Hi Darrel

All the LED limiting resistors are 150 ohm(typing error).The VDD connection to the phototransistor was corrected and I have posted the new schematic "Scrolling_2" above.About the MCLR though, I thought by disabling it with "@ device mclr_off", I turned it to be a digital input. That is why I tied it to 7805 output so that it would tell the PIC when the main power is off (go to low_power mode to conserve battery energy). I also used (R1)10kohm as a pull down resistor on RA5 so that RA5 would not float when the main power is off. Does it make sense ?

Hi Bruce

The ACS108 is used for controlling 110v solenoid.I completely agree with you about using the ACS switch.In the nest version ,opto-isolated solid state really will be used.I have not paid attention to RA4. Thank you for pointing that it is an open drain output. I really need to drive that NPN. I don't know how but either I have to use RA4 with a pull up resistor or use RA2 as in my configuration (VRCON.6 =0) I have not used this port for any thing else. A close examination shows that this pin was configured as digital input (TRISA= %10100110). So I think this might be another problem in my program as this pin could have floated at any time.The problem with RA2 is that it says in the datasheet "The RA2 pin can be used as a simple D/A output with limited drive capability. Due to the limited drive capability, a buffer must be used in conjunction with the Voltage Reference output for external connections to VREF. "

I really need your advise which way to go.

Best Regards
geselaw