MiniPac Q. (not a common one)

[crashwg]

Is there any reason that you can think of that the minipac would need for a TB's X&Y axis 5v&neg to be wired seperately vs. being wired together?

Here's the pic from ultimarc that shows the TB's axis being supplied their power from two different locations on the board...

[Zakk]

You mean from J2?  Maybe so that there is a steady supply of juice for both opticals, like when you scroll a diagonal?  I mean, the ground could be common, but maybe that's it, or maybe I'm not getting the question, or maybe he was looking to fill the available pins

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'm guessing it's one of two things:

1) Most trackballs have separate wires for each optical sensor, or
2) It may be to prevent the optics from drawing, unresisted, in parallel.
There may be some kind of current limiters built into the internal circuitry that can't supply enough current if two sensors are connected to the same terminal.

E-mail Andy and ask.
I'm sure he'll have the definitive answer on this, as it's his product.

[crashwg]

FYI, I have emailed Andy and I'm waiting for a response.  I'm almost postive I'll get an answer as he's a great guy, but I'm extremly impatient and want answers now!... J/K  But I am impatient.

[NoOne=NBA=]

He's usually pretty quick as far as suppliers go.
The only other person I've gotten answers that quickly from is Oscar.

I guess your choices are wait for guesses here, or answers there, so....

[crashwg]

Woohoo!  The powers are all the same so wiring will be as simple as IDE & 1 5v pin of the group of 10 pins.

Only thing I have to figure out now is which "pull up resistors" I need to use with my ultimarc TB and where to get some.