>        My problem is that the MOSFET is getting very hot.  It is rated
>at 8 amps and 40 watts with rds on of 0.27 ohm (at 5 amps).  Thus far I have
>only used about 30 percent duty cycle to the load.  By my calculations that
>should be just over 2 watts in the MOSFET even at 100% duty cycle.  But
>that little puppy is cooking.
>
>        I hesitate to display my ignorance but am I just missing
>something basic about the use of MOSFETs?

I think so. I think this is like a problem I had using the same MOSFET to
drive a transformer primary. You need to turn the gate on with a voltage
higher than the circuit Vcc. Try creating a seperate power supply a volt or
so higher to power the PIC and the 4050. See if that reduces the voltage
drop across the MOSFET to a level that would result in the .3 ohm rds on
range. I think this is whats called a "high-side" drive.