Nikolai Golovchenko wrote:

> Current ratio of a typical power transistor is about 40.  So maximum
> output current of optocoupler should be 1 A / 40 = 25 mA.  Practically
> any optocoupler is enough.

  You sure?  The older opto-couplers, in some versions, have gain
factors or 1 or less.  You don't really want to be using more than 10mA,
and preferably 5 mA, per PIC output to drive the couplers, so you need
to keep an eye on this.
--
  Cheers,
        Paul B.