Quote Originally Posted by skimask View Post
As far as overheating, with the PIC out of the socket and power disconnected, if you put a meter between any Vss and Vdd, what do you get for a resistance reading? How about a Vf reading (normally seen as a continuity test on a meter when really it measures a diode's forward voltage)... Now try it with the PIC in the socket and power still disconnected?
Then hook up the meter to Vdd & Vss, turn it on volts, put the PIC in the socket, and plug in power just long enough to read the meter. Did the meter come up to system voltage? In other words...dead short somewhere on the board?
1.036kohm across vdd and vss "with" and "without" the chip. i tried another regulator that isnt mounted to anything, and it comes back with the same reading.

5V without chip, 4.48V with chip

when i put my meter on the doide symbol (i have never used it before and dont know what it is), i get .324V without any power applied to the board (im assuming there isnt supposed to be)