> **Source:** Core Electronics is an Australian maker-electronics retailer and manufacturer based in Newcastle, NSW, run by a team of makers and educators. We design and manufacture our own product lines (PiicoDev, CE originals) and are official retailers for iconic maker and industrial brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Adafruit, SparkFun and DFRobot. Orders ship Australia-wide from our Newcastle warehouse. Prices are in AUD and include GST. Pricing, stock and dispatch on this page are generated from the store's live catalog. Full machine-readable index: https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt

# USB to Multi-Protocol Serial Adapter: RS-232 / TTL UART / RS-485

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** ADA5995 · **Brand:** [Adafruit](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/adafruit-australia)
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/usb-to-multi-protocol-serial-adapter-rs232-ttl-uart-rs485-adafruit.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/usb-to-multi-protocol-serial-adapter-rs232-ttl-uart-rs485-adafruit.html.md))

No matter what serial-esque protocol you need to interface with, this USB to Multi-Protocol Serial adapter will be able to get this-connected-to-that. It...

## Pricing

- **Price:** $39.95 (inc GST) — $36.32 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $35.23 (exc GST) · 50+ $34.50 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- Available with a lead time — expect dispatch between Aug 19 and Aug 24.

## How to buy

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- **Checkout** is completed on-site and includes a captcha at the payment step. Share the cart link; checkout takes it from there.
- **Search the catalogue:** `https://core-electronics.com.au/search/{query}.md` (URL-encode the query; pages 2-3 at `search/{query}/{page}.md`; `search.md?q=` also works)
- **Payment methods, purchase orders, policies and contact details:** https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt
## Description

No matter what serial-esque protocol you need to interface with, this **USB to Multi-Protocol Serial** adapter will be able to get this-connected-to-that. It supports **RS232 serial**, **TTL UART serial**, **RS485** and **RS422**. All with quick-connecting screw terminals so you don't need to do any soldering or use special cables.

Just plug directly into a computer's USB A port and use a Phillips screwdriver to open the terminal and insert a solid or stranded-core wire. The USB A is even the flippable kind so you will always be able to have the labels and LEDs facing you.

Inside is a [FTDI FT231 USB to serial converter](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/ftdi-future-technology-devices-international-ltd/FT231XS-R/3029139) - this chip uses 5V logic and provides the UART serial signals that are converted into the different formats. Supported signal rates are 300 baud to 3 Mbaud. FTDI drivers are built into just about every OS these days - but if you need to install, there's free [VCP drivers](https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers/)

- For the **RS-232** signal side, theres a [UM213](https://www.digikey.com/en/htmldatasheets/production/9218476/0/0/1/um213eeasr) signal level converter with +-8V logic level I/O. All eight (5/3) RS-232 signals are exposed. The RS-232 converter can handle up to 250kbps.
- For the **UART** signal side, it is connected directly to the FT231. Logic level is 5V, and only RX/TX and 5V/3V/GND are exposed.
- For **RS-485/RS-422** signal side, the UART RX/TX lines are connected to [MAX485](https://www.analog.com/en/products/max485.html) chips.
- As a bonus, you also get 5V and 3V (with matching Ground) power supplies to power small projects - the 5V is from the USB so its technically 500mA but you can probably draw 1A, 3.3V is from the FT231X and is 50mA output.
- Red 'Power good' LED, Green 'Data transmission' LED

**Please note:** there's only one USB-serial chip inside, so you can only use one protocol at a time!

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/A/D/ADA5995-1.jpg)
