National, and I'm sure other vendors make linear regulators that are designed for automotive use. The standard 78XX or 340T-X regulators won't handle it reliably. You will need a much more robust solution for that input. The voltage across the points can be momentarily as high as a few hundred volts, and can go negative. -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist