Tech Info - RS232 Cables and Wiring

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Tech RS232 Cables, Wiring and Pinouts

Standards
tech home
RS232 Wiring Stuff
web stuff General
dom stuff
css stuff RS232 standards are defined by EIA/TIA (Electronic Industries ISO (International)
Alliance /Telecommunications Industry Association). RS232 defines
language stuff ANSI (US)
both the physical and electrical characteristics of the interface.
regex stuff DIN (Germany)
RS232 is practically identical to ITU V.24 (signal description and
rfc stuff names) and V.28 (electrical). RS232 is an Active LOW voltage driven ETSI (EU)

protocol stuff interface and operates at +12V to -12V where: BSI (UK)
AFNOR (France)
cable stuff
Signal = 0 (LOW) > +3.0V
lan wiring
Telecom
rs232 wiring
Signal = 1 (HIGH) < -3.0V
howto stuff
TIA (US)
wireless stuff Notes: EIA (US)
ascii codes
ITU (International)
data rate stuff 1. Signal voltages in the range >-3.0V to +3.0V is regarded as IEEE (US)
telephony stuff the 'dead area' and allows for absorption of noise. For more on
ETSI (EU)
mechanical stuff this stuff go here.
OFTEL (UK)
pc stuff
2. The power level on RS232 pins is defined by TIA in terms of
electronic stuff Internet
short circuit protection at 100mA. Most RS232 drivers will
tech links provide lower short circuit protection (especially for laptops).
open guides A max of 50mA PER PIN may be available but the data sheet IETF
for the specific interface should consulted before commiting to IETF-RFCs
externally powered designs.
IANA
ICANN
3. We received an email recently pointing out some issues with
W3C
NULL modem cables. The pinout shown below will gnerally
work. However there are many permutations of signal sets
that can be used by either end of a connection and they may Electronics
not be SYMETRIC. One end may expect something (a signal)
that the other end cannot generate. This typically happens
JEDEC
with CTS/RTS (and perhaps DCD) and DTR/DSR. If you
suspect this is the case then unfortunately you need to EIA (US)
UNDERSTAND the interface and may have to SPOOF certain
signals. Our signal primer page may help you. Finally if you Our Stuff
are having serious problems splash out on a light box or some
other device that will show you which signals are being
RS Alphabet Soup
activated.
Cable FAQ
Modular Jacks
4. Watch the terms DTE (Data Terminal Equipment - e.g. a
terminal or PC) and DCE (Data communications Equipment - e. Serial Primer
g. a modem) the meaning and use of certain pins may differ. RS-232 wiring
All the diagrams below define the interface from the DTE lan wiring
perspective. An RS232 interface has a female and male
connector, the male connector has the bits sticking out!! CSS Layout

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Tech Info - RS232 Cables and Wiring

5. The terms Data Carrier Detect (DCD) and Received Line Signal
Detect (RLSD) are one and the same. We use DCD throughout
'cos we think its more common. printer friendly

6. Like most folks we use the term DB9 which is widely - but
erroneously - used to describe a 9-pin serial connector. We
got an email pointing out the error of our ways. So, if you
want to amaze your friends over the dinner table you can read
more here and use the technically correct terms in the future.
Seriously, while we get away with it most of the time (with
common or garden PCs) sometimes its essential to know
EXACTLY what connector type you are talking about.

7. RS-232-E is normally defined to be used with a DB25

connector, but does have a 26 pin alternate (and much
smaller connector). We suggest that if you come across one of
these that you do the decent thing - use an expletive
(alternatively with your luck you could consider buying a
lottery ticket)!

8. We have received a number of emails recently asking how to

wire DB9's using cat5(e) cable. We guess there is lot more
LAN cable lying around these days. We have added a null
modem only section to cover this wiring. There is absolutely
no standard to cover this form of wiring. This section is simply
offered as one of many possible ways to do it.

Contents

RS232 on DB25 Pinout (RS-232C)

RS232 on DB9 Pinout (EIA/TIA - 574)

RS232 on RJ45 (RS-232D EIA/TIA-561)

RS232 DB25 NULL Modem Pinout

RS232 DB9 NULL Modem Pinout

RS232 DB9 NULL Modem Pinout using Cat5(e)

RS232 DB9 to DB25 Pinout

RS232 DB9 to DB25 NULL Modem Pinout

V.35 on a DB25 (EIA/TIA RS-530-A)

DBx - Designations for D type sub-miniature connectors

T1/E1 Pinout (RJ-48C)

RS232 on DB25 (RS-232C)

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Signal/pin primer

Note: This is NOT the same as the DB25 Parallel port on a PC which
is defined here.

Pin No. Name Notes/Description

1 - Protective/shielded ground

2 TD Transmit Data (a.k.a TxD, Tx)

3 RD Receive Data (a.k.a RxD, Rx)

4 RTS Request To Send

5 CTS Clear To Send

6 DSR Data Set Ready

7 SGND Signal Ground

8 CD Carrier Detect (a.k.a DCD)

9 - Reserved for data set testing

10 - Reserved for data set testing

11 - Unassigned

12 SDCD Secondary Carrier Detect

13 SCTS Secondary Clear to send

14 STD Secondary Transmit Data

15 DB Transmit Clock (a.k.a TCLK, TxCLK)

16 SRD Secondary Receive Data

17 DD Receive Clock (a.k.a. RCLK)

18 LL Local Loopback

19 SRTS Secondary Request to Send

20 DTR Data Terminal Ready
21 RL/SQ Signal Quality Detector/Remote loopback

Ring Indicator (DCE raises when incoming

22 RI call detected used for auto answer
applications)

23 CH/CI Signal Rate selector

24 DA Auxiliary Clock (a.k.a. ACLK)

25 - Unassigned

NOTE: Leave all pins not specified above unconnected.

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view - looking into male connector

RS232 on DB9 (EIA/TIA 574)

Signal/pin primer

Pin No. Name Notes/Description

1 DCD Data Carrier Detect

2 RD Receive Data (a.k.a RxD, Rx)

3 TD Transmit Data (a.k.a TxD, Tx)

4 DTR Data Terminal Ready

5 SGND Ground
6 DSR Data Set Ready

7 RTS Request To Send

8 CTS Clear To Send

9 RI Ring Indicator

View - looking into male connector

RS232 on RJ45 (RS-232D)

More properly EIA/TIA - 561. Use when connecting to or from a

serial port with a 8 position Modular Jack (RJ45). If you are cross-
connecting from a DB9 or a DB25 use the signal names to cross
connect the appropriate connections.

Signal/pin primer

Pin No. Name Notes/Description

1 DSR/RI Data set Ready/ring indicator

2 DCD Data Carrier Detect

3 DTR Data Terminal Ready

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4 SGND Signal Ground

5 RD Receive Data

6 TD Transmit Data

7 CTS Clear to Send

8 RTS Request to Send

Note: Pin 1 is a multi-function pin sharing with DSR (Data Set

Ready) and RI (Ring Indicator). This means it is impossible to
differentiate between a incoming ring signal and when the modem
has finally connected and synched up. With local (null modem
connections) or if the modem is run in auto-answer mode this is not
normally a problem. If used with a modem and the DTE (the
computer end) wants to control the connection the problem is more
real. DSR would normally indicate the 'connected and synched-up'
state following DTR from the DTE. DCD will indicate that a carrier
has been received but does not indicate synchronization of both
ends. In most cases however CLS (Clear To Send) in response to
RTS (Request To Send) will not normally be returned until an end-to-
end connection is available.

RJ45 Male Connector Pin Numbering

RS232 DB25 NULL Modem Pinout

Use when connecting two systems (e.g. PCs) via their DB25
interfaces without a modem (i.e. back-to-back). See the full signal
names in the DB25 sections.

If this pinout does not work for you then you could try our Signal/pin
primer because you may need to SPOOF connections.

Note: This DB25 is NOT the same as the DB25 Parallel port on a PC
which is defined here.

DB25 Signal DB25 Signal

3 RD 2 TD

2 TD 3 RD

20 DTR 6,8 DSR, DCD

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6,8 DSR, DCD 20 DTR

4 RTS 5 CTS

5 CTS 4 RTS

7 SGND 7 SGND
22 RI 22 RI

NOTE:

1. Leave all pins not specified above unconnected.

2. We have received email suggesting that the above pinout

looks like DTR from one side is driving into DSR/DCD on the
other side - not normally a healthy situation. The emails miss
the point that since both ends are DTEs NEITHER should be
attempting to drive the DSR/DCD signals. They are essentialy
RX only signals on both sides.

RS232 DB9 NULL Modem Pinout

Use when connecting two systems (e.g. PCs) via their DB9 interfaces
without a modem (i.e. back-to-back). See the full signal names in
the DB9 section.

If this pinout does not work for you then you could try our Signal/pin
primer because you may need to SPOOF connections.

DB9 Signal DB9 Signal

2 RD 3 TD

3 TD 2 RD

4 DTR 6,1 DSR, DCD

6,1 DSR, DCD 4 DTR

7 RTS 8 CTS

8 CTS 7 RTS
5 SGND 5 SGND

9 RI 9 RI

NOTE:

1. We have received email suggesting that the above pinout

looks like DTR from one side is driving into DSR/DCD on the
other side - not normally a healthy situation. The emails miss
the point that since both ends are DTEs NEITHER should be
attempting to drive the DSR/DCD signals. They are essentialy
RX only signals on both sides.

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RS232 DB9 NULL Modem Pinout on CAT5

This is in response to a number of recent emails asking how to wire

both ends of a DB9 connection using cat5(e) cable. This must not be
confused with DB9 to RJ45 (RS232D). We have shown a null modem
(back-to-back PCs) only configuration. And if you want to use cat5
(e) with a real modem? Our advice - don't.

Warning:. There is no standard to cover the use of cat5(e) (8

conductor) wiring when used with two DB9 connectors. Any wiring
scheme is non-standard - that includes the wiring scheme below.
Specifically this means that both ends of the cable must be wired in
the same way and that no assumptions can be made about how the
other end is wired. You will have to manually inspect both ends of
the connection. Damage can result from mis-matched wiring.

A DB9 clearly has 9 connections and a cat5(e) cable has 8

conductors. RS232D has chosen to use Pin 1 as a multi-function pin
(DSR/RI) to provide maximum flexibility with modems. We have
chosen to use a minor variation on the normal DB9 Null modem
pinout above. The actual colors are unimportant but the suggested
configuration is one way to provide the shortest use of the adjacent
(twisted) pairs.

If this pinout does not work for you then you could try our Signal/pin
primer because you may need to SPOOF connections.

DB9 Signal cat5(e) DB9 Signal cat5(e)

Color Color

2 RD Brown 3 TD Blue

3 TD Blue 2 RD Brown
Brown-
4 DTR Green 6,1 DSR, DCD
white

Brown-
6,1 DSR, DCD 4 DTR Green
white
Blue- Green-
7 RTS 8 CTS
white white
Green- Blue-
8 CTS 7 RTS
white white

5 SGND Orange 5 SGND Orange

Orange- Orange-
9 RI 9 RI
white white

NOTE:

1. We have received email suggesting that the above pinout

looks like DTR from one side is driving into DSR/DCD on the
other side - not normally a healthy situation. The emails miss

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the point that since both ends are DTEs NEITHER should be
attempting to drive the DSR/DCD signals. They are essentialy
RX only signals on both sides.

RS232 DB9 to DB25 Pinout

Use when connecting a DB9 (e.g. a PC) to a DB25 (e.g. a modem)

interface. See the full signal names in the DB9 and DB25 section.

Signal/pin primer

DB9 Signal DB25

1 DCD 8
2 RD 3
3 TD 2

4 DTR 20

5 SGND 7
6 DSR 6

7 RTS 4

8 CTS 5

9 RI 22

NOTE: Leave all pins not specified above unconnected.

RS232 DB9 to DB25 NULL Modem Pinout

Use when connecting two systems (e.g. PCs) when one has a DB9
interface and the other a DB25 interface without a modem (i.e. back-
to-back). See the full signal names in the DB9 and DB25 sections.

Signal/pin primer

DB9 Signal DB25 Signal

2 RD 2 TD

3 TD 3 RD

4 DTR 6,8 DSR, DCD

6,1 DSR, DCD 20 DTR

7 RTS 5 CTS
8 CTS 4 RTS

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5 SGND 7 SGND

9 RI 22 RI

NOTE: Leave all pins not specified above unconnected.

V.35 on DB25 (RS-530-A)

The A and B below refer to each signal pair used in balanced serial
interfaces. BEWARE: RS-530 (without the A suffix) is an earlier
standard and is wired differently. This is the 530-A pinout spec.

Signal/pin primer

Pin No. Name Notes/Description

1 Shield -

2 Transmit Data (A) -

3 Received Data (A) -

4 RTS (A) Request To

Send

5 CTS (A) Clear To Send

6 DCE Ready Data

Communications
Equipment
Ready (modem/
CSU)

7 Signal Common -
8 DCD (A) Data Carrier
Detect (a.k.a
CD or RLSD)

9 Receiver Signal Element Timing (B) RX Clock

10 DCD (B) Data Carrier
Detect (a.k.a
CD or RLSD)

11 Ext Transmit Clock (B) -

12 Tramsmit Signal Element Timing (B) TX CLOCK
13 CTS (B) Clear to Send

14 Transmitted Data (B) Secondary

Transmit Data

15 Transmit Signal element Timing (A) TX CLOCK

16 Received Data (B) RX Data

17 Receiver Signal Element Timing (A) RX CLOCK

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18 Local Loopback -
19 RTS (B) Request to Send

20 DTE Ready Host end

21 Remote Loopback -

22 RI Ring Indicator

23 Signal Common -
24 Ext TX Clock (A) -

25 Test Mode -

NOTE: Leave all pins not specified above unconnected.

view - looking into male connector

DB - Designations for D-subminiature Connectors

This lists the designations for DB connectors (supplied by Rob Recny

- Thanks). Any errors in this list are ours not Rob's.

A - 15-pin 2-row joystick connector.

B - 25-pin 2-row serial or parallel connector - also 44-pin high-

density 3-row.

C - 37-pin connector - sometimes found on multi-port serial or

data acquisition boards.

D - 50-pin connector - a little longer than C, but three rows

using the same pins as the 2-row connectors.

E - 9-pin 2-row serial - also 3-row VGA.

So a DB9 is more properly a DE-9P. Isn't knowledge a wonderful

thing!

T1/E1 Pinout (RJ-48C)

T1/E1 wiring may use either a RJ45, DB15 or BNC connectors. The
pinout shown uses RJ45 connectors and is known as USOC RJ-48C.

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T1 is a North America (primarily) digital service providing 1.544

Mbps. E1 is a European/Rest of World standard providing digital
service at 2.048 Mbps. CATegory 5(e) cabling is used to provide
balanced pairs.

RJ45 Pin Signal Notes

1 RX1

2 RX2

3 FGND Ground/Shield

4 TX1

5 TX2
6 FGND Ground/Shield

7 NC Unused

8 NC Unused

NOTE: NC = Not connected.

Problems, comments, suggestions, corrections (including broken

links) or some thing to add? Please take the time from a busy life to
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Copyright 1994 - 2005 ZyTrax, Inc. web-master at zytrax

All rights reserved. Legal and Privacy site by zytrax Page modified: August 13 2005.

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