The 6080, along with its numerous 'equivalents' it was used professionally in large numbers during the 1960s and remained in demand for replacement purposes until well into the 1980s.

Type 6080 is designed for duty as a series-stabiliser triode and as a cathode-follower output valve in certain industrial control applications. In either case the controlled output (up to 125 mA per half) is delivered at the valve cathode, it being normal to operated both halves in parallel.

The most significant feature of the 6080 is its exceptionally low Ra value, nominally 285 ohms per half, enabling a valve to deliver 250 mA for less than 50V anode-cathode drop. Note all of the operating details apply to each half.

Because of the large heating power and the close grid-cathode spacing, an unusual form of construction has been used to ensure that the grid wires remain too cool to emit electrons even towards the end of life when active material from the cathode surface may have evaporated onto the grid.

These valves have tough lives and are often run very hot. Rather as with type 807 some manufacturers seem to be able to make good 6080s but certain brands are best avoided!

The valve features a flat cathode, a flat control grid wound between notched rods, and an anode split into two flat bottomed 'U' sections. One on either side of the cathode. This structure is repeated for each valve.

The wide glass tube envelope is 36 mm in diameter and, excluding the IO base pins, is 82 mm tall.

 
Pin Connections

IO	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	g1(1)	a(1)	k(1)	g1(2)	a(2)	k(2)	h	h

 
Absolute Maximum Operating Conditions

Triode	Vh	Ah	Va	mAa	Pdiss	ra	gm	μ
	6.3	2.5	135	125	13W	285	7.0	2-2.3

Thanks to Frank Philipse for supplying the above datasheet

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This exhibit was last updated on 18 July 2007 {find valves by name}