Same electricals and pinout but 300 mA series heater (Vh=3.8 V at 300 mA) instead of 6.3 V parallel — not a drop-in in 6.3 V heater circuits
Electrical Specifications
Absolute Maximum
Anode Voltage (max)Max Anode Voltage220V
Anode Dissipation (max)Max Anode Dissipation2.2W
Cathode Current (max)Max Cathode Current20mA
Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)Max Heater-Cathode Voltage100V
Max Grid ResistorMax Grid Resistor
Notes
Designed for grounded-grid operation at UHF. Pins 2, 6, and 8 are all connected to the control grid, and pins 3 and 7 are both cathode — this multi-pin arrangement reduces lead inductance for VHF/UHF performance. Not a standard triode pinout.
Heater current is 200 mA per the Philips and Mazda-Belvu/CIFTE datasheets. TDSL lists 175 mA — the manufacturer datasheet value of 200 mA is used here.
The E86C is the Philips special-quality (long-life) version; EC806S is the SQ variant with tighter parameter spread. Both are pin-for-pin identical to EC86.
Max heater-to-cathode voltage is asymmetric: 100 V (cathode positive) vs 50 V (cathode negative). Max Rkf = 20 kOhm.
Equivalent noise resistance (Req) is 230 Ohm — unusually low, reflecting the tube's design for low-noise UHF front-end service.
Introduced 1958-1959. Manufactured by Telefunken (Ulm and Berlin), Philips/Mullard, Mazda-Belvu (CIFTE), and others. Total Telefunken production exceeded 1.8 million units, mostly at the Berlin plant.
Pin Layout — Noval
1Anode
2Control Grid
3Cathode
Socket-Compatible Tubes ⚠ Not electrically compatible