Computer Wizard wanted re: Philips valve codes - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

vidjoman · 5th Apr 2014, 10:34 am

I was resting in the bath and thought it would be very useful to have a little program that could show what the codes mean without having to plough through the Philips/Mullard code list to try and work out what the valve is or where/when it was made.
Something like a postcode search where you can type in the code and get the details. I suppose it's some kind of database lookup.
Is there anyone with computer skills who could write such a program?

Tubeglow · 5th Apr 2014, 10:54 am

Like this?

http://www.csgnetwork.com/capcccalc.html

Tubeglow.

bc312 · 5th Apr 2014, 11:14 am

Are you referring to the codes often inside the valve envelope rather than the usual identifier e.g 6K7G etc? The attached are codes related to Philips valves as an example.

vidjoman · 5th Apr 2014, 1:42 pm

The codes are as the PDF that bc312has posted.
Tubeglow, yes I think something along the lines of the cap value finder with drop down boxes (because of the odd characters) might work, but I'm no computer expert. So a box for each number/letter I suppose.

Maarten · 6th Apr 2014, 1:59 am

You could just use the search function from within the pdf viewer.

vidjoman · 6th Apr 2014, 8:36 am

Don't think there are any keyboards that have the dozens of odd symbols and reversed numbers that you can type into the search box. My feeling is that a PDF search will not work because if used for a normal characters (a,b,c etc.) it would call up every a,b,c in the script as well as the tables.

mike_newcomb · 6th Apr 2014, 10:17 pm

Hi Vidjoman,

the Adobe reader (asdo other applications) has a find facility, explained here:-

http://helpx.adobe.com/reader/using/...ation_in_a_pdf

I tried using this on the .pdf document supplied by Mike above, to look for xl500 and it found XL500 on page 6. Then clicking 'next' was advised this was the only hit.

Is this simple enough and does it meet your requirement?

Regards - Mike (the Wizard!)

Maarten · 7th Apr 2014, 2:30 am

I was thinking along that line indeed

That's how I use that list mostly.

Of course a web based version could be done.

Does anybody know who compiled it (I think the most recent version is v10)? I may have some additions and/or remarks but I haven't figured them out exactly yet.

vidjoman · 7th Apr 2014, 8:33 am

Thanks Mike. I didn't know that feature was there in Adobe PDF. It will show the valve type from a part of the code. The date and factory parts have to be looked at individually. Thanks for pointing the feature out.

5th Apr 2014, 10:34 am	#1
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Computer Wizard wanted re: Philips valve codes I was resting in the bath and thought it would be very useful to have a little program that could show what the codes mean without having to plough through the Philips/Mullard code list to try and work out what the valve is or where/when it was made. Something like a postcode search where you can type in the code and get the details. I suppose it's some kind of database lookup. Is there anyone with computer skills who could write such a program?

5th Apr 2014, 10:54 am	#2
Tubeglow Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 153	Re: Computer Wizard wanted re: Philips valve codes Like this? http://www.csgnetwork.com/capcccalc.html Tubeglow.

5th Apr 2014, 1:42 pm	#4
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: Computer Wizard wanted re: Philips valve codes The codes are as the PDF that bc312has posted. Tubeglow, yes I think something along the lines of the cap value finder with drop down boxes (because of the odd characters) might work, but I'm no computer expert. So a box for each number/letter I suppose.

6th Apr 2014, 1:59 am	#5
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Computer Wizard wanted re: Philips valve codes You could just use the search function from within the pdf viewer.

6th Apr 2014, 8:36 am	#6
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: Computer Wizard wanted re: Philips valve codes Don't think there are any keyboards that have the dozens of odd symbols and reversed numbers that you can type into the search box. My feeling is that a PDF search will not work because if used for a normal characters (a,b,c etc.) it would call up every a,b,c in the script as well as the tables.

6th Apr 2014, 10:17 pm	#7
mike_newcomb Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 665	Re: Computer Wizard wanted re: Philips valve codes Hi Vidjoman, the Adobe reader (asdo other applications) has a find facility, explained here:- http://helpx.adobe.com/reader/using/...ation_in_a_pdf I tried using this on the .pdf document supplied by Mike above, to look for xl500 and it found XL500 on page 6. Then clicking 'next' was advised this was the only hit. Is this simple enough and does it meet your requirement? Regards - Mike (the Wizard!)

7th Apr 2014, 2:30 am	#8
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: Computer Wizard wanted re: Philips valve codes I was thinking along that line indeed That's how I use that list mostly. Of course a web based version could be done. Does anybody know who compiled it (I think the most recent version is v10)? I may have some additions and/or remarks but I haven't figured them out exactly yet.

7th Apr 2014, 8:33 am	#9
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: Computer Wizard wanted re: Philips valve codes Thanks Mike. I didn't know that feature was there in Adobe PDF. It will show the valve type from a part of the code. The date and factory parts have to be looked at individually. Thanks for pointing the feature out.