{"type_number":"EL84","canonical_url":"https://tubeofile.com/tubes/EL84","manufacturer":"Philips","tube_type_key":"power_pentode","tube_type_display_name":"Power Pentode","base_name":"Noval","description":"AF output power pentode; indirectly heated. Developed by Philips/Mullard, introduced early 1953. The last development step from EL3 via EL41 to the final point of radio output pentodes, with anode dissipation increased from 9 W (EL41) to 12 W.","is_directly_heated":false,"completeness":"high","notes":["Screen dissipation is 2 W max normally, but 4 W is permitted under maximum-signal conditions (music/speech short-term).","Grid 1 circuit resistance: 0.3 MΩ max for fixed-bias operation, 1 MΩ max for cathode-bias operation.","Pin 1 is sometimes used internally as a second g1 connection for mechanical reasons only — it must not be used externally.","Pins 1, 6, and 8 are internal connections and should not be wired.","7189 and 7189A are higher-rated variants (not direct equivalents); 6GK6 is functionally similar but has a different pinout.","Triode-strapped μ, gm, and ra sourced from Tom Schlangen's 'Pentodes Strapped as Triodes' (2009) measured data table; SE triode operating point (Va, Ia, Rk, rl, Pout) from TDSL. The RCA 6BQ5 datasheet does not include triode-connection data."],"references":["http://www.tubebooks.org/tubedata/HB-3/Receiving_Tubes_Part_1/6BQ5.PDF","https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=EL84"],"source_urls":{"r_type":"http://www.r-type.org/exhib/aaa0112.htm","tdsl":"https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=EL84","radiomuseum":"https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_el84.html"},"raw_equivalents":["6BQ5","6P14P","6P15","CV2975","CV10321","CV8069","N709"],"equivalents":[{"type_number":"6P14P","equivalence_type":"direct","notes":null}],"similar":[{"type_number":"6GK6","reason":"Functionally similar but different pinout","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"6P15P","reason":"Soviet video output pentode (SV83). Active pin positions match EL84 (g1=2, k=3, h=4/5, a=7, g2=9), but 6P15P brings g3 out to pins 1 and 6 — in EL84 these are unused and g3 is internally tied to cathode. EL84 → 6P15P socket works; 6P15P → EL84 socket leaves g3 floating unless pins 1/6 are strapped to cathode externally. Vg2_max also lower (200V vs 300V).","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"6P18P","reason":"Soviet ruggedised EL82-class output pentode. Same Noval base and 6.3V heater but different pin assignments (g1 on pin 3, k on pin 4, g2 on pin 8) — not a drop-in for EL84 sockets.","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"7189","reason":"Higher-rated variant — different max ratings, not a direct equivalent","has_detail_page":false},{"type_number":"7189A","reason":"Higher-rated variant — different max ratings, not a direct equivalent","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"8BQ5","reason":"8.5V heater variant of 6BQ5/EL84 — same Noval base and pin layout but different heater voltage (8.5V vs 6.3V). Not interchangeable without heater circuit modification.","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"PL84","reason":"300mA series heater string version of EL84 (15V/0.3A) — same Noval base and pin layout but different heater voltage for AC/DC TV receivers. Not interchangeable.","has_detail_page":true},{"type_number":"UEL84","reason":"100mA series heater string version of EL84 — same Noval base and pin layout but different heater voltage for AC/DC receivers. Not interchangeable.","has_detail_page":true}],"pins":[{"pin_number":"1","function":"Internal Connection","function_code":"ia","notes":null},{"pin_number":"2","function":"Control Grid (g1)","function_code":"g1","notes":null},{"pin_number":"3","function":"Cathode (g3 internally connected)","function_code":"k","notes":null},{"pin_number":"4","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"5","function":"Heater","function_code":"h","notes":null},{"pin_number":"6","function":"Internal Connection","function_code":"ia","notes":null},{"pin_number":"7","function":"Anode (Plate)","function_code":"a","notes":null},{"pin_number":"8","function":"Internal Connection","function_code":"ia","notes":null},{"pin_number":"9","function":"Screen Grid (g2)","function_code":"g2","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":"0.76","numeric_value":"0.76","unit":"A","param_group":"heater"}],"sections":[{"section_number":1,"section_label":"Pentode","tube_type_key":"power_pentode","specs":[{"key":"Va_max","display_name":"Anode Voltage (max)","value":"300","numeric_value":"300","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Vs_max","display_name":"Screen Voltage (max)","value":"300","numeric_value":"300","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Pa_max","display_name":"Anode Dissipation (max)","value":"12","numeric_value":"12","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Ps_max","display_name":"Screen Dissipation (max)","value":"2","numeric_value":"2","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Ik_max","display_name":"Cathode Current (max)","value":"65","numeric_value":"65","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":"-7.3","numeric_value":"-7.3","unit":"V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mAa","display_name":"Anode Current","value":"48","numeric_value":"48","unit":"mA","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mAs","display_name":"Screen Current","value":"5.5","numeric_value":"5.5","unit":"mA","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"ra","display_name":"Anode Resistance","value":"38000","numeric_value":"38000","unit":"Ω","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"gm","display_name":"Transconductance","value":"11.3","numeric_value":"11.3","unit":"mA/V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Rk","display_name":"Cathode Resistor (self-bias)","value":"135","numeric_value":"135","unit":"Ω","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Pout","display_name":"Output Power","value":"5.7","numeric_value":"5.7","unit":"W","param_group":"output"},{"key":"rl","display_name":"Load Impedance","value":"4500","numeric_value":"4500","unit":"Ω","param_group":"output"},{"key":"Cgp","display_name":"Grid-to-Plate Capacitance","value":"0.5","numeric_value":"0.5","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"},{"key":"Cgk","display_name":"Grid-to-Cathode Capacitance","value":"10.8","numeric_value":"10.8","unit":"pF","param_group":"capacitances"},{"key":"Cak","display_name":"Anode-to-Cathode Capacitance","value":"6.5","numeric_value":"6.5","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":"300","numeric_value":"300","unit":"V","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Pa_max","display_name":"Anode Dissipation (max)","value":"12","numeric_value":"12","unit":"W","param_group":"absolute_max"},{"key":"Ik_max","display_name":"Cathode Current (max)","value":"65","numeric_value":"65","unit":"mA","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":"-9.5","numeric_value":"-9.5","unit":"V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mAa","display_name":"Anode Current","value":"35","numeric_value":"35","unit":"mA","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"ra","display_name":"Anode Resistance","value":"2000","numeric_value":"2000","unit":"Ω","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"gm","display_name":"Transconductance","value":"8.5","numeric_value":"8.5","unit":"mA/V","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"mu","display_name":"Amplification Factor (μ)","value":"17","numeric_value":"17","unit":"—","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Rk","display_name":"Cathode Resistor (self-bias)","value":"270","numeric_value":"270","unit":"Ω","param_group":"typical_operating"},{"key":"Pout","display_name":"Output Power","value":"1.95","numeric_value":"1.95","unit":"W","param_group":"output"},{"key":"rl","display_name":"Load Impedance","value":"3500","numeric_value":"3500","unit":"Ω","param_group":"output"}]}],"synced_at":"2026-04-08T06:03:32.134Z"}