Valve identity - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Nukeybrown · 2nd Sep 2018, 1:43 pm

I have 2 valves but unsure what their numbers are? Anyone help, think the first one is a mullard EBH something or other , the 2nd one poss brimar.

Boater Sam · 2nd Sep 2018, 1:48 pm

EABC80 for #1 photo, the B9A valve. Almost certain unless its a UABC80
EB91 for the B7G?

ms660 · 2nd Sep 2018, 1:50 pm

6BH6?

Lawrence.

Sideband · 2nd Sep 2018, 1:59 pm

The second is definitely not an EB91. I was also thinking 6BH6. If there are no markings on the first one at all it will be (as already stated) an EABC80 or a UABC80 triple diode triode for AM/FM receivers.

ms660 · 2nd Sep 2018, 2:09 pm

If intact, a cold resistance measurement of the heaters should give a clue which *ABC80 it is in the absence of a power supply.

Lawrence.

Nukeybrown · 2nd Sep 2018, 2:40 pm

Will have a check on resistance later on lawrence

Alf · 2nd Sep 2018, 3:30 pm

Don't forget HABC80 and PABC80, rare, but possible.

Boater Sam · 2nd Sep 2018, 5:00 pm

True, I've never seen either! A basic check with 6v across the heater will possibly rule out 2 or 3 of the alternatives.

m0cemdave · 2nd Sep 2018, 11:20 pm

That Mullard one should have a Philips code on it somewhere - some letters and numbers near the base in (almost) indelible ink. If you can read them and post the result here, somebody should be able to decode the type number.

Nukeybrown · 3rd Sep 2018, 9:18 pm

No base numbers on either.

The mullard one is showing a resistance of 10.88ohm at pins 3-4

Not sure which pins in suppose to be looking for resistance on

julie_m · 3rd Sep 2018, 9:39 pm

Valve heaters are usually pins 3 and 4 on a 7-pin base (except battery valves, which use 1 and 7) and 4 and 5 on a 9-pin base.

G8HQP Dave · 3rd Sep 2018, 9:55 pm

11 ohms cold resistance sounds plausible for a 6.3V 0.15A heater like 6BH6.

There are other triple-diode-triodes, some of which are near equivalents of *BC80 (such as 6T8). Some have a grey anode for the triode section; some do not. It probably varied from one manufacturer to another.

Brimar factory codes can be difficult to spot; smaller than Philips and sometimes vertical. Unfortunately my list of them has not yet made its way onto my new website but it will be one of the first pages to appear.

Nukeybrown · 3rd Sep 2018, 10:19 pm

There is a number stamped on the side which i can now see 46L

The smaller valve i would agree 6bh6, the other one all that is on it is the 46L

Nukeybrown · 4th Sep 2018, 10:19 pm

So any clues from the 46L ?

Maarten · 6th Sep 2018, 2:02 pm

Something resembling 46L, likely right triangle 6L, is probably the second line of text and thus the factory identifier and date code. Can you find any text above it?

Nukeybrown · 6th Sep 2018, 9:56 pm

Picture of valve close up.

G8HQP Dave · 7th Sep 2018, 11:15 am

Can I see the bottom half of a D? Codes I have for *ABC80 are:
Y4, m4 EABC80
mA, rD PABC80
d8, mT, rE UABC80

In each case these would be followed by a digit giving the version, often in the range 1-3. So rD0 or rD3 are possibilities, with the r now missing.

The triangle means made at Heerlen, Netherlands.

Nukeybrown · 8th Sep 2018, 12:37 pm

I would say more D0

ms660 · 8th Sep 2018, 2:26 pm

If the heater's intact the resistance between pin 4 and pin 5 should help to identify which type it is in the absence of a power supply.

Lawrence.

Nukeybrown · 8th Sep 2018, 6:15 pm

Will check the pins later on

2nd Sep 2018, 1:48 pm	#2
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Valve identity EABC80 for #1 photo, the B9A valve. Almost certain unless its a UABC80 EB91 for the B7G?

2nd Sep 2018, 1:50 pm	#3
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Valve identity 6BH6? Lawrence.

2nd Sep 2018, 1:59 pm	#4
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,567	Re: Valve identity The second is definitely not an EB91. I was also thinking 6BH6. If there are no markings on the first one at all it will be (as already stated) an EABC80 or a UABC80 triple diode triode for AM/FM receivers. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

2nd Sep 2018, 2:09 pm	#5
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Valve identity If intact, a cold resistance measurement of the heaters should give a clue which *ABC80 it is in the absence of a power supply. Lawrence.

2nd Sep 2018, 2:40 pm	#6
Nukeybrown Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 504	Re: Valve identity Will have a check on resistance later on lawrence

2nd Sep 2018, 1:43 pm	#1
Nukeybrown Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 504	Valve identity I have 2 valves but unsure what their numbers are? Anyone help, think the first one is a mullard EBH something or other , the 2nd one poss brimar. Attached Thumbnails

2nd Sep 2018, 3:30 pm	#7
Alf Hexode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 479	Re: Valve identity Don't forget HABC80 and PABC80, rare, but possible.

2nd Sep 2018, 5:00 pm	#8
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Valve identity True, I've never seen either! A basic check with 6v across the heater will possibly rule out 2 or 3 of the alternatives.

2nd Sep 2018, 11:20 pm	#9
m0cemdave Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1,219	Re: Valve identity That Mullard one should have a Philips code on it somewhere - some letters and numbers near the base in (almost) indelible ink. If you can read them and post the result here, somebody should be able to decode the type number.

3rd Sep 2018, 9:18 pm	#10
Nukeybrown Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 504	Re: Valve identity No base numbers on either. The mullard one is showing a resistance of 10.88ohm at pins 3-4 Not sure which pins in suppose to be looking for resistance on

3rd Sep 2018, 9:39 pm	#11
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Valve identity Valve heaters are usually pins 3 and 4 on a 7-pin base (except battery valves, which use 1 and 7) and 4 and 5 on a 9-pin base. __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

3rd Sep 2018, 9:55 pm	#12
G8HQP Dave Rest in Peace Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Solihull, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 4,872	Re: Valve identity 11 ohms cold resistance sounds plausible for a 6.3V 0.15A heater like 6BH6. There are other triple-diode-triodes, some of which are near equivalents of *BC80 (such as 6T8). Some have a grey anode for the triode section; some do not. It probably varied from one manufacturer to another. Brimar factory codes can be difficult to spot; smaller than Philips and sometimes vertical. Unfortunately my list of them has not yet made its way onto my new website but it will be one of the first pages to appear.

3rd Sep 2018, 10:19 pm	#13
Nukeybrown Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 504	Re: Valve identity There is a number stamped on the side which i can now see 46L The smaller valve i would agree 6bh6, the other one all that is on it is the 46L

4th Sep 2018, 10:19 pm	#14
Nukeybrown Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 504	Re: Valve identity So any clues from the 46L ?

6th Sep 2018, 2:02 pm	#15
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Valve identity Something resembling 46L, likely right triangle 6L, is probably the second line of text and thus the factory identifier and date code. Can you find any text above it?

6th Sep 2018, 9:56 pm	#16
Nukeybrown Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 504	Re: Valve identity Picture of valve close up. Attached Thumbnails

7th Sep 2018, 11:15 am	#17
G8HQP Dave Rest in Peace Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Solihull, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 4,872	Re: Valve identity Can I see the bottom half of a D? Codes I have for *ABC80 are: Y4, m4 EABC80 mA, rD PABC80 d8, mT, rE UABC80 In each case these would be followed by a digit giving the version, often in the range 1-3. So rD0 or rD3 are possibilities, with the r now missing. The triangle means made at Heerlen, Netherlands.

8th Sep 2018, 12:37 pm	#18
Nukeybrown Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 504	Re: Valve identity I would say more D0

8th Sep 2018, 2:26 pm	#19
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Valve identity If the heater's intact the resistance between pin 4 and pin 5 should help to identify which type it is in the absence of a power supply. Lawrence.

8th Sep 2018, 6:15 pm	#20
Nukeybrown Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 504	Re: Valve identity Will check the pins later on