PIC to Relay

[RussMartin]

Hi guys. I want to use my pic to switch on/off a load (240v Light bulb) via a 5v relay. What transistor would be suitable, what relay and what diode should i use for "flyback"?

There are a huge number of choices, but if you want a quick solution, a generic NPN transistor like the 2N3904 would do it. If you're using 5 volts on the relay, a 2N7000 MOSFET would be even better. You can find circuit examples for both on line.

The 1N4001 is a good choice for the flywheel diode. It's already been suggested that you consider using a triac instead of a relay, and this is an excellent idea. A sensitive-gate triac can be used, or you can use a triac driver like the MOC3033.