Can I upgrade my Glass Tube Nova/Mars/Mini to an RF tube?
Preface: This article discusses the idea of upgrading a glass tube machine to a RF Tube
Can it be done?
Short answer is yes. Long answer is..........it is time consuming and expensive.
Does TLUSA Support the swap?
Nope. Due to the time and complexity of the swap from Glass to RF, TLUSA does not support the effort to swap the tubes out. Please understand that if you choose to take on such a project that you will be doing it by yourself with only community support. You can utilize the Thunder knowledge base for all the information you need but it is not sorted or present in a way that is a "How To". We will of course provide you with the Firmware needed and you can source the parts. But that is where it ends.
Why doesn't TLUSA support the swap?
Time and effort.........the swap is not a small undertaking. We advise against the swap. It is one of those situations of "if you have to ask how to do it with step by step instructions or videos...then it may not be the swap for you". We do not plan to support it in the future.
The cost impact...the sum of the parts plus the install effort and customer frustration (because inevitably something will happen) means that it is a better idea to sell the used machine and buy a new one, factory built, with an RF tube and Warranty.
Time and Parts involved:
DSP (Depending on your vintage, to use Thunder firmware on a 1gig controller for Nova Plus)
Fan Board
RF Tube
RF Tube Mounts
Beam Expander
RF Tube Power supply
RF Tube Box (Body Panel)
Cabling and Wiring
You would end up selling maybe the glass Tube, LPSU and DSP for a fraction of their new prices. Making it very expensive to get an RF installed.
Time....you will need lots of it. Swapping the tube box and a full tube to mirror alignment. Plan for the downtime and add a week.
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