On Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:57:57 +1000, Bob Larter
put finger to keyboard and composed:

wrote:
I'm restoring a mistreated DX7 to working condition.

Re this schematic:
http://www.bobdbob.com/~deneb/ftp/dxmemory.png

The battery is a lithium coin cell, like a CR2032. D4 on my board has
been replaced with a gigantic power rectifier. I'd like to re-replace
it with a part more appropriate for the application (or at least that
fits through the holes on the circuit board).
[...]
So what I'm wondering is, what kind of diode can I replace this with?
Do I want to go with a Ge diode to keep the available voltage at a
maximum, or doesn't it matter?

Some random, small Schottky (for the low Vf) diode would probably do the
trick. I've seen germanium diodes used in similar circuits, but I
wouldn't recommend one with a lithium cell, as it will leak a small
current into the cell, which they don't like.

I've always thought that Schottky diodes were fine for the OP's stated
purpose, but after you raised the point about reverse leakage
currents, ISTR that Schottky diodes aren't too good in this regard.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.