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EL12N — Power Pentode, Y8A | Tubeofile | Tubeofile
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EL12N
Power Pentode — Y8A — RFT
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Data: High
High 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
No known equivalents. If you know of any, use the ⚑ Report Issue button above.
Similar Tubes (Not Drop-In Compatible)
EL12
Same tube family but completely different pin assignments and lower voltage rating (350 V vs 425 V) — not interchangeable
EL12/425
Same voltage rating (425 V) and electrically equivalent but different pin assignments on Y8A base — not pin-compatible
EL12spez
Electrically equivalent but different pin assignments — anode on pin 8 instead of top cap, g2 on pin 1 instead of pin 8. Not pin-compatible.
EL150
Related type with different max ratings — listed as replaceable by Radiomuseum
EL6
Electrically similar Philips equivalent but uses B8A base instead of Y8A — not pin-compatible
Electrical Specifications
Section 1 — Pentode
Absolute Maximum
Anode Voltage (max)
Anode Voltage (max)
425
V
Screen Voltage (max)
Screen Voltage (max)
425
V
Anode Dissipation (max)
Anode Dissipation (max)
18
W
Screen Dissipation (max)
Screen Dissipation (max)
2.5
W
Notes
The EL12N eliminates the top-cap anode connection of the EL12spez, bringing all electrodes to the Y8A base pins. Pin assignments differ from both the EL12 and EL12spez — none of these three are interchangeable despite sharing the same Y8A base.
Pin layout: pin 1 = g2, pin 2 = g1, pin 3 = k/g3, pin 4 = NC, pin 5 = h, pin 6 = h, pin 7 = NC, pin 8 = anode.
TDSL lists Vg1 = -0.3 V which appears to be a cathode-bias operating point with self-bias resistor.
Triode-strapped data (shared with EL12/EL12spez family from diyAudio measurements): μ = 18, ra = 1.1 kΩ, gm = 15 mA/V.
Widely discussed in DIY audio circles for SE and PP amplifier projects. Known for stability when genuine RFT production.
Some counterfeit or degraded specimens exhibited thermal instability — test before use.
Produced by VEB Röhrenwerk Mühlhausen (East Germany), also made by Tesla and RSD.
Pin Layout — Y8A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
Screen Grid (g2)
2
Control Grid (g1)
3
Cathode / Suppressor Grid (internally connected)
Socket-Compatible Tubes
⚠ Not electrically compatible
EL11
EL13
References
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/el12n-in-hifi.346273/page-2
Cathode Current (max)
Cathode Current (max)
90
mA
Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)
Heater-to-Cathode Voltage (max)
50
V
Typical Operating
Anode Voltage (typical)
Anode Voltage (typical)
250
V
Screen Voltage (typical)
Screen Voltage (typical)
250
V
Anode Current
Anode Current
72
mA
Screen Current
Screen Current
11
mA
Anode Resistance
Anode Resistance
20,000
Ω
Transconductance
Transconductance
15
mA/V
Output
Output Power
Output Power (Class A SE)
8
W
Load Impedance
Optimum Load Impedance
3,500
Ω
Section 2 — Triode Strapped
Typical Operating
Anode Resistance
Anode Resistance (triode-connected)
1,100
Ω
Transconductance
Transconductance (triode-connected)
15
mA/V
Amplification Factor (μ)
Amplification Factor (triode-connected)
18
—
Heater
Heater Voltage
Heater Voltage
6.3
V
Heater Current
Heater Current
1.2
A
4
No Connection
5
Heater
6
Heater
7
No Connection
8
Anode