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6V6

Classic beam-power output tube designed for audio-frequency power amplification, with extensive manufacturer operating data for Class-A and push-pull receiver output stages.

Directly heatedCold cathodeCommon cathodeDissimilar

Sections: 1
Base: 7AC
Socket code: IO
Base pins: 8
Nominal heater: 6.3 V / 450 mA

Description

6V6 is a BeamPower vacuum tube documented in the RCA Receiving Tube Manual. The supplied excerpt was reviewed for heater data, section arrangement, maximum ratings, electrical characteristics, interelectrode capacitances, typical operating conditions, and stated applications.

Socket description

International Octal

General specifications

Tube and section characteristics

Properties common to every published source and operating point.

Heater and base

Base: 7AC
Socket code: IO
Base pins: 8
Nominal heater voltage: 6.3 V
Nominal heater current: 450 mA
Parallel heater voltage: -
Parallel heater current: -
Series capable: No

7AC - Terminal pinout

Electrical assignments shared by every tube using this base designation.

Terminal	Section	Connection	Evidence
PIN1Pin 1	—	NC	Verified 12L6GT/25L6GT manufacturer basing, 7AC
PIN2Pin 2	—	H — Heater	Verified 12L6GT/25L6GT manufacturer basing, 7AC
PIN3Pin 3	A	P — Plate (Anode)	Verified 12L6GT/25L6GT manufacturer basing, 7AC
PIN4Pin 4	A	G2 — Screen Grid	Verified 12L6GT/25L6GT manufacturer basing, 7AC
PIN5Pin 5	A	G1 — Control Grid	Verified 12L6GT/25L6GT manufacturer basing, 7AC
PIN7Pin 7	—	H — Heater	Verified 12L6GT/25L6GT manufacturer basing, 7AC
PIN8Pin 8	A	BP — Beam-Forming PlateGroup AC8	Verified 12L6GT/25L6GT manufacturer basing, 7AC
PIN8Pin 8	A	K — CathodeGroup AC8	Verified 12L6GT/25L6GT manufacturer basing, 7AC

Section ratings

1 physical section, each with unique specifications.

Section 1

Beam Power

X-ray radiationInterelectrode capacitances

Plate resistance: 42000 Ω
Transconductance: 0.0041 S
Max plate voltage: 315 V
Max screen voltage: 285 V
Max plate dissipation: 12 W
Max screen dissipation: 2 W

Published ratings and characteristics promoted where clearly stated; identical repeated sections compressed when applicable.

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

1937 Raytheon Radio Receiving Tubes

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Other

Plate voltage
180 V
ClassA
Screen voltage
180 V
ClassA
Grid bias
-8.5 V
ClassA
Plate current
29 mA
ClassA
Screen current
3 mA
ClassA
Load resistance
5500 Ω
ClassA
Power output
2 W
ClassA
Plate voltage
250 V
ClassA
Screen voltage
250 V
ClassA
Grid bias
-12.5 V
ClassA
Plate current
45 mA
ClassA
Screen current
4.5 mA
ClassA
Load resistance
5000 Ω
ClassA
Power output
4.25 W
ClassA
Plate voltage
300 V
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Screen voltage
300 V
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Grid bias
-20 V
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Load resistance plate-to-plate
8000 Ω
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Power output
13 W
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes

Characteristic

Plate resistance
52000 Ω
Section1
Transconductance
4100 µS
Section1

Data set 02

1940 RCA

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Other

HEATER VOLTAGE (A.C, or D.C.)##
6.3 V
HEATER VOLTAGE (A.C, or D.C.)## 6.3 Volts
HEATER CURRENT 0.4
5 A
HEATER CURRENT 0.4 5 Ampere
HEATER VOLTAGE
6.3 V
HEATER VOLTAGE 6.3
PLATE VOLTAGE
250 V
PLATE VOLTAGE 250
SCREEN VOLTAGE
250 V
SCREEN VOLTAGE 250
GRID VOLTAGE
-12.5 V
GRID VOLTAGE -12.5
AMPLIFICATION FACTOR
218
AMPLIFICATION FACTOR 218
PLATE CURRENT ‘42 | amperes
42 A
PLATE CURRENT ‘42 | amperes
PLATE VOLTAGE
250 V
PLATE VOLTAGE 250 max,
SCREEN VOLTAGE
250 V
SCREEN VOLTAGE 250 max,
Plate Voltage
250 V
Plate Voltage 180 250
Grid voltage
-12.5 V
Grid voltage -8.5 -12.5
Second
5 s
Second 5.5 4,5
PLATE VOLTAGE
300 V
PLATE VOLTAGE 300 max.
SCREEN VOLTAGE
300 V
SCREEN VOLTAGE 300 max.
Pl ate voltage
300 V
Pl ate voltage 250 300
Screen Voltan
300 V
Screen Voltan 250 300
6rid voltage
-20 V
6rid voltage - 15 -20
Peak A=F Grid=-to-Grid Voltage
40 V
Peak A=F Grid=-to-Grid Voltage 30 40
## The heater should be operated at 6.3 volts, Under maximum disslpation conditions, the
6.3 V
## The heater should be operated at 6.3 volts, Under maximum disslpation conditions, the
heater voitage should never fluctuate so that It exceeds 7.0 volts, The potential
7 V
heater voitage should never fluctuate so that It exceeds 7.0 volts, The potential
sistance not to exceed 0.5 megohm, provided the heater voltage Is not allowed to rise
0.5 V
sistance not to exceed 0.5 megohm, provided the heater voltage Is not allowed to rise

Characteristic

clrcuit has a resistance not hi her than .05 megohm, fixed blas may be used; for
5 ohm
clrcuit has a resistance not hi her than .05 megohm, fixed blas may be used; for

Data set 03

1950 Sylvania

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Other

Typical plate voltage
250 V
ClassA

Data set 04

1953 RFT Rundfunk Technik

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Characteristics

Heater or filament voltage
6.3 V
Published nominal value
Heater or filament current
450 mA
Published nominal value
Transconductance
4100 µS
Published operating characteristic

Other

Output power
4.5 W
Single-ended ClassA; 250 V plate and screen

Data set 05

195X General Electric Essential Characteristics

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Other

Plate voltage
315 V
ClassA
Screen-grid voltage
225 V
ClassA
Grid voltage
-13 V
ClassA
Plate current
34 mA
ClassA
Screen-grid current
2.2 mA
ClassA
Load resistance
8500 ohm
ClassA
Power output
5.5 W
ClassA
Plate voltage
250 V
ClassA;PlateVoltage=250V
Screen-grid voltage
250 V
ClassA;PlateVoltage=250V
Grid voltage
-12.5 V
ClassA;PlateVoltage=250V
Plate current
45 mA
ClassA;PlateVoltage=250V
Screen-grid current
4.5 mA
ClassA;PlateVoltage=250V
Load resistance
5000 ohm
ClassA;PlateVoltage=250V
Power output
4.5 W
ClassA;PlateVoltage=250V
Plate voltage
180 V
ClassA;PlateVoltage=180V
Screen-grid voltage
180 V
ClassA;PlateVoltage=180V
Grid voltage
-8.5 V
ClassA;PlateVoltage=180V
Plate current
29 mA
ClassA;PlateVoltage=180V
Screen-grid current
3 mA
ClassA;PlateVoltage=180V
Load resistance
5500 ohm
ClassA;PlateVoltage=180V
Power output
2 W
ClassA;PlateVoltage=180V
Plate voltage
285 V
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Screen-grid voltage
285 V
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Grid voltage
-19 V
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Zero-signal plate current
70 mA
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Zero-signal screen current
4 mA
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Plate-to-plate load resistance
8000 ohm
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Power output
14 W
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Plate voltage
250 V
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Screen-grid voltage
250 V
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Grid voltage
-15 V
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Zero-signal plate current
70 mA
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Zero-signal screen current
5 mA
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Plate-to-plate load resistance
10000 ohm
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes
Power output
10 W
ClassAB;PushPull;TwoTubes

Characteristic

Plate resistance
80000 ohm
ClassA;PlateVoltage=315V
Transconductance
3750 uS
ClassA;PlateVoltage=315V
Plate resistance
50000 ohm
ClassA;PlateVoltage=250V
Transconductance
4100 uS
ClassA;PlateVoltage=250V

Data set 06

1961 Tung Sol

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Beam Power

Other

Power Output
4.5 W
ClassA