The 6AC7 American metal pentode was designed for high gain amplification. Since it has a sharp cut-off it is unsuitable for domestic radios with AVC. Its intended application is as an IF or video amplifier for wide-band receivers, eg. radars. Bearing in mind that the RCA design of metal valves was pinchless and had very short lead-outs well shielded from each other by the metal envelope, Type 6AC7 can be thought of as the American answer to the EF50. It consumed 50% more heater power but provided 50% more gm as a result. It was used in enormous numbers in American WW2 equipments. Presumably the accessible suppressor grid might be used to 'gate' the signal output if required.

See also 6AJ7 that has identical details.

The thin metal tube envelope is 25 mm in diameter and excluding the IO base pins, is 50 mm tall.

 
Pin Connections

IO	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	m	h	g3	g1	k	g2	7	a

 
Absolute Maximum Operating Conditions

Pentode	Vh	Ah	Va	Vs	Vg	mAa	mAs	rk	ra	gm
	6.3	0.45	300	150	-2	10	2.5	160	1M	9

Thanks to Frank Philipse for supplying the above datasheet

This exhibit was last updated on 09 June 2007 {find valves by name}