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In Reply to: RE: Valve/Tube Reliability (That Old Chestnut) posted by garyjac on August 05, 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! :>)
Follow Ups:
Jim, good advise. Same is true with computer hard drives. I've kept my current computer on (24/7) since 2008. I just keep adding HD's, as needed. So far, so good.
All true, it is a fascinating story. I don't think I can afford the electricity bill for 24/7 power on though :)) I wonder if I can get a government agency to fund my audio habit?
I hear you. I don't have all my tube amps on 24/7. The AC bill would be exponentially outrageous. A nice slow-startup tube rectifier prolly helps dampen in-rush current flow to the other tubes. Like everyone else, I let the amp stabilize for a good 10-15 minutes before cranking it up. And keep the amp on, between sets or short breaks.
I like 6106 or 6087 rectifiers in my 5Y3GT powered amps, for their slow-startup and tough construction. I try to use NOS US made 5U4GB's in those amps that use this direct-heated rectifier.
The reason the Colossus machines were on 24/7 is because they were in use 24/7. Letting a tube home audio amp idle for such long periods of time is a waste of energy and tube (and other component) life.
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