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Old 24th Sep 2018, 1:18 am   #21
Refugee
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Would that be "n+1 drawerfulls?
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 4:20 am   #22
joebog1
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Refugee has it in one!!

I have a few thousand, and that's short

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Old 24th Sep 2018, 9:10 am   #23
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

It's good to think of a design, work it out then construct it just being able to pull a valve from the box and not have to wait a couple of weeks for one to come after ordering (or even days scouring the net).
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 12:21 pm   #24
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

I only showed some of my power transistor drawers. I also have plenty of tiddlers too.
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 12:52 pm   #25
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Refugee View Post
Would that be "n+1 drawerfulls?
Err, no.

n+1 drawers full

Back on topic, I suspect that a more specific answer would be "less of the ECL80s, EF80s, EB91s and EF91s but more of the types commonly needed to fix things".
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Last edited by Herald1360; 24th Sep 2018 at 1:11 pm.
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 1:01 pm   #26
dominicbeesley
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

I'd go for a single word answer: "More"

D
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 2:59 pm   #27
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

A colleague asked me this very question a few months back.

My immediate response? 'Bit nosy for a cabbage, aren't you?' Much jollity ensued.

I tend to keep enough to support my sets, plus spares, so when the 'support' valves have been used, I still have spares! Ta-da

None of my spares are rare or particularly valuable. Mind you, when I needed a UL84, typically it's the one I didn't have. This spurred me on to carry out a stock take & a workshop tidy-up.

Mark
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 3:25 pm   #28
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

The trouble is that when I need one, it is always one of which I have a stock of zero, but my store would seem somewhat naked without a couple of shelves of various valves - and the odd CRT.
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 3:32 pm   #29
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Herald1360 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Refugee View Post
Would that be "n+1 drawerfulls?
Err, no.

n+1 drawers full

Back on topic, I suspect that a more specific answer would be "less of the ECL80s, EF80s, EB91s and EF91s but more of the types commonly needed to fix things".
Or rather 'fewer of the ECL80s...'
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 3:50 pm   #30
Miguel Lopez
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

The answer is very simple: Many

Althought my reality is different from yours, I'm sure that this situation had happened to everybody here.

No matter how many valves (or any other component) you have in your stock, once you decide to start a new project, you discover that it requires several key components that you don't have on your stock, and you start a struggle to get it, and usually you get more than you need, just in the case you need it for another project........maybe you use it, maybe not.
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 3:58 pm   #31
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

"I've plenty to be going on with but.... um .... just in case...."

As so often, that was the thinking at Harpenden yesterday- Oh, VU39, useful- why not? EF86 in a rummage box- yeah, got to.

I think that as we pop our clogs, there'll be enough valves left behind for at least two more generations- if there's the interest,

Colin
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 5:22 pm   #32
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

I've got valves to cover spares for the valved receivers I have, which I think is all I'll need.
I don't have any intent to design or make any more valved equipment. I see remaining stocks of period valves as a resource needed for the maintenance of matching period equipment, so it feels wrong to use them for making new equipment. That said there are new production supplies of some valves available, but they support only the audio market.

Plus I've got a number of valves left from previous activities and acquired over the years. I suppose these should go to people who need them for restoration/maintenance jobs. Some were rescue jobs: I picked up a pair of boxed, MO-V KT88s from a stall at a radio rally years ago for 50p. I had a feeling they were destined to be dumped otherwise and it seemed a shame to waste them (yes it was that long ago!)

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Old 24th Sep 2018, 6:20 pm   #33
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Quote:
Bipoler?
The (UK) dictionary is but a report, not instructions. Back on topic, the n-1 happens when you use one up from stock, then worry sets in and n+(a lot) are obtained just in case.
 
Old 24th Sep 2018, 7:11 pm   #34
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Well I decided that I had several too many valves and sold some EHT rectifiers to a neighbour.

Directly heated cathode, screw base like an electric lamp, anode connection to top cap.
Demand must be limited for these.
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 7:17 pm   #35
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

The question is really "What's the point of all this stuff?" to which I think Rob's shoe and handbag response [post 2] is even more appropriate. Whether it's deployed or not is a much more tricky question though. Being a Bob student and enthusiast, I have a tendency to translate things into "Dylan Speech" [ie "How Many Roads"] so I guess the answer is "Blowing In The Wind".

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Old 24th Sep 2018, 9:27 pm   #36
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by dseymo1 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Herald1360 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Refugee View Post
Would that be "n+1 drawerfulls?
Err, no.

n+1 drawers full

Back on topic, I suspect that a more specific answer would be "less of the ECL80s, EF80s, EB91s and EF91s but more of the types commonly needed to fix things".
Or rather 'fewer of the ECL80s...'
Ya got me fair and square, there!
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Old 26th Sep 2018, 6:59 pm   #37
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by G4_Pete View Post
"How many valves does a man need"?

I was asked this in a quizzical way by my daughter when she was trying to help me organise my house. I thought about how to answer that to a non electronically minded person but in the end kept quiet and said nothing.
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Old 26th Sep 2018, 7:57 pm   #38
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Its a number that is impossible to quantify, like how large is the universe.

Quantum theory would dictate that the one you have in a box somewhere does not exist when you want it and open the box.
So better get a few more.

If you had one of every type, how many would that be?

Sam.
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Old 26th Sep 2018, 8:08 pm   #39
G4YVM David
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Herald1360 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Refugee View Post
Would that be "n+1 drawerfulls?
Err, no.

n+1 drawers full

".
I disagree. Since the "draw full" is a generally understood non specific unit of measure, much like a "spoonfull", then surely drawerfulls and spoonfulls are quite correct??
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Old 26th Sep 2018, 8:12 pm   #40
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Default Re: "How many valves does a man need?"

Why do EF91's, EF80's and EF50's tend to multiply if left alone? How can I ever get rid of them?
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