{"type_number":"6BE3","canonical_url":"https://tubeofile.com/tubes/6BE3","manufacturer":"RCA","tube_type_key":"rectifier","tube_type_display_name":"Rectifier","base_name":"Duodekal","description":"Half-wave vacuum rectifier of the Duodecar type designed for use as a damper diode in television horizontal deflection circuits. Features a coated unipotential cathode rated for high peak inverse voltages encountered in TV damper service.","is_directly_heated":false,"completeness":"high","notes":["Base is Small-Button Duodecar 12-Pin (JEDEC No. E12-70), basing designation 12BL. This is the American 'Duodecar' base, equivalent to the European 'Duodekal' designation.","Pins 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11 are all No Connection (same as pin 2). Only pins 1/12 (heater), 4/10 (plate), and 7 (cathode) are active.","Maximum heater-cathode voltage is extremely high: 5000V (heater negative) / 300V (heater positive). The 5000V peak negative rating is critical in damper service where the cathode sees horizontal flyback pulses.","PIV rating of 5000V applies to operation in a 525-line, 30-frame TV system where the duty cycle of the horizontal voltage pulse does not exceed 15% of one horizontal scanning cycle.","The DC component of the heater-cathode voltage must not exceed 900V (heater negative) or 100V (heater positive).","Sams substitution guide lists 6BE3 and 6BE3A as direct interchangeable substitutes.","MIL-HDBK-213A classifies this as a receiving diode, damper."],"references":["https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/049/6/6BE3.pdf"],"source_urls":{"r_type":null,"tdsl":"https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6BE3","radiomuseum":"https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_6be3.html"},"raw_equivalents":["6BE3A"],"equivalents":[],"similar":[{"type_number":"6AX4","reason":"Half-wave damper diode with similar function but Octal base and lower PIV (4400V vs 5000V) — not pin-compatible","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"6CG3","reason":"Sams lists as substitute for 6BJ3 which substitutes for 6BE3 — same Duodecar base family, verify ratings","has_detail_page":true}],"pins":[{"pin_number":"1","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","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":"Plate (Anode)","function_code":"a","notes":null},{"pin_number":"5","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"6","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"7","function":"Cathode","function_code":"k","notes":null},{"pin_number":"8","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"9","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"10","function":"Plate (Anode)","function_code":"a","notes":null},{"pin_number":"11","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"12","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","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":"1.2","numeric_value":"1.2","unit":"A","param_group":"heater"}],"sections":[{"section_number":1,"section_label":"Damper Diode","tube_type_key":"rectifier","specs":[{"key":"Pa_max","display_name":"Anode Dissipation (max)","value":"6.5","numeric_value":"6.5","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Vhk_max","display_name":"Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)","value":"5000","numeric_value":"5000","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"PIV","display_name":"Peak Inverse Voltage","value":"5000","numeric_value":"5000","unit":"V","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Vdrop","display_name":"Voltage Drop (typical)","value":"25","numeric_value":"25","unit":"V","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Idc_max","display_name":"Max DC Output Current (total, not per-anode)","value":"200","numeric_value":"200","unit":"mA","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Ia_peak","display_name":"Peak Anode Current (surge)","value":"1200","numeric_value":"1200","unit":"mA","param_group":"rectifier"}]}],"synced_at":"2026-04-08T07:51:53.627Z"}