202 for housing components of the drive mechanism 303 of the paintball loader the drive cartridge 202 includes a paintball drive assembly 300 which includes a feed mechanism or feeder 330 and drive motor 366 the motor 366 may be in communication with a controller 207 which may include circuitry and or microprocessor for controlling at least one operation of the loader 100 for example activating the feed mechanism 330 after a projectile is fired from the marker adjusting the rate of feeding or stopping the feed mechanism 330 in the event of a jammed projectile an empty loader or when a paintball marker with which the loader is communicating ceases firing the controller 207 is preferably located behind a faceplate 209 or cover and may be controlled by the user via at least one accessible button 282 the button 282 may also power the loader u201c on u201d and u201c off u201d the drive cartridge 202 may include a compartment 210 in which the motor 366 a power source such as a battery 217 for powering the motor 366 controller 107 or any combination thereof is housed in another embodiment the controller 107 or any other components may also be stored within the compartment 210 to locate such components further inside the interior 104 of the loader 100 the compartment 210 of the cartridge 202 may be accessible via an access door 211 when the cartridge 202 is removed from the cartridge cavity 200.