{"type_number":"6V6","canonical_url":"https://tubeofile.com/tubes/6V6","manufacturer":"RCA","tube_type_key":"beam_tetrode","tube_type_display_name":"Beam Tetrode","base_name":"Octal","description":"Beam power tetrode for audio-frequency power amplification. Introduced in late 1936 by Ken-Rad, widely manufactured by RCA, Sylvania, and others. Commonly used in guitar amplifiers (Fender Champ, Princeton, Deluxe Reverb) and radio receiver output stages. Delivers approximately 4.5 W single-ended or 14 W in push-pull.","is_directly_heated":false,"completeness":"high","notes":["TDSL lists Va_max as 350 V (metal 6V6); 6V6GT datasheets commonly rate Va_max at 315 V. The 315 V screen voltage maximum applies across all variants.","Pin 1 is the shell connection on the metal 6V6 envelope; on 6V6GT/6V6GTA glass types it is no connection.","Pin 8 connects to both the cathode and the internal beam-forming plates (which serve the suppressor function).","Grid circuit resistance: typically 0.5 MΩ max for fixed bias, 1 MΩ max for cathode bias (per RCA data).","7C5 is the Loctal-base equivalent with identical electrical characteristics.","6P6C (6П6С) is the Soviet equivalent; electrically similar but some production lots have tighter or looser parameter spreads.","Triode-strapped data (mu, gm, rp) sourced from Tom Schlangen's 'Pentodes Strapped as Triodes' (2009) measured data table, not from the manufacturer datasheet."],"references":["https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6V6","https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/6/6V6.pdf","https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/093/6/6V6GT.pdf"],"source_urls":{"r_type":"https://www.r-type.org/exhib/aaa0015.htm","tdsl":"https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6V6","radiomuseum":"https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_6v6.html"},"raw_equivalents":["5871","6AY5","6P6C","6V6G","6V6GT","6V6GTA","6V6GTY","CV509","CV510","CV511","VT-107","7184"],"equivalents":[],"similar":[{"type_number":"6AQ5","reason":"Electrically very similar (same mu, gm, Pout) but miniature B7G base — not pin-compatible with Octal","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"6P1","reason":"Brans lists as equivalent but Soviet tube — verify pin compatibility before substituting","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"7C5","reason":"Electrically identical but Loctal base — not compatible with Octal sockets","has_detail_page":true}],"pins":[{"pin_number":"1","function":"No Connection (shell on metal type)","function_code":"nc","notes":null},{"pin_number":"2","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"3","function":"Anode (Plate)","function_code":"a","notes":null},{"pin_number":"4","function":"Screen Grid (g2)","function_code":"g2","notes":null},{"pin_number":"5","function":"Control Grid (g1)","function_code":"g1","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":"Cathode & Beam-Forming Plates","function_code":"k","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":"0.45","numeric_value":"0.45","unit":"A","param_group":"heater"}],"sections":[{"section_number":1,"section_label":"Beam Tetrode","tube_type_key":"beam_tetrode","specs":[{"key":"Va_max","display_name":"Anode Voltage (max)","value":"350","numeric_value":"350","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Vs_max","display_name":"Screen Voltage (max)","value":"315","numeric_value":"315","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Pa_max","display_name":"Anode Dissipation (max)","value":"14","numeric_value":"14","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Ps_max","display_name":"Screen Dissipation (max)","value":"2.2","numeric_value":"2.2","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Ik_max","display_name":"Cathode Current (max)","value":"52","numeric_value":"52","unit":"mA","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Vhk_max","display_name":"Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)","value":"100","numeric_value":"100","unit":"V","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":"Vs","display_name":"Screen Voltage (typical)","value":"250","numeric_value":"250","unit":"V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Vg","display_name":"Grid 1 Bias Voltage","value":"-12.5","numeric_value":"-12.5","unit":"V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mAa","display_name":"Anode Current","value":"45","numeric_value":"45","unit":"mA","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mAs","display_name":"Screen Current","value":"4.5","numeric_value":"4.5","unit":"mA","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"ra","display_name":"Anode Resistance","value":"50000","numeric_value":"50000","unit":"Ω","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"gm","display_name":"Transconductance","value":"4.1","numeric_value":"4.1","unit":"mA/V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Pout","display_name":"Output Power","value":"4.5","numeric_value":"4.5","unit":"W","param_group":"output"},{"key":"rl","display_name":"Load Impedance","value":"5000","numeric_value":"5000","unit":"Ω","param_group":"output"},{"key":"Cgp","display_name":"Grid-to-Plate Capacitance","value":"0.7","numeric_value":"0.7","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"},{"key":"Cin","display_name":"Input Capacitance","value":"9","numeric_value":"9","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"},{"key":"Cout","display_name":"Output Capacitance","value":"8.5","numeric_value":"8.5","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"}]},{"section_number":2,"section_label":"Triode Strapped","tube_type_key":"power_triode","specs":[{"key":"Va_max","display_name":"Anode Voltage (max)","value":"315","numeric_value":"315","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Pa_max","display_name":"Anode Dissipation (max)","value":"14","numeric_value":"14","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Ik_max","display_name":"Cathode Current (max)","value":"40","numeric_value":"40","unit":"mA","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"ra","display_name":"Anode Resistance","value":"2000","numeric_value":"2000","unit":"Ω","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"gm","display_name":"Transconductance","value":"5.0","numeric_value":"5","unit":"mA/V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mu","display_name":"Amplification Factor (μ)","value":"10","numeric_value":"10","unit":"—","param_group":"typical_operating"}]}],"synced_at":"2026-04-07T12:29:55.655Z"}