I'm trying to find other noval sized pentodes that come generally close to the characteristics of the pentode section in the ECL86 / 6GW8 tube. I don't know where I'm going with this yet but ECL86 are 50-60 bucks a pop now. Do they have some sort of rare magic fairy dust at that price? No they are just getting rare.
So I was thinking it might be worthwhile to try to find a new "sleeper tube" that comes close to an ECL86 pentode in the most important characteristics. Within a couple watts of plate dissipation, high transconductance, somewhat close on load, etc. The triode in Ecl86 is of no concern here. Here is the list I've compiled so far. Many of you here can remember tubes and data off the top of your heads. Am I barking up an empty tree here, is this futile?
ecl86
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/191/6/6GW8.pdf
possibilities...?
6cl6
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/6/6CL6.pdf
6cw5
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/6/6CW5.pdf
6ck6
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/201/6/6CK6.pdf
6ca5
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/093/6/6CA5.pdf
6bj5
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/201/6/6BJ5.PDF
6cn6
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/201/6/6CN6.PDF
6cu5
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/6/6CU5.pdf
So I was thinking it might be worthwhile to try to find a new "sleeper tube" that comes close to an ECL86 pentode in the most important characteristics. Within a couple watts of plate dissipation, high transconductance, somewhat close on load, etc. The triode in Ecl86 is of no concern here. Here is the list I've compiled so far. Many of you here can remember tubes and data off the top of your heads. Am I barking up an empty tree here, is this futile?
ecl86
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/191/6/6GW8.pdf
possibilities...?
6cl6
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/6/6CL6.pdf
6cw5
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/6/6CW5.pdf
6ck6
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/201/6/6CK6.pdf
6ca5
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/093/6/6CA5.pdf
6bj5
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/201/6/6BJ5.PDF
6cn6
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/201/6/6CN6.PDF
6cu5
https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/6/6CU5.pdf
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The pentode part of the ECL86 tube (6GW8) is the same as the pentode part of the PCL86 tube (14GW8) and XCL86 (8GW8) as well as the pentodes EL41 (6CK5) and EL80 (6M5). There are differences in the type and connection of the base as well as in the heating voltage and current. The mentioned tubes were produced under different names from different manufacturers, but data on that can be found.
Other tubes are more or less similar, but not exactly the same.
Other tubes are more or less similar, but not exactly the same.
Davorin is quite correct, however a current production 6BQ5 will be near enough (and easy to obtain), and you get an extra couple of watts plate dissipation, and fractionally higher Gm. Or, if you can find any, maybe 6CH6/EL82
The ECL86 is often quoted as being an EL84 (6BQ5) with half an ECC83 (12AX7) in one bottle?
So 6BQ5/EL84 would be my starting point. (http://www.r-type.org/pdfs/el84.pdf) and in current production and cheap enough?
So 6BQ5/EL84 would be my starting point. (http://www.r-type.org/pdfs/el84.pdf) and in current production and cheap enough?
The PCL86 tube can be purchased at a very reasonable price via eBay, and the heating voltage of Uf ~ 13.3V is predicted on the mains transformer if it is a new project.
In practice, I connected PCL86 tubes to a heating voltage of UF = 12.6V (6.3V + 6.3V) and I did not notice that they work with less power or that this causes any problems in long-term operation.
PCL 86 PCL86 Astral Tube Valve Vacuum Tube Valvola NEW NEW NOS OLD STOCK | eBay
Naveo sam samo jednu ponudu, ali ima ih još povoljnih.
In practice, I connected PCL86 tubes to a heating voltage of UF = 12.6V (6.3V + 6.3V) and I did not notice that they work with less power or that this causes any problems in long-term operation.
PCL 86 PCL86 Astral Tube Valve Vacuum Tube Valvola NEW NEW NOS OLD STOCK | eBay
Naveo sam samo jednu ponudu, ali ima ih još povoljnih.
