Hello and thanks for the reply
I want to use a timer in visual basic.net along with the IO.DLL from here:
http://www.geekhideout.com/iodll.shtml to operate the data pins. That seems to work because I do have control over that 4 tenths of a volt (wow!).
Their parallel port monitor:
http://www.geekhideout.com/parmon.shtml can also toggle the pins.
I have never wired anything in the way that you described. I saw it mentioned in a parallel port faq and thought that it would be difficult for me to do - calculations and accurate testing. It certainly did seem like a better way to do it though. If I remember right you can draw more than 2x the current.
But, even if I did this wouldn't I still not have enough difference in voltage between the two states ( High/Low) to make the relay turn off? - not sure if that is the right way to phrase it.
Thanks Again,
Jason