I like to worry a lot over my designs, so I will throw this question at you guys: can the capacitor on the reset pin of an 8051 cause the micro to go into latchup? I would assume not, because manufacturers show this reset configuration on many datasheets without warnings. But then why wouldn't it?

A broader question would be: when should a designer worry about the effects of a capacitor directly connected to an input or output? A simple RC filter could easily expose an input or output to a large capacitor.

Most datasheets do not specify the amount of current required to cause latchup, so what do you do?

- Lee Cross

BTW, I find this forum very helpful! I learn lots of new stuff every day.