Bob,
Thanks for the responce. I was starting out with a curiosity about possible known issues with the 876A and PBP / U2 programmer? Sorry for the vague question.

The source shown here is a stripped out version to test basic function of the circuit and compiler.

10meg osc is doing it's job. Power is clean @ 5V. Been over the hardware and PCB layout and is error free.

I can flash the LED if I remove the if tpin test. With the IF Then, the thing seems dead!

'''''''''''''hardware setup''''''''''''''''''''''
@ device pic16f876a, debug_off, hs_osc, wdt_off, pwrt_on, bod_off, protect_off
CMCON = 7 'disable adcs, porta = digital
define osc 10 'external clock 20 mhz '''

'''''''''''''''''''''''port setup''''''''''''''''''''''
TRISA.0 = 1
TRISA.1 = 1
TRISA.2 = 1
TRISB.0 = 0
TRISB.1 = 0
TRISB.2 = 0
TRISB.3 = 0
TRISB.4 = 0
TRISB.5 = 0
TRISB.6 = 1
TRISB.7 = 1
TRISC.0 = 1
TRISC.1 = 1
TRISC.2 = 1
TRISC.3 = 1
TRISC.4 = 1

'''''''''''''''''define''''''''''''''''''''''''
z1_relay VAR PORTB.0
z2_relay VAR PORTB.1
z3_relay VAR PORTB.2
z4_relay VAR PORTB.3
z5_relay VAR PORTB.4
z6_relay VAR PORTB.5
z1_read VAR PORTB.6
z2_read VAR PORTB.7
z3_read VAR PORTC.3
z4_read VAR PORTC.2
z5_read VAR PORTC.1
z6_read VAR PORTC.0
stat_led VAR PORTC.4
'conn40 var PORTA.0
conn41 var PORTA.1
conn42 var PORTA.2
lcd_tx var PORTC.6
serial_rx var PORTC.7
tpin var PORTA.0
'''''''''''''''reg defines''''''''''''''''''''''''
i var byte
therm_status var byte
'therm_calc1 var byte
'therm_calc2 var byte
'water_temp var byte
'cyc_count var word
'ondelay_1 var BYTE
'ondelay_2 var word
'therm_result var byte
'suspend var Byte
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '

main:
if tpin = 0 then main
low stat_led
pause 500
high stat_led
pause 500
goto main
end