Single half-wave damper diode with higher PIV (4400V) but only one section — 6BY5 has two independent diode units
Electrical Specifications
Absolute Maximum
Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)Heater-Cathode Voltage (max, heater negative)450V
Rectifier
Peak Inverse VoltagePeak Inverse Plate Voltage (damper service)3,000V
Voltage Drop (typical)Voltage Drop (estimated from reference table)32V
Max DC Output Current (total, not per-anode)Max DC Output Current175
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'.