6CB5A

Name: 6CB5A
Brand: RCA

Beam Tetrode — Octal — RCA

Data: HighHigh quality — base, heater, all universal parameters present, and ≥50% of desirable parameters filled in. Safe to use for design decisions.

↗ TDSL ↗ Radiomuseum

Known Equivalents & Substitutes

6CB56CL56P20S

Electrical Specifications

Section 1 — Beam Tetrode

Absolute Maximum

Anode Voltage (max)Anode Voltage (max)880V

Screen Voltage (max)Screen Voltage (max)220V

Anode Dissipation (max)Anode Dissipation (max)26W

Screen Dissipation (max)Screen Dissipation (max)4W

Notes

Plate connection is via a top cap (JEDEC No. C1-1), not through the octal base pins.
Pins 4 and 5 are both connected to Grid No.1 (control grid).
Pins 3 and 6 are both connected to Cathode/Grid No.3 (suppressor internally tied to cathode).
Pin 1 and Pin 8 are both connected to Grid No.2 (screen grid).
Originally designed for TV horizontal deflection, not audio. No manufacturer audio operating point or output power data exists.
An adequate bias resistor or other means is required to protect the tube in the absence of excitation.
The 6CB5A is unilaterally interchangeable with the 6CB5 (improved version).
Triode-strapped data sourced from Bartola Valves (https://www.bartola.co.uk/valves/tag/6cb5a-triode-mode-curves/), not from the manufacturer datasheet.

Pin Layout — Octal

1Screen Grid (G2)

2Heater

3Cathode

References