Using different diode than schematic says? Should I?

[elenore19]

Hi,
I'm working on a zvex BOR clone, and I don't have the correct diode.
My question is...
Can I just replace this diode?
Here's the schematic.

The diode that I don't have is the "5187" diode that it has listed, which I have concluded with the help of Skruffyhound that it is probably a IN5817.


I do have a couple extra diodes lying around, and if possible I'd like to avoid ordering one diode due to shipping and the pain of waiting.
I have a couple Zener 9.1V Zener diodes (Which are the other two in the circuit). I realize that it might've meant LED's for the other two diodes...I already put in the two diodes, but yeah.
I'm still new to all of this, so work with me.

So could I just use one of the 9.1V Zener diodes to replace that one? Will the pedal still work? Will it sound dramatically different?

Thanks again for the help guys, it's always appreciated.

-Elliot

[caress]

that's just polarity protection... it's not essential to the operation of the pedal.  you can sub another silicon diode in it's place (1n4001, etc)
i think you could use the zener there as well, but it's not really that important.

[elenore19]

that's just polarity protection... it's not essential to the operation of the pedal.  you can sub another silicon diode in it's place (1n4001, etc)
i think you could use the zener there as well, but it's not really that important.

Great to know. I just wanted to make sure that in doing this I wouldn't ruin anything in the pedal.
Thanks!

[BAARON]

Don't use the zener diode!  You don't want it to reverse bias and short circuit the power supply, because a 9.1v zener sits nicely below the 9.6v of a fresh battery.

Any old silicon diode will be fine.

[elenore19]

Don't use the zener diode!  You don't want it to reverse bias and short circuit the power supply, because a 9.1v zener sits nicely below the 9.6v of a fresh battery.

Any old silicon diode will be fine.

Well alrighty, good to know!
Thanks.

What about a germanium diode?

[BAARON]

It would work too.

It's there for polarity protection so that if you plug in a reverse polarity power supply or try to install the battery backwards, the power will just flow through the diode instead of destroying the rest of the circuit.  Even an LED in series with a 470R resistor would work (essentially an "oops the power is backwards" light), as long as the LED is pointing from ground to hot.