Quote Originally Posted by ardhuru View Post
With a 1K resistor in series with the pic output, I dont think you would damage the opto LED even if connected reverse. I'm not saying removing the diodes is a solution, just that I think they are redundant.

Anand
I thought that too. In previous circuits that use optos i once connected one the wrong way and it never worked after i corrected it. I dont know for sure that the reverse current caused it as i had never turned it on before wriring it the wrong way. It could easily have been damaged by overheating during soldering or it might have been a bad component when it arrived.

The triacs/optos are inside the light holders and its very fiddly to replace them. I have thousands of diodes laying around and they cost almost nothing so its well worth including them just incase.