I just installed a NOS 6E5 in my Magnavox CR154 chassis, and it is not any brighter than the old one. Is there a resistor somewhere that will affect the brightness? It is hard to see unless the room is dark.

The new tube I used is a Toyo. One thing I noticed about it was that there were small stationary gaps on the left and right of the phosphor that I didn't see on the other tube. I need to learn more about how these things work.

:I just installed a NOS 6E5 in my Magnavox CR154 chassis, and it is not any brighter than the old one. Is there a resistor somewhere that will affect the brightness? It is hard to see unless the room is dark.
:
:The new tube I used is a Toyo. One thing I noticed about it was that there were small stationary gaps on the left and right of the phosphor that I didn't see on the other tube. I need to learn more about how these things work.

:I just installed a NOS 6E5 in my Magnavox CR154 chassis, and it is not any brighter than the old one. Is there a resistor somewhere that will affect the brightness? It is hard to see unless the room is dark.
:
:The new tube I used is a Toyo. One thing I noticed about it was that there were small stationary gaps on the left and right of the phosphor that I didn't see on the other tube. I need to learn more about how these things work.

Sounds like you may not have enough B+. There is a resistor in the socket but it usually affects eye operation/action, not brightness.

What are ideal voltages for the 6E5? Looks like there are only two resistors in the circuit that could affect brightness that I can check. The radio was just recapped and works great otherwise.

::I just installed a NOS 6E5 in my Magnavox CR154 chassis, and it is not any brighter than the old one. Is there a resistor somewhere that will affect the brightness? It is hard to see unless the room is dark.
::
::The new tube I used is a Toyo. One thing I noticed about it was that there were small stationary gaps on the left and right of the phosphor that I didn't see on the other tube. I need to learn more about how these things work.
:
:Sounds like you may not have enough B+. There is a resistor in the socket but it usually affects eye operation/action, not brightness.

Well, I just keep learning new things the more I work on old radios...

I found Norm Leal's tips for eye tubes from a search, and found the specs for voltage there, as well as on the schematic.

What was really throwing me off, is M on old schematics means K. I was not aware of this until I did some research just now.

So in other words, the 100K series resistor that supplies B+ to the 6E5, that is measuring 145K, is probably why my eye tube was dim this whole time. I probably bought a new tube for nothing. Oh well, at least I have a spare now.

All I did so far was a quick ohms test. This weekend I'll change the resistor and see what happens.

This is getting to be very educational :-)

:What are ideal voltages for the 6E5? Looks like there are only two resistors in the circuit that could affect brightness that I can check. The radio was just recapped and works great otherwise.
:
:
:
:::I just installed a NOS 6E5 in my Magnavox CR154 chassis, and it is not any brighter than the old one. Is there a resistor somewhere that will affect the brightness? It is hard to see unless the room is dark.
:::
:::The new tube I used is a Toyo. One thing I noticed about it was that there were small stationary gaps on the left and right of the phosphor that I didn't see on the other tube. I need to learn more about how these things work.
::
::Sounds like you may not have enough B+. There is a resistor in the socket but it usually affects eye operation/action, not brightness.

Hi Aaron

Check pin #2 on your eye tube socket. Should be wired directly to around 250 volts. Between pin #2 and #4 there will be a 1 meg resistor. This resistor will effect movement but not brightness.

Norm

:Well, I just keep learning new things the more I work on old radios...
:
:I found Norm Leal's tips for eye tubes from a search, and found the specs for voltage there, as well as on the schematic.
:
:What was really throwing me off, is M on old schematics means K. I was not aware of this until I did some research just now.
:
:So in other words, the 100K series resistor that supplies B+ to the 6E5, that is measuring 145K, is probably why my eye tube was dim this whole time. I probably bought a new tube for nothing. Oh well, at least I have a spare now.
:
:All I did so far was a quick ohms test. This weekend I'll change the resistor and see what happens.
:
:This is getting to be very educational :-)
:
:
:
:
::What are ideal voltages for the 6E5? Looks like there are only two resistors in the circuit that could affect brightness that I can check. The radio was just recapped and works great otherwise.
::
::
::
::::I just installed a NOS 6E5 in my Magnavox CR154 chassis, and it is not any brighter than the old one. Is there a resistor somewhere that will affect the brightness? It is hard to see unless the room is dark.
::::
::::The new tube I used is a Toyo. One thing I noticed about it was that there were small stationary gaps on the left and right of the phosphor that I didn't see on the other tube. I need to learn more about how these things work.
:::
:::Sounds like you may not have enough B+. There is a resistor in the socket but it usually affects eye operation/action, not brightness.

My GE tube manual indicates the 6E5 can have a plate voltage as low as 125 and as high as 275. Again, the 1 meg or so resistor buried in the socket shouldn't affect the target brightness, just the eye opening.

The resistor between the target and triode plate takes a voltage drop when the triode is conducting as is the case with a weak signal. The lower potential triode plate (relative to the target plate) has an extension that influences electron flow between the cathode and target plate. Do a google search and you should be able to find excellent descriptions how these eye tubes work.

:Well, I just keep learning new things the more I work on old radios...
:
:I found Norm Leal's tips for eye tubes from a search, and found the specs for voltage there, as well as on the schematic.
:
:What was really throwing me off, is M on old schematics means K. I was not aware of this until I did some research just now.
:
:So in other words, the 100K series resistor that supplies B+ to the 6E5, that is measuring 145K, is probably why my eye tube was dim this whole time. I probably bought a new tube for nothing. Oh well, at least I have a spare now.
:
:All I did so far was a quick ohms test. This weekend I'll change the resistor and see what happens.
:
:This is getting to be very educational :-)
:
:
:
:
::What are ideal voltages for the 6E5? Looks like there are only two resistors in the circuit that could affect brightness that I can check. The radio was just recapped and works great otherwise.
::
::
::
::::I just installed a NOS 6E5 in my Magnavox CR154 chassis, and it is not any brighter than the old one. Is there a resistor somewhere that will affect the brightness? It is hard to see unless the room is dark.
::::
::::The new tube I used is a Toyo. One thing I noticed about it was that there were small stationary gaps on the left and right of the phosphor that I didn't see on the other tube. I need to learn more about how these things work.
:::
:::Sounds like you may not have enough B+. There is a resistor in the socket but it usually affects eye operation/action, not brightness.

Well, I replaced the B+ series resistor and it is still dim. Last I checked there was about 160 volts going to the tube. Should I decrease the resistor value a bit more to see if that brightens it up?

:My GE tube manual indicates the 6E5 can have a plate voltage as low as 125 and as high as 275. Again, the 1 meg or so resistor buried in the socket shouldn't affect the target brightness, just the eye opening.
:
:The resistor between the target and triode plate takes a voltage drop when the triode is conducting as is the case with a weak signal. The lower potential triode plate (relative to the target plate) has an extension that influences electron flow between the cathode and target plate. Do a google search and you should be able to find excellent descriptions how these eye tubes work.
:
::Well, I just keep learning new things the more I work on old radios...
::
::I found Norm Leal's tips for eye tubes from a search, and found the specs for voltage there, as well as on the schematic.
::
::What was really throwing me off, is M on old schematics means K. I was not aware of this until I did some research just now.
::
::So in other words, the 100K series resistor that supplies B+ to the 6E5, that is measuring 145K, is probably why my eye tube was dim this whole time. I probably bought a new tube for nothing. Oh well, at least I have a spare now.
::
::All I did so far was a quick ohms test. This weekend I'll change the resistor and see what happens.
::
::This is getting to be very educational :-)
::
::
::
::
:::What are ideal voltages for the 6E5? Looks like there are only two resistors in the circuit that could affect brightness that I can check. The radio was just recapped and works great otherwise.
:::
:::
:::
:::::I just installed a NOS 6E5 in my Magnavox CR154 chassis, and it is not any brighter than the old one. Is there a resistor somewhere that will affect the brightness? It is hard to see unless the room is dark.
:::::
:::::The new tube I used is a Toyo. One thing I noticed about it was that there were small stationary gaps on the left and right of the phosphor that I didn't see on the other tube. I need to learn more about how these things work.
::::
::::Sounds like you may not have enough B+. There is a resistor in the socket but it usually affects eye operation/action, not brightness.

It does sound like the tube itself has an issue. I have several 'dud' tuning-eyes' that fail to glow and I think that the phosphor target has degraded over time. They are getting rare and pricey. The 6E5/6U5/6G5 also have the same pinout as the 6N5/6AB5,although the latter requires less B+(135v vs. 250v),this can be adjusted down with an added dropping resistor(about 1.3 meg,you can adjust for brightness). Depending upon your tube source, these may be more plentiful and hopefully less costly.

: It does sound like the tube itself has an issue. I have several 'dud' tuning-eyes' that fail to glow and I think that the phosphor target has degraded over time. They are getting rare and pricey. The 6E5/6U5/6G5 also have the same pinout as the 6N5/6AB5,although the latter requires less B+(135v vs. 250v),this can be adjusted down with an added dropping resistor(about 1.3 meg,you can adjust for brightness). Depending upon your tube source, these may be more plentiful and hopefully less costly.

Hi All,
Even more plentiful and inexpensive are the 1629. They have octal socket and require 12 volts. THeir specs more closely resemble the 6E5.

Best Regards,

Bill

I got the tube NOS from a reputable seller, who said they had tested it on a TV-7. Maybe it works better on the tester than in this particular radio? I've tested 3 or 4 tubes, and they all seem really dim. I'm starting to wonder if this radio was designed that way. Anyone else with a Magnavox CR-154 care to post a picture of theirs in operation?

:: It does sound like the tube itself has an issue. I have several 'dud' tuning-eyes' that fail to glow and I think that the phosphor target has degraded over time. They are getting rare and pricey. The 6E5/6U5/6G5 also have the same pinout as the 6N5/6AB5,although the latter requires less B+(135v vs. 250v),this can be adjusted down with an added dropping resistor(about 1.3 meg,you can adjust for brightness). Depending upon your tube source, these may be more plentiful and hopefully less costly.
:
:Hi All,
: Even more plentiful and inexpensive are the 1629. They have octal socket and require 12 volts. THeir specs more closely resemble the 6E5.
:
:Best Regards,
:
:Bill