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I have a National branded 5ar4 that looks like a Bendix 6106. I wonder if it is just a rebranded 6106 or a true 5ar4. Anyone has any info on the scoop behind this tube? Thank you for sharing , cheers, Dak
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I`ve seen Bendix 6106 branded as 5AR4 on the bay. Creamy brown base, black plates resembling 5Y3 and with extra mica.
Use them as 5AR4 and you will fry them.....
"If you don't like what you're doing, you can always pick up your needle and move to another groove." Timothy Leary
Without a picture we can't be sure, but it is definitely possible. I've seen a number of them labeled that way. Don't even try it as a 5AR4 - it would be a waste of a great rectifier tube! Get a real 5AR4, either old stock or current production Mullard, Tung-Sol, or Genalex.
The link below shows a picture of a National branded "5AR4".
I've never seen one of those. Vertically stacked plates (instead of side-by-side), like an overgrown 6CA4/EZ81.
They were built to withstand G forces far beyond "normal" and to be VERY high reliability. They were designed for missiles, aircraft, etc., and were designed to operate up to 80,000 foot altitudes.
They were WAY overbuilt as compared to a conventional 5Y3GT, but that was for improved reliability - NOT to be subbed for a 5AR4. If the circuit using the 5AR4 has moderate current draw the tube may work well, but it's not going to survive in a circuit with larger current demands. It's a shame to think of the number of these incredible tubes that have been destroyed by relabelers saying they can sub for 5AR4s!!
I had some of those and they were mislabeled 6106's.
I have a National branded 5AR4 that's really a Russian 5Z4GT or similar. Total POS in every significant respect as a 5AR4. There have been reports of National (Richardson) relabeling a Bendix 6106 as a 5AR4. If true, another travesty. As good as the 6106 might be, it's really a "special" 5Y3 and will be stressed far beyond ratings if used as a 5AR4. A pic would be helpful with ID.
It is not a Russkie tube and looks just like the Bendix 6106. I was wondering if anyone actually assessed the tube to see if it is a 5ar4 or a 5y3. A 5y3 has a voltage drop of over 10% while the 5ar4 is only 3%. I am not sure what other parameters can be measured. regards, Dak
...if what you have is really a 6106 it's clearly not a 5AR4. They have significantly different characteristics.
If you have a halfway decent tube checker, set up for a 5AR4 and test. It will test below 5AR4 reject point if it's a 6106 (just tried this w/6087 which is similar). Another tube tester check: test as 5AR4 but at 4.3V on filament. Should test well above 5AR4 reject point if truly a 5AR4, well below if it's a 6106. Best non-functional test would be to set up by the book using reg DC supply and meas voltage drop at spec current.
This is a mil spec, slow-warmup 5Y3WGT rectifier. It will not handle current demands of a true 5AR4 rectified unit.
AFAIK, there are no mil spec versions of the GZ34 (5AR4). There are some mil spec "5V4GA" Philips ECG tubes, which are really 5AR4. I haven't seen seller's ad on EBay, in several years.
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