myke predko wrote:
>
> Thanx for all the replies.  Oh well, it seemed like a good idea at the time
> (is there a sheepish grin character?).
>
> Peter,
>
> I think I would go with your suggestion.  I presume the circuit would be:
>
>                       ______
>  +15V-----+----------| 7812 |-----+--------------------+      +--- To Pwr
>           |          |______|     |                    |      |    Control
>          ---Filter       |       ---Filter              \|    -
>          ---Cap          -       ---Cat                  |    ^
>           |              ^Diode   |                     /|    |
>           |              |        |                    |      |
>           +--------------+--------+                    |      +--- To +5V
>                          |                          To PIC
>                         Gnd                         to be
>                                                   Programmed
>


That looks like it but might i suggest a pull down on the open end of
the opto to pull it back to GND when it is not switched on. It will just
float otherwise and not return to GND. I used a value of 10K for mine.


Peter ........


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