9 Pin Serial Pinout



Pinout of Epson Serial/RS-232 Cable DB9 to DB25 and layout of 9 pin D-SUB male connector and 25 pin D-SUB female connectorfor Epson Thermal/Impact Receipt Printer. 5 Pack Your Cable Store Serial Port 9 Pin Null Modem Adapter DB9 Male / Female RS232. The D-subminiature or D-sub is a common type of electrical connector. RS-422 Serial 9 pin 01 Mar 1998 9 pin D-SUB female connector. This connector is used on PCA-6773 motherboard and some other hardware.

9 pin serial cable pinout colorsPinout

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9 Pin Serial Pinout

The correct connection of the various pins used for an RS232 data link are key to the operation of the system.

Knowing the RS232 pinouts, or pin connections, and being able to make the required links enables the handshaking to operate correctly and the data to flow smoothly.

Rs232 9 Pin Connector

Although the RS232 standard does not define a connector, the 9 way and 25 way D-type connectors are very popular and provide an excellent format.

When using RS232, two main types of equipment are nominated. One is a data Terminal Equipment, DCE and the other is known as the Data Terminal Equipment, DTE. These abbreviations are widely used within RS232 and other communications terminology.

9 pin serial pinout

By using the pin outs as detailed below the RS232 cables used should be a 'one to one' configuration. This considerably simplifies the manufacture of RS232 cables and often means that standard cables can be used.

RS232 25 pin connections and functions

The RS232 (EIA-232-A) specification provides a full set of details for a wide variety of connections that can be used with RS232. While many of them are not normally known, they may be used in some circumstances and therefore the details are provided here for reference.


RS232 25 pin signal definition for the DTE device - looking into the DTE connector
DTE device is often a PC
DTE Pin NoCircuit nameAbbreviationSource
1Protective earth
2Transmitted dataTXDDTE
3 Received data RXD DCE
4 Request to send RTS DTE
5 Clear to send CTS DCE
6 Data set ready DSR DCE
7 Signal ground
8 Data carrier detect DCD DCE
9 Reserved for data set test
10 Reserved for data set test
11 Unassigned
12 Secondary received signal detector DCE
13 Secondary clear to send DCE
14 Secondary transmitted data DTE
15 Transmission signal element timing DCE
16 Secondary received data DCE
17 Receive signal element timing DCE
18 Unassigned
19 Secondary request to send DTE
20 Data terminal ready DTR DTE
21 Signal quality detector DCE
22 Ring indicator DCE
23 Data signal rate selector DCE/DTR
24 Transmit signal element timing DTE
25 Unassigned

RS232 25 pin signal definition for the DCE device - looking into the DCE connector
DTE device is often a device such as a modem
DCE Pin NoCircuit nameAbbreviationSource
1Protective earth
2Received dataRXDDCE
3 Transmitted data TXD DTE
4 Clear to send CTS DCE
5 Request to send RTS DTE
6 Data set ready DCE
7 Signal ground
8 Data carrier detect DCD DCE
9 Reserved for data set test
10 Reserved for data set test
11 Unassigned
12 Secondary received signal detector DCE
13 Secondary request to send DTE
14 Secondary received data DCE
15 Transmission signal element timing DCE
16 Secondary transmitted data DTE
17 Receive signal element timing DCE
18 Unassigned
19 Secondary clear to send DCE
20 Data terminal ready DTR DTE
21 Signal quality detector DCE
22 Ring indicator DCE
23 Data signal rate selector DCE/DTR
24 Transmit signal element timing DTE
25 Unassigned

By using these configurations it means that an RS232 cable connecting a DTE to a DCE will be wired in a one-to-one configuration, i.e. pin 1 to pin 1, etc.

RS232 9pin connections, functions and pin-outs

Although the RS232 25 pin configuration with a 25 way D-type connector is very widely used, in many applications the smaller 9 way D-type connector is used in many applications. It provides an obvious size and cost benefit. Also the RS232 9pin configuration is quite sufficient in most circumstances because many of the lines available for RS232 signalling are rarely used. This means that the 9 way connector is able to provide all the required connectivity for most applications.

9 Pin Serial Loopback Pinout


RS232 9pin signal definition for the DTE device - looking into the DTE connector
DTE RS232 device is often a PC.
Pin NoCircuit nameAbbreviationSource
1Received line signal detect
2Receive dataRXD
3 Transmit data TXD
4 Data terminal ready DTR
5 Signal ground
6 Data set ready DSR DCE
7 Request to send RTS
8 Clear to send CTS
9 Ring indicator

RS232 9pin signal definition for the DCE device - looking into the DCE connector
DCE device is often a modem
Pin NoCircuit nameAbbreviationSource
1Received line signal detect
2Transmit dataTXD
3 Receive data RXD
4 Data terminal ready DTR
5 Signal ground
6 Data set ready DSR DCE
7 Clear to send CTS
8 Request to send RTS
9 Ring indicator

By using these configurations it means that an RS232 cable connecting two RS232 devices, i.e. a DTE to a DCE will be wired in a one-to-one configuration, i.e. pin 1 to pin 1, etc.

When using RS232 it is essential to ensure that the correct connections are being used. It can be very difficult to fault-find when the wrong connections are made as nothing happens. Checking the voltages are correct and that the correct pins have been connected normally resolves the issues.

9 Pin Serial Port Pinout

Sometimes confusion can be caused by defining which is the DTE and which is the DCE. Once this has been correctly done, and the correct pins connected, the system should operate well.

9 Pin Serial Port Diagram

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