Transponder - reverse voltage protection

[rcparris]

I'm currently installing the transponder, and notice there are major warnings that reverse voltage will kill the unit.
I of course know that I would never applly reverse voltage to the aircraft????

My thought is to fit a diode to the transponder +ve to provide protection.

Would you recommend this ?  The only negative I can think of would be approx. 0.5v drop.

 

[dynonsupport]

That voltage drop is the reason that such protection isn't built into the unit. To meet TSO specs, the unit needs to be able to operate at lower voltages (I think 10V?). Anyway, it's maybe a little grayer in an experimental. If you choose to add a diode, it needs to be properly sized for the load etc. We don't have a recommendation for one though.