Nigel
I did read your hardware extra bit and I thought I had got it right
post "5"
isn't my post 5 the same (or similar) to this?
The only difference I can see is I'm using 5v for the +ve and a module instead of a lamp
Would I be better off with a 1K resistor?
"The 'sinking' example is probably the easiest to understand, as the PIC pin goes high current flows through R1 turning the transistor ON, effectively connecting the bottom end of the lamp to ground. This method has a rather useful property, the +ve supply to the lamp isn't related in any way to the supply voltage of the PIC, so you could quite happily have the PIC fed from 5V, and a 12V supply feeding the lamp, you just need to make sure that they share a common 0V or Gnd connection."