{"type_number":"6BJ3","canonical_url":"https://tubeofile.com/tubes/6BJ3","manufacturer":"General Electric","tube_type_key":"rectifier","tube_type_display_name":"Rectifier","base_name":"Duodekal","description":"Half-wave vacuum rectifier (Compactron damper diode) with indirectly-heated coated unipotential cathode, designed for use as a damping diode in the horizontal-deflection circuit of television receivers. General Electric design, dated April 1963.","is_directly_heated":false,"completeness":"high","notes":["Base is Small-Button Duodecar 12-Pin (JEDEC E12-70), basing designation EIA 12BL. T-9 glass envelope.","Socket terminals 5, 6, 8, and 9 should not be used as tie points.","PIV rating of 3300V applies to operation in a 525-line, 30-frame TV system where the duty cycle of the voltage pulse does not exceed 15% of one horizontal scanning cycle.","Voltage drop is 21V at 250 mA DC — relatively low for a damper diode, making it attractive for audio PSU use.","Maximum heater-cathode voltage is very high: 3300V peak (heater negative) / 300V peak (heater positive), with DC component limits of 600V negative / 100V positive.","Compactron series tube — General Electric created the Compactron format. Also produced by Sylvania and RCA."],"references":["https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/093/6/6BJ3.pdf"],"source_urls":{"r_type":null,"tdsl":"https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6BJ3","radiomuseum":"https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_6bj3.html"},"raw_equivalents":[],"equivalents":[],"similar":[{"type_number":"6AX3","reason":"Sams lists as substitute — same Duodecar base family, verify pin compatibility and ratings before substituting","has_detail_page":false},{"type_number":"6BE3","reason":"Same Duodecar 12-pin base and pinout but higher ratings (PIV 5000V vs 3300V, DC current 200mA vs 140mA, Pa 6.5W vs 4W)","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"6CG3","reason":"Same Duodecar base and active pin functions but higher heater current (1.8A vs 1.2A) and higher ratings (PIV 5000V, Ia 350mA)","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","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","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":"4","numeric_value":"4","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Vhk_max","display_name":"Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)","value":"3300","numeric_value":"3300","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"PIV","display_name":"Peak Inverse Voltage","value":"3300","numeric_value":"3300","unit":"V","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Vdrop","display_name":"Voltage Drop (typical)","value":"21","numeric_value":"21","unit":"V","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Idc_max","display_name":"Max DC Output Current (total, not per-anode)","value":"140","numeric_value":"140","unit":"mA","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Ia_peak","display_name":"Peak Anode Current (surge)","value":"840","numeric_value":"840","unit":"mA","param_group":"rectifier"}]}],"synced_at":"2026-04-08T07:51:58.826Z"}