Does anybody here have experience with MAX4208/MAX4209? Current project is going to need an instrumentation amplifier, looking at my inventory all I have is some through hole INA111 that still have Burr-Brown stamped on them (probably bought them in the mid 90s)...time to upgrade my stock! As I go see what's new I find the Maxim MAX4208 and MAX4209. Normally there seems to be a trade off between V and I input offsets, but these chips have good values for both. I even noticed the MAX4209 is in the table in AoE 3rd Ed. page 363 (I also just noticed John Larkin is mentioned by name in this chapter). This chip is much cheaper than the others and has some of the best specs...what am I missing? I have had colleagues in the past recommend not designing in Maxim chips, but I can't remember why. I've only ever used their 232 and 485 transceivers (and they have been very reliable). Anybody want to talk me out of using this chip? And if so, recommend an alternative? I'm hoping for similar performance under $4 in quantities of 1000. Thanks.
Maxim Instrumentation Amplifiers
Started by ●February 16, 2017
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On 02/16/2017 11:15 AM, DemonicTubes wrote:> Does anybody here have experience with MAX4208/MAX4209? > > Current project is going to need an instrumentation amplifier, looking at my inventory all I have is some through hole INA111 that still have Burr-Brown stamped on them (probably bought them in the mid 90s)...time to upgrade my stock! > > As I go see what's new I find the Maxim MAX4208 and MAX4209. Normally there seems to be a trade off between V and I input offsets, but these chips have good values for both. I even noticed the MAX4209 is in the table in AoE 3rd Ed. page 363 (I also just noticed John Larkin is mentioned by name in this chapter). This chip is much cheaper than the others and has some of the best specs...what am I missing? I have had colleagues in the past recommend not designing in Maxim chips, but I can't remember why. I've only ever used their 232 and 485 transceivers (and they have been very reliable). > > Anybody want to talk me out of using this chip? And if so, recommend an alternative? I'm hoping for similar performance under $4 in quantities of 1000. > > Thanks. >I believe there's a saying in this NG: "Friends don't let friends use Maxim." Were the 232 transceivers from Texas Instruments? They make the best Maxim parts
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 9:27:38 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote:> On 02/16/2017 11:15 AM, DemonicTubes wrote: > > Does anybody here have experience with MAX4208/MAX4209? > > > > Current project is going to need an instrumentation amplifier, looking at my inventory all I have is some through hole INA111 that still have Burr-Brown stamped on them (probably bought them in the mid 90s)...time to upgrade my stock! > > > > As I go see what's new I find the Maxim MAX4208 and MAX4209. Normally there seems to be a trade off between V and I input offsets, but these chips have good values for both. I even noticed the MAX4209 is in the table in AoE 3rd Ed. page 363 (I also just noticed John Larkin is mentioned by name in this chapter). This chip is much cheaper than the others and has some of the best specs...what am I missing? I have had colleagues in the past recommend not designing in Maxim chips, but I can't remember why. I've only ever used their 232 and 485 transceivers (and they have been very reliable). > > > > Anybody want to talk me out of using this chip? And if so, recommend an alternative? I'm hoping for similar performance under $4 in quantities of 1000. > > > > Thanks. > > > > I believe there's a saying in this NG: "Friends don't let friends use > Maxim." > > Were the 232 transceivers from Texas Instruments? They make the best > Maxim partsThat is too funny, you just made me check my stock. The MAX232s are indeed TI parts! The MAX483s are, however, Maxim. What troubles have you had with Maxim parts?
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On 16/02/2017 16:33, DemonicTubes wrote:> On Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 9:27:38 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote: >> On 02/16/2017 11:15 AM, DemonicTubes wrote: >>> Does anybody here have experience with MAX4208/MAX4209? >>> >>> Current project is going to need an instrumentation amplifier, looking at my inventory all I have is some through hole INA111 that still have Burr-Brown stamped on them (probably bought them in the mid 90s)...time to upgrade my stock! >>> >>> As I go see what's new I find the Maxim MAX4208 and MAX4209. Normally there seems to be a trade off between V and I input offsets, but these chips have good values for both. I even noticed the MAX4209 is in the table in AoE 3rd Ed. page 363 (I also just noticed John Larkin is mentioned by name in this chapter). This chip is much cheaper than the others and has some of the best specs...what am I missing? I have had colleagues in the past recommend not designing in Maxim chips, but I can't remember why. I've only ever used their 232 and 485 transceivers (and they have been very reliable). >>> >>> Anybody want to talk me out of using this chip? And if so, recommend an alternative? I'm hoping for similar performance under $4 in quantities of 1000. >>> >>> Thanks. >>> >> >> I believe there's a saying in this NG: "Friends don't let friends use >> Maxim." >> >> Were the 232 transceivers from Texas Instruments? They make the best >> Maxim parts > > That is too funny, you just made me check my stock. The MAX232s are indeed TI parts! The MAX483s are, however, Maxim. What troubles have you had with Maxim parts? >You see the datasheet, you get samples, you design them in, they stop making them. BTDTGTTS. Cheers -- Clive
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On 02/16/2017 11:33 AM, DemonicTubes wrote:> On Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 9:27:38 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote: >> On 02/16/2017 11:15 AM, DemonicTubes wrote: >>> Does anybody here have experience with MAX4208/MAX4209? >>> >>> Current project is going to need an instrumentation amplifier, looking at my inventory all I have is some through hole INA111 that still have Burr-Brown stamped on them (probably bought them in the mid 90s)...time to upgrade my stock! >>> >>> As I go see what's new I find the Maxim MAX4208 and MAX4209. Normally there seems to be a trade off between V and I input offsets, but these chips have good values for both. I even noticed the MAX4209 is in the table in AoE 3rd Ed. page 363 (I also just noticed John Larkin is mentioned by name in this chapter). This chip is much cheaper than the others and has some of the best specs...what am I missing? I have had colleagues in the past recommend not designing in Maxim chips, but I can't remember why. I've only ever used their 232 and 485 transceivers (and they have been very reliable). >>> >>> Anybody want to talk me out of using this chip? And if so, recommend an alternative? I'm hoping for similar performance under $4 in quantities of 1000. >>> >>> Thanks. >>> >> >> I believe there's a saying in this NG: "Friends don't let friends use >> Maxim." >> >> Were the 232 transceivers from Texas Instruments? They make the best >> Maxim parts > > That is too funny, you just made me check my stock. The MAX232s are indeed TI parts! The MAX483s are, however, Maxim. What troubles have you had with Maxim parts? >They bought up a bunch of Dallas parts and as I recall I found that the way their datasheet said you're supposed to talk to them over SPI didn't bear much relation to reality. I haven't really used any of their purely analog stuff, it may be OK, but I'm leery of getting anything that a uP needs to talk to...
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:15:36 -0800 (PST), DemonicTubes <tlackie@gmail.com> wrote:>Does anybody here have experience with MAX4208/MAX4209? > >Current project is going to need an instrumentation amplifier, looking at my inventory all I have is some through hole INA111 that still have Burr-Brown stamped on them (probably bought them in the mid 90s)...time to upgrade my stock! > >As I go see what's new I find the Maxim MAX4208 and MAX4209. Normally there seems to be a trade off between V and I input offsets, but these chips have good values for both. I even noticed the MAX4209 is in the table in AoE 3rd Ed. page 363 (I also just noticed John Larkin is mentioned by name in this chapter). This chip is much cheaper than the others and has some of the best specs...what am I missing? I have had colleagues in the past recommend not designing in Maxim chips, but I can't remember why. I've only ever used their 232 and 485 transceivers (and they have been very reliable). > >Anybody want to talk me out of using this chip? And if so, recommend an alternative? I'm hoping for similar performance under $4 in quantities of 1000. > >Thanks.Our company policy is Never Buy Maxim. TI and LTC are the best analog part sources these days. -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc lunatic fringe electronics
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 11:27:33 -0500, bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net> wrote:>On 02/16/2017 11:15 AM, DemonicTubes wrote: >> Does anybody here have experience with MAX4208/MAX4209? >> >> Current project is going to need an instrumentation amplifier, looking at my inventory all I have is some through hole INA111 that still have Burr-Brown stamped on them (probably bought them in the mid 90s)...time to upgrade my stock! >> >> As I go see what's new I find the Maxim MAX4208 and MAX4209. Normally there seems to be a trade off between V and I input offsets, but these chips have good values for both. I even noticed the MAX4209 is in the table in AoE 3rd Ed. page 363 (I also just noticed John Larkin is mentioned by name in this chapter). This chip is much cheaper than the others and has some of the best specs...what am I missing? I have had colleagues in the past recommend not designing in Maxim chips, but I can't remember why. I've only ever used their 232 and 485 transceivers (and they have been very reliable). >> >> Anybody want to talk me out of using this chip? And if so, recommend an alternative? I'm hoping for similar performance under $4 in quantities of 1000. >> >> Thanks. >> > >I believe there's a saying in this NG: "Friends don't let friends use >Maxim." > >Were the 232 transceivers from Texas Instruments? They make the best >Maxim partsThe Max809 poweron-reset family is great, as long as you don't get them from Maxim. -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc lunatic fringe electronics
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:41:55 +0000, Clive Arthur <cliveta@nowaytoday.co.uk> wrote:>On 16/02/2017 16:33, DemonicTubes wrote: >> On Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 9:27:38 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote: >>> On 02/16/2017 11:15 AM, DemonicTubes wrote: >>>> Does anybody here have experience with MAX4208/MAX4209? >>>> >>>> Current project is going to need an instrumentation amplifier, looking at my inventory all I have is some through hole INA111 that still have Burr-Brown stamped on them (probably bought them in the mid 90s)...time to upgrade my stock! >>>> >>>> As I go see what's new I find the Maxim MAX4208 and MAX4209. Normally there seems to be a trade off between V and I input offsets, but these chips have good values for both. I even noticed the MAX4209 is in the table in AoE 3rd Ed. page 363 (I also just noticed John Larkin is mentioned by name in this chapter). This chip is much cheaper than the others and has some of the best specs...what am I missing? I have had colleagues in the past recommend not designing in Maxim chips, but I can't remember why. I've only ever used their 232 and 485 transceivers (and they have been very reliable). >>>> >>>> Anybody want to talk me out of using this chip? And if so, recommend an alternative? I'm hoping for similar performance under $4 in quantities of 1000. >>>> >>>> Thanks. >>>> >>> >>> I believe there's a saying in this NG: "Friends don't let friends use >>> Maxim." >>> >>> Were the 232 transceivers from Texas Instruments? They make the best >>> Maxim parts >> >> That is too funny, you just made me check my stock. The MAX232s are indeed TI parts! The MAX483s are, however, Maxim. What troubles have you had with Maxim parts? >> >You see the datasheet, you get samples, you design them in, they stop >making them. > >BTDTGTTS. > >CheersWe did a giant system for NIF and used MAX9690 comparators. One day deliveries stopped. A couple of months later we were told we'd never get them. Then they started failing in the field, potentially shutting down a multi-billion dollar laser. We had to make an adapter board and repair a couple hundred VME modules. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/PCBs/OnBoard.jpg Maxim did sample me 3000 pieces of MAX9691 to make the adapters, but it was still a fiasco. The 9691 is a comparator with back-to-back diodes across the inputs!!!! -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc lunatic fringe electronics
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 9:59:34 AM UTC-7, John Larkin wrote:> On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:41:55 +0000, Clive Arthur > <cliveta@nowaytoday.co.uk> wrote: > > >On 16/02/2017 16:33, DemonicTubes wrote: > >> On Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 9:27:38 AM UTC-7, bitrex wrote: > >>> On 02/16/2017 11:15 AM, DemonicTubes wrote: > >>>> Does anybody here have experience with MAX4208/MAX4209? > >>>> > >>>> Current project is going to need an instrumentation amplifier, looking at my inventory all I have is some through hole INA111 that still have Burr-Brown stamped on them (probably bought them in the mid 90s)...time to upgrade my stock! > >>>> > >>>> As I go see what's new I find the Maxim MAX4208 and MAX4209. Normally there seems to be a trade off between V and I input offsets, but these chips have good values for both. I even noticed the MAX4209 is in the table in AoE 3rd Ed. page 363 (I also just noticed John Larkin is mentioned by name in this chapter). This chip is much cheaper than the others and has some of the best specs...what am I missing? I have had colleagues in the past recommend not designing in Maxim chips, but I can't remember why. I've only ever used their 232 and 485 transceivers (and they have been very reliable). > >>>> > >>>> Anybody want to talk me out of using this chip? And if so, recommend an alternative? I'm hoping for similar performance under $4 in quantities of 1000. > >>>> > >>>> Thanks. > >>>> > >>> > >>> I believe there's a saying in this NG: "Friends don't let friends use > >>> Maxim." > >>> > >>> Were the 232 transceivers from Texas Instruments? They make the best > >>> Maxim parts > >> > >> That is too funny, you just made me check my stock. The MAX232s are indeed TI parts! The MAX483s are, however, Maxim. What troubles have you had with Maxim parts? > >> > >You see the datasheet, you get samples, you design them in, they stop > >making them. > > > >BTDTGTTS. > > > >Cheers > > We did a giant system for NIF and used MAX9690 comparators. One day > deliveries stopped. A couple of months later we were told we'd never > get them. Then they started failing in the field, potentially shutting > down a multi-billion dollar laser. > > We had to make an adapter board and repair a couple hundred VME > modules. > > https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/PCBs/OnBoard.jpg > > Maxim did sample me 3000 pieces of MAX9691 to make the adapters, but > it was still a fiasco. > > The 9691 is a comparator with back-to-back diodes across the > inputs!!!! > > > > > > > -- > > John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc > > lunatic fringe electronicsThat is a nightmare I'd like to avoid. When you are not busy rolling your own INA, what do you like to use?
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 11:15:45 AM UTC-5, DemonicTubes wrote:> Does anybody here have experience with MAX4208/MAX4209? > > Current project is going to need an instrumentation amplifier, looking at my inventory all I have is some through hole INA111 that still have Burr-Brown stamped on them (probably bought them in the mid 90s)...time to upgrade my stock! > > As I go see what's new I find the Maxim MAX4208 and MAX4209. Normally there seems to be a trade off between V and I input offsets, but these chips have good values for both. I even noticed the MAX4209 is in the table in AoE 3rd Ed. page 363 (I also just noticed John Larkin is mentioned by name in this chapter). This chip is much cheaper than the others and has some of the best specs...what am I missing? I have had colleagues in the past recommend not designing in Maxim chips, but I can't remember why. I've only ever used their 232 and 485 transceivers (and they have been very reliable). > > Anybody want to talk me out of using this chip? And if so, recommend an alternative? I'm hoping for similar performance under $4 in quantities of 1000. > > Thanks.Hmm that's an auto zero. (I've never used it.) Do you care most about the offset voltage? I was trolling digikey for Int amps the other day. (+/15V supplies) and had a hard time finding one with a total worse case offset voltage less than 100uV. (At low gains there can also be an offset (from the Diff amp?)* so you have to look at that too. George H. *I know H&H talk about this in AoE3, but I've forgotten the details.
