I know this sounds nuts, but has anyone attempted to wire output from a potentiometer so that it provides input to two separate devices. Currently, the potentiometers on my customized rudder are wired to a Bodnar BU8036A and they work great. The problem I have is I cant use them most of the time with older games due to DirectX limitations (i.e. I have a LOT of input devices on my system).

I have a TM Cougar, and have created a customized PCB board to wire the Cougar gameport controller to my rudders. This would allow me to use TARGET to create a virtual controller which would include my TM Warthog Joystick / Throttle and the rudders to a single virtual device for older games. I would, however, still like to keep the Bodnar device as it is somewhat more accurate for input (12-bit as opposed to what I think is 8-bit on the Cougar).

So my thought is if I could wire the device in such a way as to send the wiper output from each of the three potentiometers on my rudder (i.e. X, Y and Z axes) to both controllers this would accomplish what I wish. Essentially, I'd have two devices which would mirror one another.

Anyone ever hear success stories with this type of a setup? Am I insane?

One last point...the Z axis on the rudder is a hall sensor....which I realize adds complexity because I have to be careful not to reverse the +5V and Gnd connections. Or would it? Would I only use +5V and Gnd from one device (not both)?

My vote goes to "insane".

You can get "dual pots" that have 2 pots controlled by one shaft, and hook one device up to each pot...separately.

But no, you cannot run 1 pot in 2 circuits...lots of issues there. The wiper is not an "output" from the pot that can be treated independently from the other two terminals.

How about using a (physical) switch to change between configurations? Or how about using some relays, controlled from another microcontroller connected to your PC?

That should definitely work. The signal splitting problem is for the experts. Maybe ask that question on an electronics forum, too.

easiest solution would be to use a dual (stereo) potentiometer as Teej said BTW I'm not sure that is possible to use the HALL sensor on the cougar rudder port because is not used as a voltage divider but as a variable resistor (like the original TM pedals) you could use the toe brake axis but i don't know if the resolution is enough.

I figured as much...I couldn't quite figure out a way to do it in my mind. As for the idea of a physical switch, that's an option I may take.

BTW, I don't see an issue with using the Hall sensor and the Cougar...its a Vishay Model 351 HE and is a drop-in replacement for rotary potentiometers...its been working just fine with Bodnar board....why would this be an issue?

Bloody shame there isn't a good solution to create a single virtual device across multiple vendors...and yes, I know there are some solutions out there but I did qualify my statement by saying "good". ;-)

As long as the pot is used as voltage divider (with all3 wires: +5,wiper and GND connected ) use an hall sensor wouldn't be an issue as long as is the right one for the voltage you are using. but again rudder(and that one only) axis of the cougar is designed to be used with a potused as variable resistor with2 wires only(+5 and wiper) i have no idea if is possible to connect the gnd and use the voltage divider config it could simply not work or worse you could fry it, so be very careful