Electronic components identity

I beggining to order components for Arduino-based electronics. As far as I live in Russia and as far as I'm not skilled in electronics - I should search
And first element I searching for, confuse me (http://parts.reprap.org/part/component/MAX232).

I trying to use RS-Components, as far as they have office in Russia, And I found 3 chips called MAX232N (http://www.rsrussia.ru/component/catalog/rs/221-5557 , [www.rsrussia.ru] , [www.rsrussia.ru]).

It's MAX232N...I found this name after visiting the manufacturer site via the link in BOM. And if I look in BOM, I see "MAX232" name (without N) - and there are a LOT of chips called MAX232 (far more than 10).

So,

How shuld I solve problems like this? In this very case I can use the price for selecting correct chip (I think correct chip is [www.rsrussia.ru]), but I'm afraid I'll meet a lot of such a problems during my challenge.

all of those chips you linked to will work just fine =) the MAX232 is a common chip, and those are all just slight variations of it.

Zach, are you sure?
The price of most expensive more then 10 times higher to price of cheaper one...

And after all, maybe they COULD work theoretically, but I need them work in your PCB...and if only they changed the pin map...

i'm not sure why one is more expensive than the other. i'd go with the cheap one, it will probably work just fine. also, keep in mind that if you use a socket, then you can try different chips without having to desolder anything.

i'm not a betting man, but if i was... i'd put money on these chips.

> you can try different chips without having to desolder anything.
Yes, I admit it - if only chip with incorrect pinout not destroy other components. Something like incorrect polarity with electrolitic capacitors...

> i'm not a betting man, but if i was... i'd put money on these chips.
Heh, it takes me 5 times more to undertand this sentense then all the other message. Zach, you reaaly should use short, simple, common words speaking to me - my english is still poor...

You need the N suffix as that denotes the DIP16 package which matches the PCB. Other suffixes are surface mount packages which will not fit the PCB.

Other variations of the chip are the size of the capacitors needed: 1uf or 0.1uf. The 0.1uF version can be more expensive but the capacitors are cheaper. If you use the 1uF version of the chip with 0.1uF caps it will not work but I expect all other combinations do.

You can also get an extended temperature version which is more expensive.

I hope this make things clearer.

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[www.hydraraptor.blogspot.com]

Thanks, nophead, it makes things REALLY clearer.

very sorry for using uncommon words. basically, i was saying that i think the low cost chip is a good idea =)