6BK4 substitute

[julianburke]

Originally Posted by RetroHacker

While hunting through tubes last night, I came across a 6EA4. It's a compactron HV shunt regulator. Looking at the data sheet, it seems pretty close to a 6BK4. I'm tempted to build a socket adapter and try it, but the 6EA4 data I found on the internet doesn't have much about the regulated output of the tube. Anyone know if this would be a useable sub for a 6BK4?

-Ian

You can try and see if it regulates. (it should be just fine) You really can't hurt anything, would be the same as a defective 6BK4 if it doesn't. 40 years ago we used to talk about all of the similiar tubes and decided that it was one way to sell a distributor more tubes and stock more product.