one single PIC microcontroller is not enough. Overall you need an array of PIC's synchronized with each other in order to make it altogether work. The higher the frequency the better is it. Plus you need a large memory over 64-128kb attached in the chip.
Idea seems great, francky must yeild inexpensive solution to the problem and becomes better electronic household equipment.
i have the same problem with my project
the pic rest when the contactor is energized
(my project is control of 4 pumps operat star delta and filling tank and swap each other )
All micro-controllers are susceptible to EMI, it is proper design that reduces EMI is an application.
From the scheme posted I think an 18F4620 or 18F2620 series PIC is quite suitable it has more than enough RAM and ROM. Moreover it is pin compatible with the 16F877A.
More advices to minimize transient effects on "any" micro-controller.
1. Using the diagram provide by emrahmrcn, add another 0.1 ceramic capacitor very near the PIC power pins.
2. Try to make direct connection to pic pins as short as possible.
3. Avoid direct connect wires to pic pins (sensors, ...) put a resistor in between. Eg. 100 ohm, 1k.
4. Use buffering when necessary (e.g. with transistors common emitter with base resistor of 10k)
5. Use a good ground plane (be generous with ground PCB space)
6. If noise spikes are very strong use a metalic box for the microcontroler board.
7. A shock coil with ferrite before circuit of emrahmrcn.
Many more advices could be done but the best approach would be to measure signal in PIC terminals with a storage scope with triggered mode.
Hi
If EMi is such a big issue why not use optical isolators and seperate power supply(multi winding transformer). One supply (5V) for running digital logic and other power supply say 12V for running the relays and the solenoids!!!!!