Maximum Number of Zones

[HereComesTheRain]

Good, but you should connect it to the upper GND rail, otherwise the hc595 doesn't get power

Personally I would hard-wire it just to elliminate a potential unwanted external factor.

We have to figure out which wires (antennas) pick up these signals. I'm thinking of:
- is it coming through the psu/adapters?  Most adapters have a bad or no EMI filtering. The UPS does surge protection but I doubt if ther is sufficient EMI filtering. You could test this by putting all non essential psu's away (far in front) of the ups.
- The power wires to the Pi are close to the ups, fan and other components. Decoupling (with 0.1 caps) might help
- Although Dan acknowledges the Pi pin initialisation I'm not so sure if the internal pull-up resistors are enabled. To be sure you coud add on pin 11, 12, 14 on the hc595' a resistor of 4k7 or 5k6 to +5v 
- On your foto I can't see my earlier suggestion of the 100 Ohm resistor in series with pin 12 of the hc595. Together with the previous suggestion  (and neatly ordering the spahgetti) I'm really interested in the results. 


--Gerard

So how would you suggest I wire for GND from the SHIFT REGISTERS to the TOP POWER RAIL?  Currently there is a short wire attached to the BOTTOM POWER RAIL GND from each of the SHIFT REGISTERS and a wire connecting the BOTTOM POWER RAIL GND to the TOP POWER RAIL GND.  Are you saying I should replace the short GND wires and replace with longer ones and attach to TOP POWER RAIL GND?

So should I reconnect the PURPLE wire from PIN 13 of SHIFT REGISTER to TOP RAIL GND?

"You could test this by putting all non essential psu's away (far in front) of the ups."  Unfortunately I do not have that option. 

"The power wires to the Pi are close to the ups, fan and other components. Decoupling (with 0.1 caps) might help"   So you want to to connect the 0.1uf to the POSITIVE (+) of the BREADBOARD and the connect the wire coming from the Pi 5v+ to the 0.1uf???

My order for 47uF 25v should arrive today and will install ASAP.

I have 0.1uf capacitors and 10k Ohm resistors will need to order 100 Ohm resistors and the 4k7.

"(and neatly ordering the spahgetti)" any suggestions on how to make the runs shorter?  

"I'm really interested in the results."  Me to.  I really need to get this working.