> **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 RS-485 Converter

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** BOB-09822 · **Brand:** [Sparkfun](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/sparkfun-australia)
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/usb-to-rs-485-converter.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/usb-to-rs-485-converter.html.md))

This is the newest revision and fixes issues with the last board. This breakout board pairs an SP3485 RS-485 transceiver with an FT232RL USB UART IC to convert a USB stream to RS-485. The SP3485 is a half-duplex transceiver, so it can only communicate one way at a time, but it can reach transmission speeds of up to 10Mbps.

## Pricing

- **Price:** $43.65 (inc GST) — $39.68 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 5+ $38.49 (exc GST) · 25+ $37.70 (exc GST) · 100+ $36.11 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- Available with a lead time — expect dispatch between Aug 31 and Sep 04.

## How to buy

- **Build a cart:** compose `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link?items=BOB-09822:1` (comma-separated SKU:qty pairs) and share the link. Opening it shows a confirmation page with live pricing and stock before anything is added to the cart.
- **Verify the cart first:** fetch `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link/BOB-09822:1.md` for live line prices (inc & exc GST, quantity discounts applied), stock and dispatch estimates, and totals. Append `/to/{AU-postcode}` (or `/to/{country-code}:{postcode}`) before `.md` for delivery options and prices to that destination. Unknown, retired, or out-of-stock SKUs are flagged. (Query form `cart/link.md?items=...` also works but some robots parsers refuse query strings here.)
- **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

This is the newest revision and fixes issues with the last board. This breakout board pairs an SP3485 RS-485 transceiver with an FT232RL USB UART IC to convert a USB stream to RS-485. The SP3485 is a half-duplex transceiver, so it can only communicate one way at a time, but it can reach transmission speeds of up to 10Mbps.

 The TXDEN pin of the FT232RL is connected to the transmit and receive enable inputs of the SP3485, this line is used to control the transmission mode of the RS-485 transceiver. With the proper drivers installed, the FT232RL will enumerate as a virtual COM port; the drivers are available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

 This breakout board includes the SP3485, FT232, TX/RX/RTS LEDs, Mini-B USB connector, filter capacitors, and other components shown on the schematic. We’ve broken out the RS485 output to three different connections: (1) an [RJ-45 connector](https://core-electronics.com.au/search/?q=00643), (2) a [3-pin 3.55mm screw terminal](https://core-electronics.com.au/search/?q=08235), and (3) a 3-pin 0.1" pitch header; none of these output connectors come populated.

**Features:**

- Fully equipped with SP3485 RS-485 transceiver and FT232RL USB UART IC
- Operates from USB supply
- RX, TX, and RTS LED indicators
- Mini-B USB connector
- USB power and RX/TX lines broken out to a 0.1" pitch header
- RS-485 input/output broken out to RJ-45 connector, 3.5mm screw terminal, and 0.1" pitch header
- Driver/Receiver Enable connected to RTS line of FT232RL
- -7V to +12V Common-Mode Input Voltage Range
 
**Dimensions:** 1.55x0.9 inches

**Documents:**

- [Schematic](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/USB-to-RS485-Breakout-v11_29949fc9e05.pdf)
- [Eagle Files](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/USB-to-RS485-Breakout-v11_1600244fc50.zip)
- [SP3485 Datasheet](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/sp3485CN-LTR_128404e9421.pdf)
- FT232RL VCP Drivers
 
**Replaces:**[BOB-009489](https://core-electronics.com.au/search/?q=09489)

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/u/s/usb_to_rs-485_converter__bob-09822__01.jpg)