{"type_number":"6203","canonical_url":"https://tubeofile.com/tubes/6203","manufacturer":"General Electric","tube_type_key":"rectifier","tube_type_display_name":"Rectifier","base_name":"Noval","description":"GL-6203 miniature full-wave high-vacuum rectifier, 9-pin Noval construction. 'Five-Star Tube' premium industrial/military variant intended for power supplies in AC and storage-battery-operated equipment, with enhanced mechanical strength and heater-cathode ruggedness for mobile and aircraft service.","is_directly_heated":false,"completeness":"high","notes":["Industrial/premium GE 'Five-Star' tube. Designed for mobile and aircraft equipment subject to mechanical stress, shock, vibration, and altitudes up to 60,000 ft.","JEDEC base code 9CD — uses the B9A (Noval) 9-pin miniature envelope with a rectifier-specific pin layout. NOT pin-compatible with EZ80/EZ81 (which use 9M) despite sharing the Noval form factor.","Common-cathode topology (single shared cathode on pin 7) — not suitable for voltage-doubler use.","Heater-cathode voltage limits are asymmetric: +100 V (heater positive) / 450 V (heater negative).","Vdrop 22 V measured at 70 mA per plate (per GE March 1953 datasheet).","Typical operation delivers 70 mA DC output at 325 V RMS per plate with capacitor input filter, or 450 V RMS per plate with choke input filter. Max total DC output current rating: 77 mA (per rectifier_reference.json; datasheet Rating Chart I limits per-plate current to ~35-42 mA depending on conduction angle).","Peak transient plate current 1.8 A (0.2 s max duration); steady-state peak plate current per plate 270 mA.","Bulb temperature limit: +200 °C (hottest point, absolute max)."],"references":["https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/083/6/6203.pdf","https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_6203.html"],"source_urls":{"r_type":null,"tdsl":"https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6203","radiomuseum":"https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_6203.html"},"raw_equivalents":[],"equivalents":[],"similar":[{"type_number":"6X4","reason":"Same function and ratings class, but B7G 7-pin miniature base — not pin-compatible with 9CD Noval","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"EZ80","reason":"Noval 6.3V full-wave rectifier, but JEDEC 9M pinout — pins differ, not a drop-in","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"EZ81","reason":"Higher-current (150 mA) Noval rectifier, but JEDEC 9M pinout — pins differ, not a drop-in","has_detail_page":true}],"pins":[{"pin_number":"1","function":"Plate 2 (Anode 2)","function_code":"a2","notes":null},{"pin_number":"2","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"3","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"4","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"5","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"6","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"7","function":"Cathode (common)","function_code":"k","notes":null},{"pin_number":"8","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"9","function":"Plate 1 (Anode 1)","function_code":"a1","notes":null}],"specs":[{"key":"Vh","display_name":"Heater Voltage","value":"6.3","numeric_value":"6.3","unit":"V","param_group":"heater"},{"key":"Ah","display_name":"Heater Current","value":"0.9","numeric_value":"0.9","unit":"A","param_group":"heater"}],"sections":[{"section_number":1,"section_label":"Rectifier","tube_type_key":"rectifier","specs":[{"key":"Va_max","display_name":"Anode Voltage (max)","value":"450","numeric_value":"450","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Vhk_max","display_name":"Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)","value":"450","numeric_value":"450","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"PIV","display_name":"Peak Inverse Voltage","value":"1250","numeric_value":"1250","unit":"V","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Vdrop","display_name":"Voltage Drop (typical)","value":"22","numeric_value":"22","unit":"V","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"C_max","display_name":"Max C-input Filter Capacitor","value":"4","numeric_value":"4","unit":"µF","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Ia_peak","display_name":"Peak Anode Current (surge)","value":"270","numeric_value":"270","unit":"mA","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Idc_max","display_name":"Max DC Output Current (total, not per-anode)","value":"77","numeric_value":"77","unit":"mA","param_group":"rectifier"}]}],"synced_at":"2026-04-09T05:16:47.895Z"}