I'm upgrading the problem to Phantom rating.

Update:
I placed a .1uF cap right on the +/- for the 'F88 [still have the 1000uF on there]
I purchased a rechargeable battery: +12V
I built a 5V Regulator with .1uF on IN and OUT [L7805CV 1.5A]
I am now supplying power from the battery to the logic circuit, including:
PIC16F88
74HC165 PISO CASCADE
74HC164 SIPO CASCADE
411GHR R NETWORK
ULN2004 DARLINGTON ARRAY
5V RELAYS [16A 240VAC CONTACTS]
VARIOUS SWITCHES AND DIALS

The reset problem persists. ratsass.

The motors are 220VAC 1.5Horse and drive belt conveyors.
I have tried running the program without power to the motors [power from chip to darlington, to 5V relays; 110VAC through those relays to the motor drive relays,no load on those relay contacts] and it is an unqualified success. At no point during tests that range from 2 cycles to 25 cycles does the 'F88 reset itself. Yet, when I run the program with power to the motors, I get an intermittent restart. Restart occurs anywhere from 2 cycles to 7 cycles, 7 being on the high end. Even when I'm running under battery power!

spooky.

I made sure that it's not a full moon, and I didn't see any witchcraft paraphenalia in the vicinity. I don't think anyone holds a deep grudge against me... except for B, but he's living in a different state, and in any case he would get back to me through a much different route.

I'm attaching the code in-line below. sorry not to add a link, but it's late.

The only consistency that I've observed is that the restart happens at the moment the conveyor motors are started. Sure, they will draw a heavy load... they have alot of resistance to overcome at startup. BUT I'M USING A BATTERY!

If you've got any smart ideas, helpful or otherwise, I'd love to hear them.
Already thought of EMF, moved wires around [though didn't shield with grounded foil..] and still a restart.

Code below, and yes I do use that many comments when I'm writing.
Links to photos and a schematic to follow tomorrow.

Oh yeah, I haven't debugged the status bits yet. I'm 98% that it's a power-down reset... could that still help? [duh, stupid question]


Thanks for your time
Joel

PS well, I just got an error from the forum that my post is too long...
I'll try to post it in another reply, otherwise it'll wait to tomorrow for a link.
And I only got ONE crossing page boundary warning!!!

j