thanks so much for the responses...but do you have any idea why this could be happening? or any other trouble shooting approaches? i've tried different relays, different diodes...it's just any time the diode is connected to the relay on both ends it stops working...if i just have the anode connected to he coil, it works...if just the cathode is connected...it works...but as soon as both are connected...it stops working...but in the same breadboarded circuit..no problems.