This project is a really simple RS232 Serial to TTL converter. It allows you to interface a microcontroller with the serial port of your PC. This is useful during development of for debugging with a terminal program. Please feel free to use the schematics and PCB layout bellow.

The converter is built around the famous MAX232 chip (any equivalent is fine). Check that the flavor of chip you get uses the same value caps (e.g. MAX232A uses different values). A 5v DC source is required; the ground signal should be common with the target board supply.

Basic serial handshaking is also converted (CTS, RTS). The other handshaking lines can be linked as required with jumpers. For testing a jumper between Rx and Tx will create a repeater node, just check using HyperTerminal etc.

For a more sophisticated converter that includes activity LED's please check my "Serial Converter 2" link on the left bar.

For a great PC terminal tool check out WSHDCOM (www.wSHDCom.com). This tool allows you to send and receive serial data in a number of formats including HEX and binary, very handy for debugging microprocessor projects. Best thing about this program, it's free!