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Tube Tinker — Electron Tube Database
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Power - Beam (NOT sweep) ·BeamPower

6CA7

Glass-octal beam-power output tube designed for audio-frequency amplifiers, capable of substantial single-ended and push-pull power in high-fidelity equipment.

Directly heatedCold cathodeCommon cathodeDissimilar
Sections
1
Base
8ET
Socket code
IO
Base pins
8
Nominal heater
6.3 V / 1.5 A

Description

Glass octal types used in the output stage of audio- frequency amplifiers. Maximum dimensions: over-all length, 4%c inches; seated height, 3% inches; diameter, 1% inches. Tube requires octal socket. 8ET

Socket description

International Octal

General specifications

Tube and section characteristics

Properties common to every published source and operating point.

Heater and base

Base
8ET
Socket code
IO
Base pins
8
Nominal heater voltage
6.3 V
Nominal heater current
1.5 A
Parallel heater voltage
-
Parallel heater current
-
Series capable
No

8ET - Terminal pinout

Electrical assignments shared by every tube using this base designation.

No verified pinout is recorded for this base designation.

Section ratings

1 physical section, each with unique specifications.

Section 1

Beam Power

X-ray radiationInterelectrode capacitances
Plate resistance
18000 Ω
Transconductance
0.009 S
Max plate voltage
800 V
Max screen voltage
500 V
Max plate dissipation
25 W
Max screen dissipation
8 W
Max cathode current
150 mA

Published ratings/characteristics promoted where unambiguous.

Source-dependent data

Operating conditions by source

Each block preserves the test conditions and published values from one reference. Values from different sources are intentionally kept separate.

Data set 01

1956 Amperex Hi Fi Brochure

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Characteristics

  • Plate Voltage

    250 V

  • Screen Voltage

    250 V

  • Plate Current

    100 mA

  • Screen Current

    14.9 mA

  • Control Grid Voltage

    -13.5 V

  • Amplification Factor Grid1-to-Grid2

    11 ratio

Other

  • Power Output

    20 W

    PushPull; TwoTubes; DistributedLoad

  • Power Output

    37 W

    PushPull; TwoTubes; DistributedLoad

  • Plate Voltage

    430 V

    PushPull; TwoTubes; DistributedLoad

  • Power Output

    100 W

    PushPull; TwoTubes; FixedBias

Data set 02

1958 Amperex Industrial

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Other

  • Maximum plate voltage

    800 V

    Published Amperex table

  • Maximum screen voltage

    400 V

    Published Amperex table

  • Power output

    100 W

    Published Amperex table

  • Push-pull grid bias

    39 V

    Published Amperex table

  • Push-pull plate current

    182 mA

    Published Amperex table

  • Push-pull screen current

    38 mA

    Published Amperex table

Characteristic

  • Transconductance

    11300 µS

    Published Amperex table

  • Heater/filament voltage

    6.3 V

    Published Amperex table

  • Heater/filament current

    1.5 A

    Published Amperex table

Data set 03

195X General Electric Essential Characteristics

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Other

  • Plate voltage

    250 V

    ClassA

  • Screen-grid voltage

    250 V

    ClassA

  • Grid voltage

    -13.5 V

    ClassA

  • Plate current

    100 mA

    ClassA

  • Screen-grid current

    15 mA

    ClassA

  • Load resistance

    2000 ohm

    ClassA

  • Power output

    11 W

    ClassA

Characteristic

  • Transconductance

    11000 uS

    ClassA

Data set 04

1961 Tung Sol

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Other

  • Heater voltage

    6.3 V

  • Heater current

    1.5 A

  • Plate voltage

    800 V

    Typical operating conditions

  • Plate current

    70100 mA

    Typical operating conditions

Data set 05

1963 Amperex Condensed

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Other

  • Plate voltage

    800 V

    AudioOutput;PushPull;TwoTubes

  • Screen voltage

    400 V

    AudioOutput;PushPull;TwoTubes

  • Control-grid voltage

    -39 V

    AudioOutput;PushPull;TwoTubes

  • Plate current per pair

    182 mA

    AudioOutput;PushPull;TwoTubes

  • Screen current per pair

    38 mA

    AudioOutput;PushPull;TwoTubes

  • Load resistance plate-to-plate

    11000 Ω

    AudioOutput;PushPull;TwoTubes

Characteristic

  • Transconductance

    11300 µS

    Section1

  • Amplification factor

    100

    Section1

Data set 06

1966 Tung Sol Electronic Tubes 3 of 4

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Characteristics

  • Plate resistance

    15000 ohm

    PromotedValue

  • Transconductance

    0.011 A/V

    PromotedValue

  • HEATER VOLTAGE

    6.3 VOLTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • CATHODE CURRENT

    150

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

Other

  • Maximum plate voltage

    800 V

    PromotedValue

  • Maximum screen voltage

    425 V

    PromotedValue

  • Maximum plate dissipation

    25 W

    PromotedValue

  • Maximum screen dissipation

    8 W

    PromotedValue

  • Maximum cathode current

    150 mA

    PromotedValue

  • MAXIMUM PLATE VOLTAGE

    800 VOLTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • MAXIMUM PLATE VOLTAGE WITHOUT PLATE CURRENT

    2000 VOLTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • MAXIMUM PLATE DISSIPATION

    25 WATTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • MAXIMUM PLATE DISSIPATION WITHOUT INPUT SIGNAL

    27.5 WATTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • MAXIMUM GRID #2 VOLTAGE — published value 1

    2 VOLTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • MAXIMUM GRID #2 VOLTAGE — published value 2

    425 VOLTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • MAXIMUM GRID #2 VOLTAGE WITHOUT PLATE CURRENT — published value 1

    2 VOLTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • MAXIMUM GRID #2 VOLTAGE WITHOUT PLATE CURRENT — published value 2

    800 VOLTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • MAXIMUM GRID #2 DISSIPATION — published value 1

    2 WATTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • MAXIMUM GRID #2 DISSIPATION — published value 2

    8 WATTS

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

  • MAXIMUM GRID CURRENT STARTING POINT. GRID #1 VOLTAGE WHEN

    1

    OCR table transcription; verify against supplied datasheet layout where multiple columns represent operating conditions.

Data set 07

1975 RCA RC30

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Characteristic

  • Zero-Signal Grid-No

    4 mA

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Plate Resistance (Approx.)

    15000 ohms

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Transconductance

    9200

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Load Resistance

    4500 ohms

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Total Harmonic Distortion

    6 per cent

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Grid-No

    1

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Heater Voltage (ac/dc)

    6.3 volts

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Heater Current

    1.5 amperes

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Plate Voltage

    800 volts

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Grid-No

    425 volts

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Grid-No

    2 watts

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Plate Voltage

    265 volts

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Grid-No

    250 volts

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Grid-No.l (Control-Grid) Voltage

    -13.5 volts

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Peak AF Grid-No.l Voltage

    12.3 volts

    Published value from supplied target entry

Other

  • Maximum-Signal Grid-No

    11 mA

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Maximum-Signal Power Output

    1.5 watts

    Published value from supplied target entry

  • Peak Heater-Cathode Voltage ±

    200 volts

    Published value from supplied target entry

Capacitance

  • Plate to Cathode, Heater, Grid No

    7.2 PF

    Published value from supplied target entry

Data set 08

199X Svetlana

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Characteristic

  • Voltage (AC or DC) 5.7 6.3

    6.9 V

    SourcePage1-2

  • Current

    1.6 A

    SourcePage1-2

  • Cathode-to-heater potential, max.

    100 V

    SourcePage1-2

  • base sleeve and heater <

    16 pF

    SourcePage1-2

  • base sleeve and heater <

    0.6 pF

    SourcePage1-2

  • Grid no.1 to plate <

    1.1 pF

    SourcePage1-2

Other

  • DC plate voltage

    800 V

    SourcePage1-2

  • Grid no.2 DC (screen) voltage

    500 V

    SourcePage1-2

  • Grid no.1 (control) voltage

    -100 V

    SourcePage1-2

  • DC cathode current

    150 mA

    SourcePage1-2

  • Plate dissipation

    25 W

    SourcePage1-2

  • Grid no.2 DC (screen) dissipation

    8 W

    SourcePage1-2

  • Plate Voltage

    250 V

    TypicalOperation

  • Grid 2 Screen Voltage

    250 V

    TypicalOperation

  • Grid 1 Control Voltage

    -14 V

    TypicalOperation

  • Peak AF Grid 1 Control Voltage

    14 V

    TypicalOperation

  • Zero Signal Plate Current

    100 mA

    TypicalOperation

  • Maximum Signal Plate Current

    105 mA

    TypicalOperation

  • Zero Signal Grid 2 Screen Current (avg)

    15 mA

    TypicalOperation

  • Load Resistance

    2000 Ohms

    TypicalOperation

Data set 09

2026 JJ Electronic

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Characteristic

  • Plate Current

    50 mA

    Plate 400 V;Screen 400 V

  • GridInputCapacitance

    16.5 pF