MorganS:
Umm, no? If the clamp diode is missing in the simple resistor-diode circuit, then the protection diode performs the same function. The resistor is still there so the full 5V is never presented to the protection diode.Unless the resistor is some stupidly low value then this would never endanger the protection diode. If it is stupid, then I maintain that it would not have worked in the first place.
Hello,
Then ask yourself why anyone would have to use a clamp diode if the internal diode does the same thing. With the clamp diode we can go up to 20ma easy, but the internal diode has no actual spec.
But you can do it any way you want to 