{"type_number":"6BY5","canonical_url":"https://tubeofile.com/tubes/6BY5","manufacturer":"RCA","tube_type_key":"rectifier","tube_type_display_name":"Rectifier","base_name":"B7G","description":"Full-wave vacuum rectifier with two indirectly-heated diode units, designed for television damper service. Each unit features a coated unipotential cathode. Can be used as a full-wave rectifier or as two independent damper diodes.","is_directly_heated":false,"completeness":"high","notes":["Base is Medium-Shell Octal 7-Pin (JETEC B7-12) or Short-Medium-Shell Octal 7-Pin with External Barriers (JETEC B7-119), basing designation 6CN. This is a 7-pin variant of the octal base, not a standard 8-pin Octal or Compactron.","Pin 3 is a No Connection — socket terminal No. 3 should not be used as a tie point.","Contains two independent diode units: Unit No. 1 (cathode pin 8, plate pin 5) and Unit No. 2 (cathode pin 1, plate pin 4). Each unit has its own cathode.","Maximum ratings per the RCA datasheet are for each unit independently in damper service: PIV 3000V (absolute maximum), peak plate current 525mA, DC plate current 175mA.","As a full-wave rectifier, PIV drops to 1400V per TDSL, with typical operation at 375-0-375V RMS and 175mA DC output.","Maximum heater-cathode voltage: 450V (heater negative), 100V (heater positive).","6BY5GA is the improved version of the 6BY5G — Sams substitution guide lists them as interchangeable. TDSL lists 6BY5G as a different-rating substitute.","Rectifier reference table confirms: Vdrop 32V, max DC 175mA, max AC 375V, 6.3V/1.6A heater.","GE Essential Characteristics classifies both 6BY5-G and 6BY5-GA as 'Full-Wave High-Vacuum Rectifier' for 'Full-Wave Rectifier, TV Damper Service'.","Datasheet marked 'TENTATIVE DATA' (May 1955, RCA)."],"references":["https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/049/6/6BY5GA.pdf"],"source_urls":{"r_type":null,"tdsl":"https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6BY5GA","radiomuseum":"https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_6by5ga.html"},"raw_equivalents":["6BY5G","6BY5GA"],"equivalents":[],"similar":[{"type_number":"6AX4","reason":"Single half-wave damper diode with higher PIV (4400V) but only one section — 6BY5 has two independent diode units","has_detail_page":true}],"pins":[{"pin_number":"1","function":"Cathode (Unit 2)","function_code":"k2","notes":null},{"pin_number":"2","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"3","function":"No Connection — Do Not Use","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"4","function":"Plate (Unit 2)","function_code":"a2","notes":null},{"pin_number":"5","function":"Plate (Unit 1)","function_code":"a1","notes":null},{"pin_number":"7","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"8","function":"Cathode (Unit 1)","function_code":"k1","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":"1.6","numeric_value":"1.6","unit":"A","param_group":"heater"}],"sections":[{"section_number":1,"section_label":"Diode Unit 1","tube_type_key":"rectifier","specs":[{"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":"3000","numeric_value":"3000","unit":"V","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Vdrop","display_name":"Voltage Drop (typical)","value":"32","numeric_value":"32","unit":"V","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Idc_max","display_name":"Max DC Output Current (total, not per-anode)","value":"175","numeric_value":"175","unit":"mA","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Ia_peak","display_name":"Peak Anode Current (surge)","value":"525","numeric_value":"525","unit":"mA","param_group":"rectifier"}]},{"section_number":2,"section_label":"Diode Unit 2","tube_type_key":"rectifier","specs":[{"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":"3000","numeric_value":"3000","unit":"V","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Vdrop","display_name":"Voltage Drop (typical)","value":"32","numeric_value":"32","unit":"V","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Ia_peak","display_name":"Peak Anode Current (surge)","value":"525","numeric_value":"525","unit":"mA","param_group":"rectifier"},{"key":"Idc_max","display_name":"Max DC Output Current (total, not per-anode)","value":"175","numeric_value":"175","unit":"mA","param_group":"rectifier"}]}],"synced_at":"2026-04-08T07:52:10.090Z"}