5bc3 rectifier

[no gas]

What is the consensus on the 5bc3 rectifier? Compared to 5ar4 or 5u4?

[DigitalJunkie]

Seems like it might just be a 5U4 in a Novar bottle.

[Miles Prower]

The 5BC3 is a slightly uprated 5U4GB.

PRV= 1700V
Ihot= 5.0A

As opposed to:

PRV= 1550V
Ihot= 4.7A

The other ratings are pretty much the same, as Isurge= 1.0A/plate for both types.

The plate characteristics show somewhat lower forward voltages for the 5U4GB.

[no gas]

Interesting. I got two 5bc3 rects from some old Maggies. One was stereo PP el84 and the other was stereo SE el84 and PP 6v6. I'm looking to use one in a stereo SE KT88 instead of the usual 5u4. Wadja think?

[Miles Prower]

Originally Posted by no gas

Interesting. I got two 5bc3 rects from some old Maggies. One was stereo PP el84 and the other was stereo SE el84 and PP 6v6. I'm looking to use one in a stereo SE KT88 instead of the usual 5u4. Wadja think?

Might cost you ~20V of DC. Otherwise, the only other consideration is that 3A of heater current, and the thin pins. To keep it working right, get a good socket that makes good contact with the pins.

It'll be a bit more difficult to solder to the socket pins than it would to Octal sockets.