Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Tubes Asylum ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

RE: Valve/Tube Reliability (That Old Chestnut)

Posted by Jim McShane (D) on August 5, 2014 at 08:11:36

In Reply to: Valve/Tube Reliability (That Old Chestnut) posted by garyjac on August 5, 2014 at 04:21:44:

The story of Colossus is a fascinating part of the book and British (BBC) TV series called "The Secret War". I know it's on You Tube if you want to see it - I have the book as well, I've read it at least 10 times.

Tubes/valves have two failure rate peaks - the first occurs in the time immediately following when they are put into service ("infant mortality") and the other at the end of their life of course. It's kind of like flying - the highest risk periods when flying are takeoff and landing. Tubes/valves have always suffered from infant mortality - even in Colossus, so don't be surprised when it still occurs today.

A year of continuous service is about 8800 hours, so with the first Colossus (there was more than one made) running just under two years from switch on to switch off it likely used the tubes for about 16000 hours. That is remarkable and is certainly in part due to the lack of turn on/turn off stress. And it operated without the stress of neurotic audio nuts like me obsessing about it and messing with it! :>)

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Crux Audio

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---