{"type_number":"6C5","canonical_url":"https://tubeofile.com/tubes/6C5","manufacturer":"RCA","tube_type_key":"small_signal_triode","tube_type_display_name":"Small Signal Triode","base_name":"Octal","description":"Medium-mu single triode designed for service as oscillator, detector, or amplifier. Electrically identical to one section of a 6SN7 (mu=20, ra=10kΩ, gm=2000). Introduced by RCA circa 1935. Similar in characteristics to the 6C6, 6J7, and 57 with triode connection.","is_directly_heated":false,"completeness":"high","notes":["The 6C5, 6C5G, and 6C5GT are general-purpose triodes. With the exception of capacitances, their electrical characteristics are identical.","Similar in characteristics to the 6C6, 6J7, and 57 with triode connection.","The DC resistance in the grid circuit should not exceed 1.0 MΩ.","The 6S5S (6С5С) is the Soviet equivalent.","Pinout differs from the 6J5: on the 6C5 pin 3 = plate, pin 4 = grid, pin 5 = cathode; on the 6J5 pin 3 = anode, pin 5 = grid, pin 8 = cathode.","The 6C5 metal-shell version uses basing G-6Qb (6-pin octal with shell); the 6C5GT glass version uses basing 6Q."],"references":["https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/6/6C5.pdf","https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6C5"],"source_urls":{"r_type":"http://www.r-type.org/exhib/aaa0017.htm","tdsl":"https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6C5","radiomuseum":"https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_6c5.html"},"raw_equivalents":["6C5G","6C5GT","6C5MG","CV1649","CV581","CV582","CV583","VT-65","6S5S"],"equivalents":[],"similar":[{"type_number":"12G4","reason":"Same electricals but 12.6V heater — not a drop-in in 6.3V circuits","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"6J5","reason":"Same mu (20) and similar operating point but different pinout (pin 3=plate vs pin 3=plate on 6C5; different grid/cathode pins) and different capacitances","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"6SN7","reason":"Twin triode version — each section has same electricals as 6C5, but dual-section Octal tube with different pinout","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"7A4","reason":"Electrically identical but Loctal base — not Octal compatible","has_detail_page":true}],"pins":[{"pin_number":"1","function":"Metal Shell (Internal Shield)","function_code":"ia","notes":null},{"pin_number":"2","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"3","function":"Plate","function_code":"a","notes":null},{"pin_number":"4","function":"Grid","function_code":"g1","notes":null},{"pin_number":"5","function":"Cathode","function_code":"k","notes":null},{"pin_number":"6","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"7","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"8","function":"No Connection","function_code":"nc","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":"0.3","numeric_value":"0.3","unit":"A","param_group":"heater"}],"sections":[{"section_number":1,"section_label":"Triode","tube_type_key":"small_signal_triode","specs":[{"key":"Va_max","display_name":"Anode Voltage (max)","value":"300","numeric_value":"300","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Pa_max","display_name":"Anode Dissipation (max)","value":"2.5","numeric_value":"2.5","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Rg_max","display_name":"Max Grid Resistor","value":"1","numeric_value":"1","unit":"MΩ","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Va","display_name":"Anode Voltage (typical)","value":"250","numeric_value":"250","unit":"V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Vg","display_name":"Grid 1 Bias Voltage","value":"-8","numeric_value":"-8","unit":"V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mAa","display_name":"Anode Current","value":"8","numeric_value":"8","unit":"mA","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"ra","display_name":"Anode Resistance","value":"10000","numeric_value":"10000","unit":"Ω","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"gm","display_name":"Transconductance","value":"2.0","numeric_value":"2","unit":"mA/V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mu","display_name":"Amplification Factor (μ)","value":"20","numeric_value":"20","unit":"—","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Cgp","display_name":"Grid-to-Plate Capacitance","value":"2.0","numeric_value":"2","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"},{"key":"Cgk","display_name":"Grid-to-Cathode Capacitance","value":"3.0","numeric_value":"3","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"},{"key":"Cak","display_name":"Anode-to-Cathode Capacitance","value":"11","numeric_value":"11","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"}]}],"synced_at":"2026-04-07T12:19:31.595Z"}