5AR4 Rectifier Tube Philips Mislabeled 5V4GA

[plexi50]

Is it a fact that the JAN Philips 5V4GA Rectifier Tube is really a Mislabeled 5AR4? I dont have a 5AR4/GZ34 tube laying around to compare voltages

[eleventeen]

I am not sure why you are making this allegation. The two tubes are for all practical purposes interchangeable, though I think the 5AR4 has somewhat higher ratings in terms of voltages and current. As long as you are not running the tube at the limits of its ratings, there should be no problem.

I have seen 5V4s in bowling pin and straightsided bottles, yes, usually larger diameter than the base, like a 6L6GC. But we now see 6L6 tubes in straight-sided bottles like EL34's. I have not myself seen 5V4G in that type bottle, eg; in 5Y3 sized bottles. But me not having seen it doesn't mean it doesn;t exist.

[tubeswell]

If it says 5V4G on the tube and on the box it came in, I'm pickin' its a 5V4G (otherwise interchangeable with a GZ32).

The following RoT comparison to a 5AR4:

5V4G: 5V, 2A heater current, 175mA forward current supplied, 25V drop approx.
5AR4: 5V, 1.9A heater current, 250mA forward current supplied, 30V drop approx.

[plexi50]

It is stated online that the Military did not want to retool to correct an error when they made this tube. They mislabled it as a 5V4GA when it is actually a 5AR4 tube. Just wanted clarification of that

[sluckey]

It is stated online that the Military did not want to retool to correct an error when they made this tube. They mislabled it as a 5V4GA when it is actually a 5AR4 tube. Just wanted clarification of that

Our military does not make tubes.

[daven]

I can't tell for sure from the picture, but it does look like it has the chunkier plates with copper holes of the sylvania big bottle 5AR4 than the more typical flat plates of the 5V4 (at least the ones I've seen).

[FYL]

In the twilight of US tube production, say from '86 until '88 or so, Philips/Sylvania shipped relabeled 5AR4's to large gov customers. I guess that their 5V4GA line had already been decommissioned, that they had plenty of 5AR4 parts or that their 5V4GA tooling had reached EOL.

As the 5AR4 is an uprated version, 100% compatible with the 5V4GA, no problemo.
 
Check the plates and compare them with a Sylvania 5AR4/GZ34... Are they identical ? The recto is a relabeled 5AR4/GZ34.

[tubeswell]

I bite my hat