RCA 38HE7 Vacuum Tube Plug-In 12 Pin Glass Body

The RCA 38HE7 is a 12-pin Compactron vacuum tube that combines a damper diode and a beam-power pentode in a single glass envelope, designed for use in television receiver circuitry. This plug-in duodecar tube (12-pin) is used in CRT TV sets for rectification and horizontal-deflection amplification, providing a compact, integrated solution for the damper diode and power pentode stages. The device is a glass-bodied Compactron with a 12-pin base; pins 7–8 and 9–10 are labeled IC on the pin diagram, reflecting the internal connections of the Compactron layout. The 38HE7 was developed by RCA and introduced in 1975 and is commonly encountered in vintage TV service inventories, sold as NOS or used in repairs. Typical applications include serving as the damper/rectifier in the sweep circuit and as the beam-power pentode driving the horizontal deflection stage in CRT displays, offering dual-function functionality in a single envelope that saves space in the chassis.