List of vacuum tubes

This is a list of vacuum tubes or thermionic valves, and low-pressure gas-filled tubes, or discharge tubes. Before the advent of semiconductor devices, thousands of tube types were used in consumer and industrial electronics; today only a few types are still used in specialized applications.

Heater or filament ratings

Main article: Hot cathode

Vacuum tubes fall into three mainly non-interchangeable categories regarding their heater or filament voltage (some tubes' heaters run at a voltage and current suitable for either series or parallel operation, e.g., 6.3 V at 300 mA).

  1. Battery types, with a low-power filament operated usually from 1 to 2 V; all filaments in a design are rated at the same voltage and are connected in parallel. They are usually directly heated to save heating power (therefore requiring a DC current), except if the (due to the voltage gradient along the filament) poorly defined cathode potential impedes the function of the device, as is the case e.g. with AM detector diodes with filament voltages of 1.9 V or more; in such cases, indirect heaters were employed and marketed as equipotential or unipotential cathode at the time.
  2. Types for AC-only equipment with a mains transformer, or for car radios; all tube heaters are rated at the same voltage and fed in parallel from a transformer winding or from the car battery, usually 6.3V (domestic AC-only, and 6V car radios) or 12.6V (mainly 12V car radios). Most are indirectly heated.
  3. Types for equipment designed to run on either AC or DC mains power (ac/dc) with no mains transformer; all heaters are connected in series, possibly with an additional ballast tube (barretter) or power resistor chosen so that the sum of the heater and ballast voltages equals the mains voltage. All tubes must be rated at the same heater current, typically 100, 150, 300 or 450 mA. They are always indirectly heated.

The currents drawn by parallel-connected types, and the voltages across series-connected types, vary widely according to the tube's heating power requirements. Otherwise identical tubes were manufactured in several variants with different heater characteristics[2] (but usually the same power, e.g. 6.3 V/300 mA and 12.6 V/150 mA). See, for example, the RCA Receiving Tube Manuals.

In half-indirectly heated tubes the cathode and one side of the filament share the same pin.

Tube bases

Main article: Tube socket

Numbering systems

North American systems

RMA system (1942)

Main article: RMA tube designation

The system assigned numbers with the base form "1A21", and is therefore also referred to as the "1A21 system".

First digit Filament/heater power rating:

Next character: Function:

  • TR (Transmit/receive) cell, a cold-cathode water vapor discharge tube for use in radar systems, short-circuits the receiver input to protect it while the transmitter operates
  • ATR (Anti-transmit/receive) cell, a cold-cathode water vapor discharge tube for use in radar systems, decouples the transmitter from the antenna while not operating, to prevent it from wasting received energy
  • Spark gap

The last 2 digits were sequentially assigned, beginning with 21 to avoid possible confusion with receiving tubes or CRT phosphor designations. Multiple section tubes (like the 3E29 or 8D21) are assigned a letter corresponding to ONE set of electrodes.

Examples

  • 2C39B 2C39A with ceramic spacers

RETMA receiving tubes system (1953)

RETMA is the acronym for the Radio Electronic Television Manufacturers Association, originally the RMA, later RTMA, then EIA (Electronic Industries Association, since 1997 Electronic Industries Alliance).

Often, but not always, vacuum tube designations that differed only in their initial numerals would be identical except for heater characteristics. Exceptions include: the 12BR7 and 9BR7 are unrelated to the 6BR7; the 4BL8/XCF80 is the 4.6 Volt (600mA series heater) version of the 6BL8/ECF80, but the 450mA series heater version is the 6LN8/LCF80 rather than 6BL8.

For examples see below

EIA professional tubes system

A four-digit system was maintained by the EIA for special industrial, military and professional vacuum and gas-filled tubes, and all sorts of other devices requiring to be sealed off against the external atmosphere.

Some manufacterers preceded the EIA number with a manufacterer's code:

For examples see below

West European systems

Mullard-Philips system

This system is very descriptive of what type of device (triode, diode, pentode etc.) it is applied to, as well as the heater/filament type and the base type (octal, noval, etc.).[4] Adhering manufacturers include AEG (de), Amperex (us), Dario (fr), La Radiotechnique (fr), Lorenz (de), Mullard (uk), Philips (nl), RCA (us), RFT (de), Siemens (de), Telefunken (de), Toshiba (ja), Tungsram (hu) and Valvo (de).

Standard tubes

This part dates back to the joint valve code key (German: Röhren-Gemeinschaftsschlüssel) negotiated between Philips and Telefunken in 1933-34. Like the North American system the first symbol describes the heater voltage, in this case a Roman letter rather than a number. Further Roman letters, up to three, describe the device followed by one to four numerals assigned in a semi-chronological order of type development within number ranges assigned to different base types.

If two devices share the same type designation other than the first letter (e.g. ECL82, PCL82, UCL82) they will usually be identical except for heater specifications; however there are exceptions, particularly with output types (for example, both the PL84 and UL84 differ significantly from the EL84 in certain major characteristics, although they have the same pinout and similar power rating). However, device numbers do not reveal any similarity between different type families; e.g. the triode section of an ECL82 is not related to either triode of an ECC82, whereas the triode section of an ECL86 does happen to be similar to those of an ECC83.

Pro Electron maintained a subset of the M-P system after their establishment in 1966, with only the first letters E, P for the heater, only the second letters A, B, C, D, E, F, H, K, L, M, Y, Z for the type, and issuing only three-digit numbers starting with 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 for the base.[5]

Notes: Tungsram preceded the M-P designation with the letter T, as in TAD1 for AD1; Vatea (United Incandescent Lamp and Electric Company, Budapest, Hungary) preceded the M-P designation with the letter V, as in VEL5 for EL5.

Heater ratings for series-string, AC/DC tubes are given in milliamperes; heater ratings for parallel-string tubes are given in volts
  • A 4 V heater for 2-cell lead-acid batteries and for AC mains transformers
  • B 180 mA DC series heater
  • compatible with a Mullard series,[1] with the Philips B20xx series, and with the Telefunken REN(S)18xx series[6] for use in municipalities with a DC mains system
  • C 200 mA AC/DC series heater
  • D 1.4 V DC filament for Leclanché cells, later low-voltage/low power filament/heater:
  • 0.625 V DC directly heated for NiCd battery, series-heated two-tube designs such as hearing aids. If either filament breaks, further draining of all batteries stops
  • Wide range 0.9 V to 1.55 V DC directly heated for dry cells
  • 1.25 V DC directly heated for NiCd batteries
  • 1.25 V or 1.4 V AC from a separate heater winding on CRT horizontal-output transformers, in half-indirectly heated EHT rectifiers
  • E 6.3 V parallel heater; for 3-cell lead-acid vehicle crank batteries (mobile equipment) and for AC mains or horizontal-output transformers
  • F 12.6 V DC parallel heater for 6-cell lead-acid vehicle crank batteries
  • G 5.0 V AC from a separate heater winding on a mains or horizontal-output transformer for the anode voltage rectifier; later misc.
  • H 150 mA AC/DC series heater
  • In 1938, Philips tried to define this letter as "4 V battery", as opposed to A for "4 V AC"[7]
  • I 20 V heater
  • K 2.0 V filament for 1-cell lead-acid batteries, later for AC transformers
  • L 450 mA AC/DC series heater; was shifted here from Y
  • M 1.9 V, directly heated
  • N 12.6 V, indirectly heated
  • O Cold cathode
  • by 1955 this also included semiconductors as these had no heater
  • Philips sold a family of 150mA series heater tubes under this letter in South America
  • P 300 mA AC/DC series heater
  • Q 2.4 V, indirectly heated
  • R Not assigned to avoid any confusion with the older Telefunken "R" system
  • S 1.9 V, indirectly heated
  • T Customized heater
  • U 100 mA AC/DC series heater
  • V 50 mA AC/DC series heater
  • X 600 mA AC/DC series heater
  • Y 450 mA AC/DC series heater, shifted to L to avoid conflicts with the professional tubes system
  • Z Cold cathode tube; was shifted here from O after the advent of semiconductors
E.g. ECCnn is a 6.3 V dual triode; EABCnn has a single detector diode, a common-cathode pair of diodes, and a triode.
For signal pentodes, an odd model number most often identified a variable transconductance (remote-cutoff) tube, whereas an even number identified a 'high slope' (sharp-cutoff) tube
For power pentodes and triode-pentode combinations, even numbers usually indicate linear (audio power amplifier) devices while odd numbers were more suited to video signals or situations where more distortion could be tolerated.
  • 1–9 Pinch-type construction tubes, mostly P8 bases (P base, 8-pin side-contact) or European 5-pin (B base) and various other European pre-octal designs
  • 10–19 8-pin German metal octal, G8A
  • 20–29 Loctal B8G; some octal; some 8-way side contact (exceptions are DAC21, DBC21, DCH21, DF21, DF22, DL21, DLL21, DM21 which have octal bases)
  • 30–39 International Octal (IEC 67-I-5a), also known as IO or K8A
  • 40–49 Rimlok (Rimlock) B8A All-glass miniature tubes
  • 50–59 "Special construction types fitted with bases applicable to design features used[9]"; mostly locking bases: "9-pin Loctal" (B9G) or 8-pin Loctal (B8G); but also used for Octal and others (3-pin glass; Disk-seal incl. Lighthouse tubes; German 10-pin with spigot; min. 4-pin; B26A; Magnoval B9D)
  • 60–69 Pencil tubes - sub-miniature all-glass tubes, pigtailed (inline fly-leads in place of pins)
—Before 1950s:
  • 60–64 All-glass tubes fitted with 9-pin (B9G) bases
  • 70–79 Pencil tubes with circular pins or fly-leads
—Before 1950s:
  • 70–79 Loctal Lorenz
  • 80–89 Noval B9A (9-pin; IEC 67-I-12a)
  • 90–99 "Button" B7G (miniature 7-pin; IEC 67-I-10a)
  • 100–109 B7G; Wehrmacht base; German PTT base
  • 110–119 8-pin German octal; Rimlok B8A
  • 130–139 Octal
  • 150–159 German 10-pin with spigot; 10-pin glass with one big pin; Octal
  • 160–169 Inline wire-ended Pencil tubes; 8-pin German octal
  • 170–179 RFT 8-pin; RFT 11-pin all-glass gnome tube with one offset pin
  • 180–189 Noval B9A
  • 190–199 Miniature 7-pin B7G
  • 200–209 Decal B10B; Pro Electron-issued
  • 230–239 Octal
  • 270–279 RFT 11-pin all glass with one offset pin
  • 280–289 Noval B9A
  • 300–399 Octal; Pro Electron-issued
  • 400–499 Rimlok B8A
  • 500–529 Magnoval B9D, Novar; Pro Electron-issued
  • 600–699 Inline wire-ended Pencil tubes
  • 700–799 Circular wire-ended Pencil tubes
  • 800–899 Noval B9A; Pro Electron-issued
  • 900–999 Miniature 7-pin B7G; Pro Electron-issued
  • 1000– Round wire-ended; special Nuvistor base
  • 2000– Decal B10B
  • 3000– Octal
  • 5000– Magnoval B9D
  • 8000– Noval B9A

For examples see below

Special quality tubes

Vacuum tubes which had special qualities (French: Securité - Qualité) of some sort, very often long-life designs, particularly for computer and telecommunications use, had the numeric part of the designation placed immediately after the first letter. They were usually special-quality versions of standard types. Thus the E82CC was a long-life version of the ECC82 intended for computer and general signal use, and the E88CC a high quality version of the ECC88/6DJ8. While the E80F pentode was a high quality development of the EF80, they were not pin-compatible and could not be interchanged without rewiring the socket (the E80F is commonly sought after as a high quality replacement for the similar EF86 type in guitar amplifiers). The letters "CC" indicated the two triodes and the "F", the single pentode inside these types.

A few special-quality tubes did not have a standard equivalent, e.g. the E55L, a broadband power pentode used as the output stage of oscilloscope amplifiers and the E90CC, a double triode with a common cathode connection and seven pin base for use in cathode-coupled Flip-flops in early computers. The E91H is a special heptode with a passivated third grid designed to reduce secondary emission; this device was used as a "gate", allowing or blocking pulses applied to the first, (control) grid by changing the voltage on the third grid, in early computer circuits (similar in function to the U.S. 6AS6).

Many of these types had gold-plated base pins and special heater configurations inside the nickel cathode tube designed to reduce hum pickup from the A.C. heater supply, and also had improved oxide insulation between the heater and cathode so the cathode could be elevated to a greater voltage above the heater supply. (Note that elevating the cathode voltage above the average heater voltage, which in well-designed equipment was supplied from a transformer with an earthed center-tapped secondary, was less detrimental to the oxide insulation between heater and cathode than lowering the cathode voltage below the heater voltage, helping to prevent pyrometallurgical electrolytic chemical reactions where the oxide touched the nickel cathode that could form conductive aluminium tungstate and which could ultimately develop into a heater-cathode short-circuit.)

Better, often dual, getters were implemented to maintain a better vacuum, and more-rigid electrode supports introduced to reduce microphonics and improve vibration and shock resistance. The mica spacers used in "SQ" and "PQ" types did not possess sharp protrusions which could flake off and become loose inside the bulb, possibly lodging between the grids and thus changing the characteristics of the device. Some types, particularly the E80F, E88CC and E90CC, had a constricted section of bulb to firmly hold specially shaped flakeless mica spacers.[10]

For examples see below, starting at DC

Later special-quality tubes had not base and function swapped but were assigned a 4-digit number,[4] such as ECC2000 or ED8000, the first digit of which again denoting the base:

For examples see below, starting at EC

"Z" Cold-cathode SQ tubes had a different function letter scheme:[11]

For examples, see below under Z

Professional tubes

In use since at least 1961, this system was maintained by Pro Electron after their establishment in 1966.[5]

Both letters together indicate the type:

Then follows a 4-digit sequentially assigned number.

Optional suffixes for camera tubes:

Version letter:

Letter for variants derived by selection:

For examples see below

Transmitting tubes

The first letter (or letter pair, in the case of a dual-system device) indicates the general type:

The following letter indicates the filament or cathode type. The coding differs between Philips (and other Continental European manufacturers) on the one hand and its Mullard subsidiary on the other.

Philips system:

Mullard system:

A different nomenclature applies to gas-filled devices, where the code indicates the type of filling:

The next letter indicates the cooling method or other significant characteristic:

The following group of digits indicate:

The following group of digits indicate the power:

An optional following letter indicates the base or connection method:

For examples see below

Phototubes and photomultipliers

The first digit indicates the tube base:

The second digit is a sequentially assigned number.

The following letter indicates the photocathode type:

The following letter indicates the filling:

A following letter P indicates a photomultiplier.

Examples

Voltage stabilizers

The first number indicates the burning voltage

The following letter indicates the current range:

The following digit is a sequentially assigned number.

An optional, following letter indicates the base:

Examples

Marconi-Osram system

The British Marconi-Osram designation from the 1920s uses one or two letter(s) followed by two numerals and sometimes by a second letter identifying different versions of a particular type.

The letter(s) generally denote the type or use:

The following numbers are sequentially assigned for each new device.

Examples:

Note: Kinkless Tetrode beam power tubes are listed under other letter tubes - KT

Mazda/Ediswan systems

Older system

First letter: Heater or filament voltage

Second letter: Heater or filament current

Next number: Gain

Next number: Internal resistance in kΩ

Signal tubes

First number: Heater or filament rating

Following letter or letter sequence: Type

Final number: Sequentially assigned number

Power rectifiers

Letter(s): Type

Number: Sequentially assigned number

Examples:

Note: "AC/"-series receiver tubes are listed under other letter tubes - AC/

Philips system before 1934

1st letter: Heater current

Next 1 (of 3) or 2 (of 4) digit(s): Heater voltage

Last 2 digits: Type

  • second-last digit: sequentially assigned, starting at 4
  • last digit:
  • 1 Tetrode with a space charge grid (the 2nd grid is the control grid)
  • 2 Tetrode with a screen grid (the 1st grid is the control grid)
  • 3 Power pentode
  • 4 Binode, a diode/triode or diode/tetrode
  • 5 Variable-mu RF tetrode
  • 6 Signal pentode
  • 7 Variable-mu RF pentode
  • 8 Hexode frequency changer
  • 9 Variable-mu Hexode

Standard Telephones and Cables/Brimar receiving tubes system

First number: Type

Next letter: Heater rating

Number: Sequentially assigned number

Examples:

Tesla receiving tubes system

Signal tubes

First number: Heater voltage, as in the RETMA scheme

Next letter(s): Type, subset of the Mullard-Philips scheme

Next digit: Base

Last digit: Sequentially assigned number

Examples:

Power tubes

First letter:

Next letter(s): Type, subset of the Mullard-Philips scheme

Next number: Anode dissipation in watts or kilowatts

Next letter(s):

Japanese Industrial Standards system

First letter: Base

Second letter: Type

Number: Sequentially assigned number

Russian systems

Vacuum tubes produced in the former Soviet Union and in present-day Russia are designated in Cyrillic. Some confusion has been created in transliterating these designations to Latin.

Standard tubes

In the 1950s a 5-element system (GOST 5461-59, later 13393-76) was adopted in the (then) Soviet Union for designating receiver vacuum tubes.

The 1st element is a number specifying filament voltage in volts (rounded off to the nearest whole number), or, for cathode-ray tubes, the screen diagonal or diameter in cm (rounded-off to the nearest whole number).

The 2nd element is a Cyrillic character specifying the type of device:

The 3rd element is a number - a series designator that distinguishes between different devices of the same type.

The 4th element denotes vacuum tube construction (base, envelope):

The 5th element is optional. It consists of a dash ("-") followed by a single character or a combination of characters, and denotes special characteristics (if any) of the tube:

Note: In most cases this means construction differences to the basic version, rather than a selection for those characteristics from the regular-quality production at the factory.

For examples see below

Very-high power tubes

There is another designation system for high-power tubes such as transmitter ones.

The 1st element is always G (Russian Г, for "генераторная" "generator").

The 2nd element (with some notable exceptions such as the Г807) is:

The 3rd element consists of a dash ("-") followed by the design serial number:

For examples see below

Very-high power tubes designation (Eitel McCullough and derivatives)

Manufacturers of very-high power tubes use the following code:[12]

Examples:

ETL computing tubes designation

The British Ericsson Telephones Limited (ETL), of Beeston, Nottingham (not to be confused with the Swedish TelefonAB Ericsson), original holder of the now-generic trademark Dekatron, used the following system:

For examples see below under GC, GD, GR, GS, GTE, GTR and VS

Military naming systems

British CV naming system

This system prefixes a three- or four-digit number with the letters "CV", meaning "civilian valve" i.e. common to all three armed services. It was introduced during the Second World War to rationalise the previous nomenclatures maintained separately by the War Office/Ministry of Supply, Admiralty and Air Ministry/Ministry of Aircraft Production on behalf of the three armed services (e.g. "ACR~", "AR~", "AT~", etc. for CRTs, receiving and transmitting valves used in army equipments, "NC~", "NR~" and "NT~" similarly for navy equipments and "VCR~", "VR~" and "VT~" etc. for air force equipments), in which three separate designations could in principle apply to the same valve (which often had at least one prototype commercial designation as well). These numbers generally have identical equivalents in both the North American, RETMA, and West European, Mullard-Philips, systems but they bear no resemblance to the assigned "CV" number.

Examples

Note: The 4000 numbers identify special-quality valves though SQ valves CV numbered before that rule came in retain their original CV number.

The principle behind the CV numbering scheme was also adopted by the US Joint Army-Navy JAN numbering scheme which was later considerably expanded into the US Federal and then NATO Stock Number system used by all NATO countries. This part-identification system ensures that every particular spare part (not merely thermionic valves) receives a unique stock number across the whole of NATO irrespective of the source, and hence is not held inefficiently as separate stores. In the case of CV valves, the stock number is always of the format 5960-99-000-XXXX where XXXX is the CV number (with a leading 0 if the CV number only has 3 digits).

U.S. naming systems

One system prefixes a three-digit number with the letters "VT", presumably meaning "Vacuum Tube". Other systems prefix the number with the letters "JHS" or "JAN". The numbers following these prefixes can be "special" four-digit numbers, or domestic two- or three-digit numbers or simply the domestic North American "RETMA" numbering system. Like the British military system, these have many direct equivalents in the civilian types. Confusingly, the British also had two entirely different "VT" nomenclatures, one used by the Royal Air Force (see the preceding section) and the other used by the General Post Office, responsible for post and telecommunications at the time, where it may have stood for "valve, telephone"; none of these schemes corresponded in any way with each other.

Examples

Other numeral-only systems

Various numeral-only systems exist. These tend to be used for devices used in commercial or industrial equipment.

For examples, see below

The oldest numbering systems date back to the early 1920s, such as a two-digit numbering system, starting with the UV-201A, which was considered as "type 01", and extended almost continuously up into the 1980s.

For examples see below

Three- and four-digit numeral-only systems were maintained by R.C.A., but also adopted by many other manufacturers, and typically encompassed rectifiers and radio transmitter output devices. Devices in the low 800s tend to be transmitter output types, those in the higher 800s are not vacuum tubes, but gas-filled rectifiers and thyratrons, and those in the 900s tend to be special-purpose and high-frequency devices. Use was not rigorously systematic: the 807 had variants 1624, 1625, and 807W.

For examples, see below under 800s, 900s and 1600s

Other letter followed by numerals

There are quite a number of these systems from different geographical realms, such as those used on devices from contemporary Russian and Chinese production. Other compound numbering systems were used to mark higher-reliability types used in industrial or commercial applications. Computers and telecommunication equipment also required valves (tubes) of greater quality and reliability than for domestic and consumer equipment.

Some letter prefixes are manufacterer's codes:

For examples, see below

Some designations are derived from the behavior of devices considered to be exceptional.

List of American RETMA tubes, with European equivalents

Note: Typecode explained above. See also RETMA tube designation

"0 volt" gas-filled cold cathode tubes

First character is numeric zero, not letter O.

1 volt heater/filament tubes

1.25 volt filament subminiature tubes

The following tubes were used in post-WW2 walkie-talkies and pocket-sized portable radios. All have 1.25 volt DC filaments and directly heated cathodes. Some specify which end of the filament is to be powered by the positive side of the filament power supply (usually a battery). All have glass bodies that measure from 0.285 to 0.400 inches (7.24 mm to 10.16 mm) wide, and from 1.25 to 2.00 inches (31.75 mm to 50.4 mm) in overall length.

Those labeled 8 pin have round bodies and bases with 8 stiff pins arranged in a circle. Those marked FL have elliptical bodies and flat bases with long, inline "flying leads" that are soldered into the circuit. Those marked SL are similar to those marked FL, but have short inline leads that can be soldered or can be mated with a special socket. (Flying leads can be cut short to fit into inline sockets.)

1 prefix for home receivers

These tubes were made for home storage battery receivers manufactured during the early to mid-1930s. The numbers of the following tubes all start with 1, but these tubes all have 2.0 volt DC filaments. This numbering scheme was intended to differentiate these tubes from the tubes with 2.5 volt AC heaters listed below.

2 volt heater/filament tubes

5 volt heater/filament tubes

6 volt heater/filament tubes

There are several variations. Except for types 6L6-GC and 6L6-GX, all have the same maximum output ratings:
  • 11.5 watts (single-ended Class-A circuit)
  • 14.5 watts (push-pull Class-A circuit)
  • 34 watts (push-pull Class-AB1 circuit)
  • 60 watts (push-pull Class-AB2 circuit)
6L6 (metal envelope) and 6L6-G (shouldered glass envelope) were used in pre-World War II radios and Public Address amplifiers.
6L6 and 25L6 were introduced in 1935 as the first beam tetrodes. Both types were branded with the L6 ending to signify their (then) uniqueness among audio output tubes. However, this is the only similarity between the two tubes. (Type 6W6-GT is the 6.3 volt heater version of types 25L6-GT and 50L6-GT.)
  • 6L6GA Post-war version of type 6L6-G, in smaller ST-14 shape with Shouldered Tubular, (ST), shaped bulb, revision A.
  • 6L6GB Post-war improved version in a cylindrical glass envelope. Similar to type 5881.
  • 6L6GTB, Type 6L6 with Tubular, (T), shaped bulb, revision B, (higher power rating, as it happens. The 6L6GTB can always replace the 6L6, 6L6G, and 6L6GT, but a 6L6GTB running at maximum rating should not be replaced with another subtype).
  • 6L6-WGB "Industrial" version of type 6L6GB.
  • 6L6GC Final and highest-powered audio version of the tube. Max. outputs:
  • 17.5 watts (single-ended Class-A circuit)
  • 32 watts (push-pull Class-A circuit)
  • 55 watts (push-pull Class-AB1 circuit)
  • 60 watts (push-pull Class-AB2 circuit)
  • 6L6-GX Class-C oscillator/amplifier used in transmitters. Max. output 30 watts. (All versions may be used as a Class-C oscillator/amplifier, but this version is specifically designed for this purpose, has a special ceramic base.)

"7" prefix loctal tubes

These tubes all have 6.3 volt AC/DC heaters.

12 volt heater/filament tubes

"14" prefix loctal tubes

These tubes all have 12.6 volt AC/DC heaters

25 volt heater/filament tubes

35 volt heater/filament tubes

50 volt heater/filament tubes

117 volt heater tubes

All of the following tubes are designed to operate with their heaters connected directly to the 117 volt (now 120 volt) electrical mains of North America. All of them use indirectly heated cathodes. All of them incorporate at least one rectifier diode.

Other tubes with nonstandard filament voltages

The tubes in this list are most commonly used in series-wired circuits.

List of EIA professional tubes

Note: Some manufacterers preceded the EIA number with a manufacterer's code, as explained above. Most of these are special quality versions of the equivalents given.

4000s

5000s

5651

6000s

7000s

8000s

List of European Mullard-Philips tubes, with American equivalents

Most post-war European thermionic valve (vacuum tube) manufacturers have used the Mullard-Philips tube designation naming scheme.

Special quality variants may have the letters "SQ" appended, or the device description letters may be swapped with the numerals (e.g. an E82CC is a special quality version of an ECC82)

Note: Typecode explained above. The part behind a slash ("/") is the RMA/RETMA/EIA equivalent.

A - 4 V heater

AB

ABC

ABL

AC

ACH

A D

AF

AH

AK

AL

AM

AN

AX

AZ

B - 180 mA heater

BB

BCH

BL

C - 200 mA heater

CB

CBC

CBL

CC

CCH

CF

CH

CK

CL

CM

CY

D - 1.4 V filament/heater

Note: D-type tubes except some rectifiers are directly heated.

DA

DAC

DAF

DAH

DBC

DC

—Special quality:

DCC

DCF

DCH

DD

DDD

DF

—Special quality:

DK

DL

  • DL41w Bowl Power pentode[8]

DLL

DM

DY

E - 6.3 V heater

EA

EAA

—Special quality:

EAB

EABC

EAC

EAF

EAM

EB

EBC

EBF

EBL

EC

—Special quality:

ECC

ECC83/12AX7
Notes:
  • All ECC8x have separate cathodes.
  • ECC81, 82 & 83 have the individual triode heaters internally series-connected, with the midpoint on a separate pin, so they could be run on both 6.3 V and 12.6 V (hence RETMA lists them as 12V types), which was useful in dual-system (6V and 12V) car radios.
  • All other ECC8x have their heaters internally paralleled.

—Special quality:

ECF

—Special quality:

ECH

—Special quality:

ECL

ECLL

ED

—Special quality:

EDD

EE

EEL

EEP

EF

—Special quality:

EFF

EFL

EFM

EFP

EH

—Special quality:

EK

EL

—Special quality:

ELL

EM

—Special quality:

EMM

EN

EQ

ES

ET

—Special quality:

EW

EY

EYY

EZ

—Special quality:

F - 12.6 V heater

FL

FZ

G - 5.0 V heater or misc.

GA

GY

GZ

H - 150 mA heater

HAA

HABC

HBC

HCC

HCH

HF

HK

HL

HM

HY

I - 20 V heater

IF

IL

K - 2.0 V heater

KA

KB

KBC

KC

KCF

KCH

KDD

KF

KH

KK

KL

KLL

KY

L - 450 mA heater

LCF

LCL

LF

LFL

LL

LY

M - 1.9 V heater

MC

MF

N - 12.6 V heater

ND

NF

O - No heater

Note: Philips sold a family of 150mA series heater tubes under this letter in South America: OBC3, OBF2, OCH4, OH4, OF1, OF5, OF9 and OM5

OZ

P - 300 mA heater

Note: Philips sold a family of 300mA series heater tubes under this letter in South America: PAB1, PBF2, PF9, PH4 and PM5

PABC

PC

PCC

PCF

PCH

PCL

PD

PF

PFL

PL

PLL

PM

PY

PZ

S - 1.9 V heater

SA

SD

SF

T - Custom heater

Note: Tungsram preceded the M-P designation with the letter T, as in TAD1 for AD1

TY

U - 100 mA heater

Note: Philips sold a family of 100mA series heater tubes under this letter in South America: UBC1, UBF2, UF8 and UL1

UAA

UABC

UAF

UB

UBC

UBF

UBL

UC

UCC

UCF

UCH

UCL

UEL

UF

UFM

UH

UL

ULL

UM

UQ

US

UY

V - 50 mA heater

Note: Vatea (United Incandescent Lamp and Electric Company, Budapest, Hungary) preceded the M-P designation with the letter V, as in VEL5 for EL5.

VBF

VC

VCH

VCL

VEL

VF

VL

VY

X - 600 mA heater

XAA

XC

XCC

XCF

XCH

XCL

XF

XL

XY

Y - 450 mA heater

YCC

YF

Z - Cold cathode tube

Notes: Special-quality cold-cathode "Z" tubes had a different function letter scheme.

See also the professional tubes under Z

ZA

ZC

ZE

ZM

Note: More Nixie tubes under professional - ZM and other letter - GR

ZS

ZT

ZU

ZW

ZX

List of Pro Electron professional tubes

Note: Typecode explained above.

X - Electro-optical devices

XA

XG

XL

XM

XP

XQ

XR

XX

Y - Vacuum tubes

YA

YD

YG

YH

YJ

YK

YL

Z - Gas-filled tubes

Note: See also standard M-P tubes under Z

ZA

ZC

ZM

ZM1070
ZM1212

Note: More Nixie tubes under standard - ZM and other letter - GR

ZP

ZT

ZX

ZY

ZZ

List of European transmitting tubes

Note: Typecode explained above.

B - Backward-wave amplifier

BA

D - Rectifier incl. grid-controlled

DA

DC

DCG

DCX

DE

J - Magnetron

JP

JPT

K - Klystron

KB

L - Traveling-wave tube

LA

M - AF modulator Triode

MA

MB

MY

MZ

P - Pentode

PA

PAL

PAW

PB

PC

PE

Q - Tetrode

QB

QBL

QBW

QC

QE

QEL

QEP

QQC

QQE

QQV

QQZ

QV

QY

QYS

QZ

R - Rectifier

RG

RGQ

T - AF/RF/oscillator Triode

TA

TB

TBL

TBW

TC

TD

TE

TX

TY

TYS

X - Thyratron

XGQ

XR

List of other letter tubes

A

AC/

Mazda/Ediswan 4 volts AC, indirectly heated receiver tubes:

ACT

Marconi-Osram:

AT

Mullard:

B

BA

Industrial Electronics Engineers:

BG

Burroughs:

C

CH

Tung-Sol:

CL

Ferranti:

D

Philips:

DDR

Mullard:

DZ

Cerberus:

E

EN

Ferranti:

EST

G

Standard Telephones and Cables/Brimar:

Cerberus:

GC

Ericsson Telephones Limited:

GCA

Ericsson Telephones Limited:

GD

Ericsson Telephones Limited:

GDT

Ericsson Telephones Limited:

GE

Ferranti:

GK

Cerberus:

GN

Ferranti:

GR

Ericsson Telephones Limited:

Note: More Nixie tubes under standard - ZM and professional - ZM

Cerberus:

GRD

Ferranti:

GS

Ericsson Telephones Limited:

GSA

Ericsson Telephones Limited:

GTE

Ericsson Telephones Limited:

GTR

Ericsson Telephones Limited:

H

HD

K

KN

KN2

Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier:

KT

Marconi-Osram Kinkless Tetrode beam power tubes

Tung-Sol:

M

M8000s

UK Military developed:

ME

Mazda:

P

PBG

Dale:

PD

Mazda:

PL

Philips:

Q

QK

Raytheon:

R

S

SU

Cossor:

SY

Standard Telephones and Cables:

This device is historically notable because a pair of them in parallel Class-C was used as the output stage in a transmitter built in secret by Australian soldiers in Japanese-occupied Portuguese Timor during World-War II in 1942. This transmitter, now reconstructed and on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, was called "Winnie the War Winner".[75]

T

TT

Bendix:

Marconi-Osram:

V

VHT

Ferranti:

VS

Ericsson Telephones Limited:

List of other number tubes

1

1600s

2

200s

3

300s

4

400s

5

500s

6

7

700s

8

800s

866A

9

900s

9000s

List of tubes used in 1920s and 1930s radio receivers

Tubes with directly heated cathodes

Used with AC, DC or home-based storage battery power supplies (1927–1931)

With 1.1 Volt DC filaments

Used in 1920s home radios. Filaments powered by 1.5 volt dry cells, plates powered by storage batteries.

With 2.0 Volts DC filaments

Used in 1930s home radios powered by storage batteries.

With 3.3 Volts DC filaments

Used in 1920s home radios powered by dry cells (filaments) and storage batteries (B-plus voltage).

With 5.0 Volts DC filaments

Used in 1920s home radios powered by storage batteries.

Note: There were four tubes in the "01" series, each with different current ratings for their filaments. Type 01-A was the most commonly used.
Types UV 201 and UX 201 - 1.0 ampere
Type 01-A (UV 201-A, UX 201-A, etc.) - 250 milliampere
Type UX 201-B - 125 milliampere
Type UX 201-C - 60 milliampere

Other directly DC-heated tubes

Directly AC-heated power tubes

Directly AC-heated rectifier tubes

Tubes with indirectly heated cathodes

With DC heaters

For use with an AC heating transformer

Note: All have 2.5 volt heaters.

For use with AC/DC or vehicle-based storage-battery power supplies

Note: All have 6.3 volt heaters except type 43

Shielded tubes for Majestic radios

In the early 1930s, the Grigsby-Grunow Company—makers of Majestic brand radios—introduced the first American-made tubes to incorporate metal shields. These tubes had metal particles sprayed onto the glass envelope, copying a design common to European tubes of the time. Early types were shielded versions of tube types already in use. (The shield was connected to the cathode.) The Majestic numbers of these tube types, which are usually etched on the tube's base, have a "G" prefix (for Grigsby-Grunow) and an "S" suffix (for shielded). Later types incorporated an extra pin in the base so that the shield could be connected directly to the chassis.

Replacement versions from other manufacturers, such as Sylvania or General Electric, tend to incorporate the less expensive, form-fitting Goat brand shields that are cemented to the glass envelope.

Grigsby-Grunow did not shield rectifier tubes (except for type 6Y5 listed below) or power output tubes.

Lettered loctal tubes used in Philco radios

Rarely used tubes

Russian tubes

List of standard tubes, with American equivalents

Note: Typecode explained above.

List of very-high power tubes

Note: Typecode explained above.

ГУ-78Б (GU-78B) Power transmitter tetrode

List of indicator tubes

⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫

List of other tubes

References

  1. 1 2 "Master Valve Guide" (PDF). Mullard. 1935. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  2. ↑ Tomer, Robert B. (1960). "Getting the Most out of Vacuum Tubes" (PDF). Howard W. Sams Co., Indianapolis. LCCN 60-13843. Retrieved 10 Oct 2013. - Chapter 6 discusses heater voltages as one of the many factors leading to proliferation of tube types.
  3. ↑ "Tungar bulb data manual" (PDF). General Electric. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Preferred Types of Electron Tubes 1967" (PDF). Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  5. 1 2 "European Type Designation Code System for Electronic Components" (PDF) (15 ed.). Pro-Electron, Brussels, Belgium. June 2008. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Ex.: Seibt 331 gi rectifierless TRF receiver circuit
  7. ↑ "Philips Miniwatt 1938" (PDF). Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Tabelle der Heeres-Batterie-Spezialröhren" (PDF) (in German). Lorenz. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  9. ↑ Miniwatt Technical Data, 6th Edition; 1958; Published by the "Miniwatt" Electronics Division of Philips Electrical Industries Pty. Limited, 20 Herbert Street, Artarmon, N,S,W., Australia
  10. ↑ "Miniwatt" Premium Quality and Special Purpose Tubes, Philips Electrical Industries Pty. Ltd., Australia, November 1957.
  11. ↑ "Cold cathode tubes ZnnnA". Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  12. ↑ Eimac Power Grid Tubes catalog
  13. ↑ Schematic for General Electric model F-40, a 1938 reflex radio using a 6B7.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/frank/sheets/191/1/12AB5.pdf
  15. ↑ http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/frank/sheets/127/1/12AV7.pdf
  16. ↑ http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/frank/sheets/127/1/12AZ7.pdf
  17. ↑ http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/frank/sheets/049/1/12BH7A.pdf
  18. ↑ RCA: Receiving Tube Manual RC21, p.360
  19. ↑ RCA: Receiving Tube Manual RC30, p.397
  20. ↑ http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/frank/sheets/137/5/5965.pdf
  21. ↑ "6090 18 channel radial beam tube - multiple anode type data sheet" (PDF). National Union Electric Corporation. January 1956. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "6170 & 6324 25 channel radial beam tube - multiple grid type data sheet" (PDF). National Union Electric Corporation. December 1955. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "6700 Magnetron Beam Switching Tube data sheet" (PDF). Burroughs Corporation. August 1956. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  24. ↑ "6701 Magnetron Beam Switching Tube data sheet" (PDF). Burroughs Corporation. August 1956. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Rundfunkröhren" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Röhren-Taschen-Tabelle (in German). Munich: Franzis Verlag. 1974. ISBN 3-7723-5453-X.
  27. 1 2 3 4 This tube's designation is inconsistent with the scheme
  28. 1 2 3 4 "RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC30: 6EH7/EF183 Semiremote-cutoff pentode data sheet" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. p. 262. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC30: 6EJ7/EF184 Sharp-cutoff pentode data sheet" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. p. 263. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  30. ↑ Jager, J. (1953). "Data and circuits of TV receiver valves, Philips technical library Book IIIC" (PDF). Retrieved 26 Dec 2014.
  31. ↑ Günther, Hanns; Richter, Ing. Heinz (1940). Fortschritte der Funktechnik (in German) 5. Stuttgart, Germany: Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, W. Keller & Co.
  32. ↑ Scheel, J. E.; Urtel, Rudolf (August 1941). "Issue 21/22, Die Ablenkendstufe des Fernseh-Gemeinschaftsempfängers E1" (PDF). Die Telefunken-Röhre (in German). Telefunken. p. 177. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "Telefunken ES 111" (in German). Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Einheits-Fernseh-Empfänger circuit diagram" (in German). Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  35. ↑ "RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC26: 6LN8/LCF80 Medium-mu triode - sharp-cutoff pentode data sheet" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. p. 368. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  36. ↑ "6HG8/ECF86 Color television type VHF oscillator and mixer data sheet" (PDF). Sylvania Electric Products. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  37. ↑ RCA: Receiving Tube Manual RC25, p.363
  38. ↑ "RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC30: 6GJ7/ECF801 Medium-mu triode - Sharp-cutoff pentode data sheet" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. p. 286. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  39. ↑ "RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC30: 6JW8/ECF802 Medium-mu triode - Sharp-cutoff pentode data sheet" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. p. 334. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  40. ↑ "RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC30: 6DX8/ECL84 High-mu triode - sharp-cutoff pentode data sheet" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. p. 257. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  41. ↑ "RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC30: 6GV8/ECL85 High-mu triode - power pentode data sheet" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. p. 295. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  42. 1 2 "4EH7/YF183 data sheet" (PDF). Amperex Electronic Corporation, Brooklyn, New York, NY, USA. June 1960. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  43. 1 2 "4EJ7/YF184 data sheet" (PDF). Amperex Electronic Corporation, Brooklyn, New York, NY, USA. June 1960. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  44. ↑ RCA: Receiving Tube Manual RC26, p.394
  45. ↑ "RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC26: 6CW5/EL86 power pentode data sheet" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. p. 236. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  46. ↑ "RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC30: 6GB5/EL500 power pentode data sheet" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. p. 281. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  47. ↑ "RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC30: 16AQ3/XY88 diode data sheet" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. p. 432. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  48. ↑ "MC1 Triode für Niederfrequenz und Audion data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  49. ↑ "MF2 HF-Pentode data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  50. ↑ "MF6 HF-Pentode data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  51. ↑ "ND4 UKW-Sende-Triode data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  52. ↑ "NF2 HF-Pentode data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  53. ↑ "NF3 HF-Regelpentode data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  54. ↑ "NF4 HF-Pentode data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  55. ↑ "OZ4G redresseur biplaque data sheet" (PDF) (in French). Sylvania Electric Products. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  56. ↑ RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC25, p.105
  57. ↑ http://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/010/p/PD510.pdf
  58. ↑ "SA100 UKW-Diode für Meßzwecke data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  59. ↑ "SA101 UKW-Diode für Meßzwecke data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  60. ↑ "SA102 UKW-Diode für Meßzwecke data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  61. ↑ "SD1A Kurzwellen-Triode data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  62. ↑ "SD3 UKW-Sende-Triode data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  63. ↑ "SF1A HF-Pentode data sheet" (PDF) (in German). Telefunken. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  64. ↑ "Pocket Data Book" (PDF). Mullard. 1958. p. 50. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  65. ↑ see sticker
  66. ↑ RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC26, p.128
  67. ↑ Wechselspannungs- und Wechselstrom-Stabilisierungsschaltungen mit der Diode YA1000. Telefunken Laborbuch (in German) IV. Ulm: AEG-Telefunken. 1967. pp. 189–195.
  68. ↑ "The ZA100x series switching tubes from Philips". Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  69. ↑ "ZC1050 data sheet" (PDF). Philips. February 1968. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  70. ↑ Thaens, J. G. M. and van Vlodrop, P. H. G. "Electronic Applications Vol. 27 No. 3: Running Text Display with Cold-Cathode Trigger Tubes" (PDF). Philips Elcoma Division, Central Application Laboratory, Eindhoven, The Nederlands. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  71. ↑ "Disc Seal Triodes" (PDF). Mullard. 1965. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  72. ↑ Wahl, Günter. "Hightech-Elektronik-Experimente" (PDF) (in German). Franzis Verlag. Retrieved 26 Dec 2014.
  73. ↑ "Plasma Panel Displays - Dual Linear Bar Graph" (PDF). Vishay Dale, Columbus, Nebraska, USA. November 2000. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  74. ↑ Miller, Joseph A.; Soltes, Aaron S.; Scott, Ronald E. (February 1955). "Wide-band Analog Function Multiplier" (PDF). Electronics. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  75. ↑ http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/japadvance/boots.html
  76. 1 2 3 McNally, J.O.; Metson, G.H.; Veazie, E.A.; Holmes, M.F. (January 1957). "Electron tubes for the transatlantic cable system" (PDF). The Bell system technical journal. pp. 163ff. Retrieved 9 Feb 2016.
  77. 1 2 "368A, 368AS and 388A data sheet" (PDF). Western Electric. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  78. ↑ Holdaway, V.L.; Van Haste, W.; Walsh, E.J. (July 1964). "Electron tubes for the SD submarine cable system" (PDF). The Bell system technical journal. pp. 1311ff. Retrieved 9 Feb 2016.
  79. ↑ "RCA Air-Cooled Transmitting Tube Manual TT3" (PDF). R.C.A. Manufacturing Company, Harrison, New Jersey, USA. 1938. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  80. ↑ "ИНДИКАТОР ИТМ2-М data sheet" (PDF) (in Russian). Moscow Electro-Lamp Plant (МЭЛЗ/MELZ). 1944. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  81. ↑ "Линейный Трохотрон Типа ЛП-4 data sheet" (PDF) (in Russian). Moscow Electro-Lamp Plant (МЭЛЗ/MELZ). Retrieved 8 March 2014.

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