Have you tried to use the max232 inverted? Sometime ago, somebody from
Maxim told something about that, using max232 as a DC-DC converter
(what it really is) but in reverse direccion. Feeding it with RTS (for
example) and obtaining 5V at 16pin. I'll try to check on this.
I hope to find it, it was a looooong time ago.
Bye!
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Enzo Gomez, EE