On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:33:48 -0800, 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?We've used "genuine Maxim" MAX232s with success. Nice to have multiple sources, an increasingly rare phenomenon! One of our more significant products has a Maxim flyback controller chosen due to a niche combination of voltages, currents, and efficiency. So far it's remained available over more than a decade of production. OTOH we've had issues with ICs from a variety of manufacturers, including TI. In general the more complex chips have less comprehensible data sheets and bigger operator traps. It's not surprising. Even Tektronix in its glory days had the occasional clunker 'scope. Sadly, Maxim seems to have a widespread reputation of interesting parts that are or become unobtanium.
Maxim Instrumentation Amplifiers
Started by ●February 16, 2017
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 09:26:09 -0800 (PST), DemonicTubes <tlackie@gmail.com> wrote:>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 electronics > >That is a nightmare I'd like to avoid. When you are not busy rolling your own INA, what do you like to use?We have a lot of diffamps in stock: ICS DIFFAMP 18V SO8 1X INA117 200KHz ICS DIFFAMP 40V SO8 1X INA154 G=1 ICS DIFFAMP 44V DIP8 1X SSM2017 OBS ICS DIFFAMP 36V DIP8 1X INA105KP G=1 ICS DIFFAMP 36V SO8 1X INA105KU G=1 ICS DIFFAMP 36V SO8 1X INA157 G=0.5/2 ICS DIFFAMP 34V MSOP10 1X AD8253 PGA ICS DIFFAMP 50V SO16W 1X INA103KU INST ICS DIFFAMP 36V SO16W 1X INA111 FET VG ICS DIFFAMP 36V DIP8 1X INA114 VG OVP ICS DIFFAMP 36V SO16W 1X INA115 OVP VG ICS DIFFAMP 36V SO8 1X INA129 VG ICS DIFFAMP 36V SO8 1X INA141 OVP ICS DIFFAMP 36V SO8 1X AD8221 800KHZ 400PA 8NV ICS DIFFAMP 3V QFN16 1X ADA4950-1 ADC DRVR ICS DIFFAMP 5V QFN16 1X ADA4960 ADC DRVR ICS DIFFAMP 26V SO8 1X AD8130 270MHZ ICS DIFFAMP 15V MSOP8P X1 THS4505 260M ICS DIFFAMP 5V QFN16 1X LT6402-12 ADC DRVR The AD8130 is my favorite. The dips are left over from old designs. Many delta-sigma ADCs have nice PGAs inside so don't need a front-end amp. -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc picosecond timing precision measurement jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com http://www.highlandtechnology.com
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:15:36 -0800, 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.It's not that Maxim doesn't make good stuff -- they do. The problem is, if they haven't changed their ways, that unless you're in a position to buy parts one entire production run at a time, their delivery is spotty. -- Tim Wescott Control systems, embedded software and circuit design I'm looking for work! See my website if you're interested http://www.wescottdesign.com
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
Den torsdag den 16. februar 2017 kl. 20.50.50 UTC+1 skrev Tim Wescott:> On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:15:36 -0800, 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. > > It's not that Maxim doesn't make good stuff -- they do. The problem is, > if they haven't changed their ways, that unless you're in a position to > buy parts one entire production run at a time, their delivery is spotty.yeh it is as if they take every idea they have and do a small run to offer up as samples, then if someone orders a crap ton they start real production if not the part just disappears
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On 02/16/2017 11:53 AM, John Larkin wrote:> 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 parts > > The Max809 poweron-reset family is great, as long as you don't get > them from Maxim. > >ON Semi beats them on price, too. "We make the other guy's stuff better for less money" seems like a good business model if you can get away with it
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On 02/16/2017 11:59 AM, John Larkin wrote:> The 9691 is a comparator with back-to-back diodes across the > inputs!!!!Well so long as the voltages you're comparing are the same voltage it's not a problem, eh?
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 11:42:34 -0500, bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net> wrote:>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...Maxim makes a digital capacitor. The 2-pin interface is reset count up -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc picosecond timing precision measurement jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com http://www.highlandtechnology.com
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:16:56 -0500, bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net> wrote:>On 02/16/2017 11:59 AM, John Larkin wrote: > >> The 9691 is a comparator with back-to-back diodes across the >> inputs!!!! > >Well so long as the voltages you're comparing are the same voltage it's >not a problem, eh? > >Oh. Good point. -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc picosecond timing precision measurement jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com http://www.highlandtechnology.com
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 18:01:28 -0000 (UTC), Frank Miles <fpm@u.washington.edu> wrote:>On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:33:48 -0800, 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? > >We've used "genuine Maxim" MAX232s with success. Nice to have multiple >sources, an increasingly rare phenomenon! One of our more significant >products has a Maxim flyback controller chosen due to a niche combination >of voltages, currents, and efficiency. So far it's remained available >over more than a decade of production. > >OTOH we've had issues with ICs from a variety of manufacturers, >including TI. In general the more complex chips have less comprehensible >data sheets and bigger operator traps. It's not surprising. Even >Tektronix in its glory days had the occasional clunker 'scope. > >Sadly, Maxim seems to have a widespread reputation of interesting >parts that are or become unobtanium.I read an interview with the CEO where he said that they deliberately make their pinouts nonstandard. OK, I deliberately don't buy their parts. -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc picosecond timing precision measurement jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com http://www.highlandtechnology.com
Reply by ●February 16, 20172017-02-16
On Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:11:11 -0500, bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net> wrote:>On 02/16/2017 11:53 AM, John Larkin wrote: >> 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 parts >> >> The Max809 poweron-reset family is great, as long as you don't get >> them from Maxim. >> >> > >ON Semi beats them on price, too. > >"We make the other guy's stuff better for less money" seems like a good >business model if you can get away with itAnd you can't trademark a part number. -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc picosecond timing precision measurement jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com http://www.highlandtechnology.com
