Have your DC as ripple free as possible. It's claimed that=A0AC on the supply produces thermal cycling which can shorten life considerably. I'd have thought that AC at a >> frequency than the device's thermal time =A0constant should be no great problem, =A0but it's claimed that it is. YMMV. =A0=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0R. --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .