[Boatanchors] 6146 question

[manualman at juno.com]

There's NO difference in height/length with the 6146's that I can find.

All tubes in the 6146 family are considered T12 bulbs.

Note: length equates to height.

RCA 6146A
3 1/8 inches +/- 1/8 length

GE 6146A
3.00 inches minimum length
3.25 inches maximum length

RCA 6146B/8298A
3 1/8 inches +/- 1/8 length

RCA 6146W/7212
3 1/8 inches +/- 1/8 length

NOTE: These length dimensions don't consider the length of the pins but
since the pins go into a socket, who cares.
NOTE: All the above tubes have the same diameter 1 21/32 inches

In all of these tubes, there are some minor inter electrode capacitance
differences between some models but I never found it to be a problem in
rigs from HF to 50 MHz. The consideration with any of these tubes is
PLATE DISSIPATION and whether the power supply in the equipment can
handle a sub to the 6146B's. The 6146B/8298A (and the Japanese S2001A)
are rated for 35 watts plate dissipation whereas the earlier 6146 family
and the 6146W are rated for approximately 25 to 27 watts plate
dissipation. 

Over the years I used 6146B's in my Heathkit Apache, HW-101, SB-101,
SB-102, Valiant, Ranger, Hallicrafters HT-32's, B&W 5100B, and several
Kenwood rigs and all worked very well with these tubes.

Obviously, at higher operating frequencies with this family of tubes,
inter electrode capacitance, wire dressing, wire positioning and over all
design can play an important part in problem less operation of your RF
amplifier.

Pete, wa2cwa


On Sun, 28 Jan 2024 13:09:27 -0800 Richard Knoppow
<1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com> writes:
>     Not if the 6146B is too tall. The B really is a similar but 
> different tube. This may be of no significance for the Ranger.
> 
> Richard Knoppow
> Los Angeles
> WB6KBL