Signal Termination Receiver Input Voltage Range Receiver Input Sensitivity Receiver Input Resistance Minimum Loaded Maximum Unloaded RS422 Differential 1 Driver, 10 Receivers 4000 Feet 10Mbps 0.25V to 6V 2V 5V 100 7V 200mV 4k (Min) RS485 Differential 32 Drivers, 32 Receivers 4000 Feet 10Mbps 7V to 12V 1.5V 5V 120 7V to 12V 200mV 12k (Min)

CABLE LENGTH (FT)

What Distance Can Be Achieved? The achievable distance is a function of the cable. The longer the cable, the greater the attenuation. Because attenuation increases with frequency, cables also exhibit a lowpass filter behavior so that achievable distance diminishes with data rate. The distances recommended by the RS485 standard are shown in the graph to the right. Many cables are capable of higher speed and distance. Consult the cable manufacturers typical performance curve of 0 to 50% rise time vs cable length. What is the Failsafe Receiver Output State with No Input Signal? That depends on the failsafe type of the receiver. Type 1 devices (see over) output a guaranteed 1 state when the receiver inputs are left open, but the output is undetermined when the inputs are shorted. Type 2 devices output a guaranteed 1 state whether the receiver inputs are left open, shorted or terminated but not driven. What is the Proper Way to Terminate the Cable? The cable should be terminated at each end with a resistance equal to characteristic impedance.

10k

1k RS485 SPECIFIED LIMITS PRACTICAL LIMIT FOR 20Mbps DEVICES 100k 1M 10M DATA RATE (bps) 100M

100

10 10k

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Linear Technology RS485/RS422 Transceivers

Part Number
LTM2881-3/-5

Supply Max Data ESD (V) Rate (Bits/s) # Dr # Rec Duplex SHDN (kV) Failsafe Comments
3.3/5 20M 1 1 Full Yes 15 Type 2 No External Components Required, Isolated 1W DC/DC Converter, Switchable, 120 Termination, UL File #E151738 UL File #E151738 Pin-Compatible with LT1785A Pin-Compatible with LT1791A Logic Supply Pin, SLO Pin Pin-Compatible with LTC485 Pin-Compatible with LTC491 Low Power Slew Rate Control, Low Power Low Power Slew Rate Control, Low Power Low Power Low Power DE and RE Pins, Low Power Low Power Hot Swap Capable Hot Swap Capable Hot Swap Capable

Temp Grade
C, I, H, MP

Package
15 11.25 2.8 LGA, 15 11.25 3.4 BGA

2500VRMS Isolation

LTC1535 LTC2862-1/-2 LTC2863-1/-2 LTC2864-1/-2 LTC2865 LT1785A LT1791A LTC2854 LTC2859 LTC2855 LTC2861 LTC2850 LTC2851 LTC2852 LTC1480 Low Power LTC2856-1/-2 LTC2857-1/-2 LTC2858-1/-2 LTC1690 LTC1481 LTC1482 LTC1483 LTC1484 LTC1485 LTC1487 LTC485 LTC490 LTC491 High Speed LTC1685 LTC1686 LTC1687

5 3 to 5.5 3 to 5.5 3 to 5.5 3 to 5.5 5 5 3.3 5 3.3 5 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

250k 20M/250k 20M/250k 20M/250k 20M/250k 250k 250k 20M 20M/250k 20M 20M/250k 20M 20M 20M 2.5M 20M/250k 20M/250k 20M/250k 5M 2.5M 4M 150k 4M 10M 250k 2.5M 2.5M 2.5M 52M 52M

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 0 0 0 1 1 2

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 4 4 4 1 1 2

Full Half Full Full Full Half Full Half Half Full Full Half Full Full Half Half Full Full Full Half Half Half Half Half Half Half Full Full Half Full Full

No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No

8 15 15 15 15 15 15 25 15 15 15 15 15 15 3.5 15 15 15 15 10 15 10 15 10 10 4 10 10 4 4 4 4 4 4 10 4 26 16 16

Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 1 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 2 Type 1 Type 2 Type 1 Type 2 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 2 Type 1 Type 1

C, I C, I, H, MP C, I, H, MP C, I, H, MP C, I, H C, I, H C, I, H C, I, H C, I, H C, I, H C, I C, I, H C, I, H C, I, H C, I C, I, H C, I, H C, I, H C, I C, I

SO(W)-28 SO-8, 3 3 DFN-8 SO-8, 3 3 DFN-8 SO-14, 3 3 DFN-10 MSOP-12, 4 3 DFN-12 SO-8, DIP-8 SO-14, DIP-14 3 3 DFN-10 3 3 DFN-10 4 3 DFN-12, SSOP-16 4 3 DFN-12, SSOP-16 SO-8, MSOP-8, 3 3 DFN-8 SO-8, MSOP-8, 3 3 DFN-8 SO-14, MSOP-10, 3 3 DFN-10 SO-8, DIP- 8 MSOP-8, 3 3 DFN-8 MSOP-8, 3 3 DFN-8 MSOP-10, 3 3 DFN-10 MSOP-8, SO-8, DIP-8 SO-8, DIP-8 MSOP-8, SO-8, DIP-8 SO-8, DIP-8 MSOP-8, SO-8, DIP-8 SO-8, DIP-8 SO-8, DIP-8 SO-8, DIP-8, CERDIP-8 SO-8, DIP-8 SO-14, DIP-14 SO-8 SO-8 SO-14 SO-16 SO(W)-16, DIP-16 SO-16 SO(W)-16, DIP-16 SO-16 4 5 QFN-28, TSSOP-28 5 7 QFN-38, TSSOP-38 5 7 QFN-38

60V Fault Protection

Integrated Switchable 120 Termination

3.3V Supply Operation

Carrier Detect Low EMI

C, I C, I C, I C, I

Low EMI

C C, I, M C, I

DE and RE Pins

C, I C, I C, I

5 52M Quad Drivers and Receivers

DE and RE Pins Hot Swap Capable, 1/2 DE Pins Low Power, 1/2 DE Pins 1/2 DE Pins High Speed, LVDS-Compatible Two RS232 Transceivers Two RS232 Transceivers Four RS232 Transceivers

C, I C, I C, I C, I C, I C C, I C, I C, I

LTC1688/89 5 100M LTC486/87 5 10M LTC1518/19 5 52M LTC488/89 5 10M LTC1520 5 50M RS232/RS485 Multiprotocol LTC2870 LTC2871 LTC2872 3 to 5.5 3 to 5.5 3 to 5.5 20M/500k 20M/500k 20M/500k

Type 1 Type 2 Type 1

Both Both Both

Yes Yes Yes

Type 2 Type 2 Type 2

Type 1 = Open; Type 2 = Idle, Open, Short

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