THE EQUIPMENT IS HOUSED IN PAINTED MS BOX, WITH PROPER GROUNDING CONNECTIONS, ITS A OUT DOOR UNIT
I AM USING TI MAX232 SOIC ICS IN UNIT TO UNIT COMMUNICATION APPLICATION.
THE UNITS ARE 2 TO 3 METERS APART, AND POWERED SEPERATELY THRU SMPS FROM 230VAC MAINS.
ONE UNIT IS CONFIGURED AS MASTER, AND OTHERS ARE SLAVES, SLAVES CAN VARY IN NUMBER RANGING FROM 1-6.
NOW WE ARE FACING A PROBLEM OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THESE UNITS. ON PROBING WE COULD FIND THAT MAX232 ICS WERE THE CULPRITS. WE HAVE OBSERVED IN FAILED UNITS THAT THE MAX232 ICS WERE HEATING UP AND COMMUNICATION WAS FUNCTIONING. THIS WAS HAPPENING IN MASTERS AS WELL AS SLAVE UNITS.
THIS WAS OBSERVED IN SEVERAL UNITS. PL. ADVISE US.
REGARDS,
B. MADHUSUDAN
