Hi everybody,

A few basic PIC hardware questions for you:

1.  I need more than 25mA.  I know it works to tie outputs
    together, but is it safe, as long as the specified max
    current of the port is not exceeded?  I have a feeling
    it's frowned upon.  I measured the short-circuit current
    between outputs, and it is less than 1 microamp, hi and
    low, loaded and unloaded.  I don't have a scope here,
    so I can't see what happens during switching.

2.  Isn't sinking slightly better/more efficient than
    sourcing?
    I'm talking of ordinary loads here, say 5mA.

3.  Is a PIC likely to die from things like a momentary
    short-circuit of an output, like during measuring?


Thanks.  I don't have a formal education in this field,
so excuse the amateurish angle.

Gustaf