This question has been discussed a lot on some sites. Do a search on audioasylum tube forum or the bottlehead forum.
Clearly, Tube life has a lot to do with the voltage running through the filament(or cathode or whatever you want to call it.) Checking that out and adding a Resister if needed)can add life if you are into DIY. The general rule is use the lowest filament voltage to properly operate.
I remember reading a post by Paul Joppa, one of the main brains at the Bottlehead site and he used the figure one hour which he said was accurate to within a factor of 10(for reasons he did not explain). So he apparently thinks the time frame is from 6 minutes (1/10th of and hour) and 10 hours. I guess that means turn it off overnight and when you leave for the day. I'm not smart enough to argue with PJ.
Some folks worry about fire and AC spikes too if you leave it on all the time.
Enjoy the tubes!
Clearly, Tube life has a lot to do with the voltage running through the filament(or cathode or whatever you want to call it.) Checking that out and adding a Resister if needed)can add life if you are into DIY. The general rule is use the lowest filament voltage to properly operate.
I remember reading a post by Paul Joppa, one of the main brains at the Bottlehead site and he used the figure one hour which he said was accurate to within a factor of 10(for reasons he did not explain). So he apparently thinks the time frame is from 6 minutes (1/10th of and hour) and 10 hours. I guess that means turn it off overnight and when you leave for the day. I'm not smart enough to argue with PJ.
Some folks worry about fire and AC spikes too if you leave it on all the time.
Enjoy the tubes!