16.8 is off the data sheet which is probably based on 3 volts. It is far easier to change to a 18F1320 than change the board from sourcing to sinking the relay. I have already changed the code to use the 1320 but it still leaves me a little bothered like I am missing something. If it is just a quirk in the 1827 or in the lot I bought then that is what it is. However, that seems to be the least likely of scenarios which makes me think I have done something wrong in the setup. I am about out of hair and some pretty smart people have looked at this already with no results. I am pretty close to just going with the 1320 for everything and burying this issue in the book of unsolved mysteries.