EL42

Power Pentode — Rimlock

Philips

Known Equivalents & Substitutes

BF62CV3890N151

Similar Tubes (Not Drop-In Compatible)

6BN5

American designation for EL85; Noval (B9A) base — not pin-compatible with Rimlock (B8A)

Same Rimlock B8A base but different internal connections on pins 3/4 and significantly higher power (9 W Pa_max vs 6 W); not a drop-in replacement

Electrically identical but Noval (B9A) base — not pin-compatible with Rimlock (B8A)

Electrical Specifications

Absolute Maximum

Anode Voltage (max)Anode Voltage (max)300V

Screen Voltage (max)Screen Voltage (max)300V

Anode Dissipation (max)Anode Dissipation (max)6W

Screen Dissipation (max)Screen Dissipation (max)2W

Cathode Current (max)

Notes

Pins 3 and 4 are internal connections (not brought out to the socket). The suppressor grid is internally connected to the cathode.
Designed primarily for 6 V car radio and vibrator-driven sets. The datasheet recommends designing the operating point for 7 V supply (6 W average Pa) to tolerate accumulator voltage fluctuations between 5.5 V and 8 V without risk of under-running or overloading.
Maximum permissible anode dissipation may be exceeded by up to 15% as a result of component tolerances and AGC action.
Screen dissipation has two separate limits: max 1 W without input signal (idle) and max 2 W at maximum output power.
The EL42 was introduced by Philips in 1947 and was widely used in European car radios and portable receivers through the 1950s. It replaced the earlier EL2 and EL32, and was itself superseded by the Noval-based EL85 and EL95.

Pin Layout — Rimlock

1Heater

2Anode

3Internal Connection

4

References