Quote Originally Posted by Melanie View Post
That's fine. Your isolating the PICs supply from that used for other significant switching loads, which is the whole idea. What that 'other' supply becomes, is irrelevant.

I really can't comment on the size of your Capacitors without knowing what your total worst-case load will be and what is actually going to be used as the Regulator. Build it and see...

If it's an automotive application, you should really be using 12v Relays. All you are accomplishing (other than using up your stock of 5v components) is heating up the planet! When the ice caps melt, it's now public knowledge that it'll be YOUR fault.
I'm sure the "carbon footprint" of my modified vehicles doesn't exactly qualify me as an "environmentalist", either.

As for your suggested components, I have downloaded the datasheet for the ULN2004 and briefly read through it. Since I'm currently classified as a "student" (even though my classes don't begin until January), I've requested some samples of both the ULN2004 and the ULN2803 from TI, but at least ten of each are on my next Digikey purchase, which will be placed before the end of this weekend. The 12V relays are coming from both Digikey (two different kinds-Omron's G5LA series and Tyco's PB114012-eight of each for the time being) and anykits.com (along with a few additional PIC peripheral components and development boards). I should have both orders in by the 6th, so I'll concentrate on writing the code for the '690 in the meantime...

I made sure to download the correct manufacturer's datasheet for both transistor arrays...

Again, I really appreciate the time you've taken to help me out with this. It's people like you (Melanie and Dave) that make this forum a wonderfully educational site that I'm proud to be a part of. Thanks to you guys, I'm sure that my "A.R.S.C." project will be a success...

Sincerely,
-Adam Collins