Fluorescent Magic Eye Tubes

(C) G. Forrest Cook 2008

Introduction

Here is a collection of information on a variety of fluorescent magic eye vacuum tubes that I built up while designing the hammonator guitar amp project. Experimenters should be able to purchase most of these tubes on eBay. The 6U5-6E5 tube is common, but very old as evidenced by the antique 6 pin tube base. The 6AL7 is an octal socketed dual-bar display that would be well suited for a stereo volume meter. The EM87-6HU6 is a more modern single channel tube in a miniature 9 pin base. The EM80 is in a miniature 9 pin base and it has an interesting fan-style display. Russian EM80 tubes from the 1980s are currently available (2008) on eBay for reasonable prices. Many of the photos and schematics were pulled from eBay ads and radiomuseum.org articles.

Type Operating Package Circuit Pinout
6U5-6E5
6AL7
EM87-6HU6
EM80
6AF6
DM70/DM71

RCA Philco Sylvania Zalyron Zenith
6U5 Brands

Fluorescent Tube Types

2E5 top circle, 6 pin, bulb shape
6AB5/6N5 top circle, 6 pin
6AD6 top split circle, octal
6AF6 top split circle, short octal
6AL7 top double rectangle, octal
6U5/6E5 top circle, 6 pin, bulb and/or cylinder shape
DM70 side exclamation point, mini-wire pins
EAM86/6GX8 side split bar and on/off, 9 pin
EFM11 top circle, octal
EM35 top circle, octal
EM72 top fan, locktal
EM80/6BR5/6E1P side fan, 9 pin
EM84/6FG6/6E3P side fan, 9 pin
EM87/6HU6 side split bar, 9 pin
EM840 side split bar, 9 pin
ME41 top circle, octal
UM84 side split bar, 9 pin, 12V
JAN-CRC-1629/VT-138 top circle octal
C/EM2 top circle, octal

Links

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