If size/little more power isn't an issue you could use a very small
mechanical relay, with the coil driven by a series rectifier. Kind of
silly but an idea. :)



On Mon, 31 May 1999, Dennis Plunkett wrote:

> At 10:20 31/05/99 +1000, you wrote:
> >Hi,
> >
> >I need to protect my PIC16LF84 against reverse polarity. Currently I'm
> >running the circuit of 2 x 1.5 N cells (2/3 AAA). I want to protect the
> >circuitry from the batteries being inserted the wrong way.
> >
> >I'm not keen to put a diode in series with the batteries as I'll loose 0.6V.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Peter.
> >---
> >Peter Homann    Email:  peterh@adacel.com.au
> >Adacel Technologies Ltd _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/ Phone:   +61 3 9596 2991
> >250 Bay St, Brighton   _/  _/   _/   _/  Fax:     +61 3 9596 2960
> >Victoria  3186        _/_/_/   _/   _/   Home:    +61 3 9555 5603
> >AUSTRALIA            _/  _/   _/   _/_/_/Mobile:      0414-494578
> >------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
>
> It depends on quite a few things, as to what can be done.
> A shky diode in series will only give you 0.2V drop.
> If the current is very low, then even a silicon diode will not give the
> full 0.6V.
> On a low current circuit a simple series resistor may suffice
> A diode accross the battery pack may be better as a simple 1 Ampere shky
> will do the job
>
> Dennis
>