The designation '6N3C' is a Latin transliteration of 6П3С (Cyrillic), where П='P' and С='S'. In formal technical documentation, '6P3S' is the standard transliteration. '6N3C' is commonly used in marketplace listings and collector communities.
The standard 6P3S has significantly lower maximum voltage ratings than the 6L6GC: Va_max 375V vs 500V, Vg2_max 300V vs 450V. While pin-compatible with all 6L6 variants, it is NOT safe as a direct replacement in high-voltage 6L6GC circuits that operate near the GC's limits.
The enhanced variant 6P3S-E (6N3C-E) has tighter tolerances (Ah 880±40 vs 900±90 mA), higher Vhk_max (200V vs 100V), lower Ig2 (≤6 vs ≤9 mA), and rated lifetime ≥5000h vs ≥1000h for the standard 6P3S. Pin-compatible drop-in with superior ratings.
Russian datasheet specifies Rg_max of 500 kΩ — substantially higher than the Western 6L6's 100 kΩ limit for fixed bias. This suggests self-bias operation was the primary design intent.
Triode-strapped data inferred from the electrically equivalent 6L6, sourced from Tom Schlangen's 'Pentodes Strapped as Triodes' (2009). No specific 6P3S triode-mode data found in Soviet datasheets.
Pin Layout — Octal
1No Connection
2Heater
3Anode
4
Socket-Compatible Tubes ⚠ Not electrically compatible