[Diabolical Artificer]

"There is something to be said for the CFE* approach" Indeed, I like the simplicity. I always put a bleeder resistor across big caps, it produces a nice blue arc when discharging with my cap discharger.

Thanks for explaining the Z, I thought it was more complicated than that, having to take into account the resistance of the tfmr, L etc.

I've put two VR150/30's as a simple shunt reg to clamp the HT whilst the heaters warm up. Not getting 300v, more like 330v but have to play with the limiting resistor - 10k at present. I'd forgotten how nice these look lighted up, a nice blue ish glow, not orange like the smaller 85A2's.

Andy.