MXR MicroAmp Diode purpose?

[DVB_master]

Hi boys, I am just asking myself what is the purpose of the diode in the MXR MicroAmp. Does it just protect circuit from reverse polarity and reduce the input voltage?
Thanks 

[zyxwyvu]

Hi boys, I am just asking myself what is the purpose of the diode in the MXR MicroAmp. Does it just protect circuit from reverse polarity and reduce the input voltage?
Thanks 

The diode is there to protect the circuit from reverse voltage. It also reduces the input voltage, but that is more of an unfortunate side effect.

[DVB_master]

So can it be omitted without any particular consequence?

[Sweetalk]

If you ensure that you ALWAYS put the correct polarity yes... It's recommended to put the diode, I put it in series with the +V, Positive to the wall wart (and/or the battery) and the negative to the circuit +v.

[Ice-9]

Instead of putting the diode in series with the + power rail , you can put it in parrallel with the power + side of diode to + side of batt and - side of diode to - of batt, this gives the circuit protection without dropping the voltage. if you connect the batt wrong way the diode will get hot and poss fail and the batt will drain, but the circuit will survive