How important is the standby switch? (36 watt TMB)

[lespaul3]

I am dealing with limited space on a build, and am wondering how crucial the standby switch is on a standard 36W build.

Any pontification appreciated.

[CurtissRobin]

With low power tubes a standby switch is a convenience, not a necessity. There'll be no discernible harm to your tubes and their useful lives won't be any shorter if you don't have one. If you really want a standby function you might do as I've done on several amps: put the power switch on the back panel and use the front for standby/on.

KennyO

[lespaul3]

thank you sir!

[John_A]

Just to be safe use a SPDT switch and you can still have standby using one switch

[CurtissRobin]

Just to be safe use a SPDT switch and you can still have standby using one switch

Safe from what?

KennyO

[chabby]

Its really to warm up filaments and tubes prior to zapping them with allot of electrons. It ends up serving other purposes too however, like checking bias voltage......not bias, just voltage for example before zapping tubes that have none. Of course that wouldn't be likely if you built in a fail safe system....but still.

It's good to have a standby....it really is. Even on amps with rectifiers with indirectly heated cathodes.