P-Series Valves, what to do with them?

[radioman]

I've simulated a capacitor dropper circuit with computer software and you do get a short initial surge but it's for less than a quarter of a cycle - the current is determined by the capacitor value and is more or less constant (as read by a meter) over a range of resistive loads.
Hence there is no surge due to the lower heater resistance at switch on.

Andy