Working on a Norcold dual voltage (120 volt Ac/12-24 volt DC fridge freezer with a Danfoss BD35f 12 volt R134a compressor.
Before anyone tells me it’s not worth fixing, I fully understand that however no suitable replacement exists that will fit into the existing space and short of a total remodeling of the galley that would be in the $50,000 range there is no other option than repairing this unit no matter the cost.
My question is what oil does it take? All I can find is POE oil but no viscosity or any other information ia available and the manufacturer is not helpful at all and virtually impossible to contact. The manufacturers email response is to call a distributor who can’t help me and tells me to contact the manufacturer
. Danfoss has a very good compressor oil chart but of course this compressor isn’t listed on it.
The only information I could find online from a message board says it takes a POE oil with a viscosity of ISO 15 which doesn’t seem to exist. I am willing to take a chance with a POE ISO 22 if it really takes a ISO 15 oil, but I can’t even confirm that. Also being a freezer it obviously requires a low temperature wax free POE oil not a medium temperature AC oil and that isn’t easy to find, unless I want to buy a 5 gallon or larger bucket of something I only need 5 OZs of and will go bad after opening due to its extremely hydroscopic properties. Of course cost isn’t really an issue so if I have to buy over $600 worth of oil and throw 99.999 percent of it away so be it, but I can’t even confirm the actual viscosity required so my hands are tied here.
Anyway hopefully someone knows exactly what this compressor calls for as far as oil goes. Any help is greatly appreciated as I have never run into anything like before despite doing a ton of HVAC work, although never on small disposable appliances like this fridge.
Before anyone tells me it’s not worth fixing, I fully understand that however no suitable replacement exists that will fit into the existing space and short of a total remodeling of the galley that would be in the $50,000 range there is no other option than repairing this unit no matter the cost.
My question is what oil does it take? All I can find is POE oil but no viscosity or any other information ia available and the manufacturer is not helpful at all and virtually impossible to contact. The manufacturers email response is to call a distributor who can’t help me and tells me to contact the manufacturer
. Danfoss has a very good compressor oil chart but of course this compressor isn’t listed on it.The only information I could find online from a message board says it takes a POE oil with a viscosity of ISO 15 which doesn’t seem to exist. I am willing to take a chance with a POE ISO 22 if it really takes a ISO 15 oil, but I can’t even confirm that. Also being a freezer it obviously requires a low temperature wax free POE oil not a medium temperature AC oil and that isn’t easy to find, unless I want to buy a 5 gallon or larger bucket of something I only need 5 OZs of and will go bad after opening due to its extremely hydroscopic properties. Of course cost isn’t really an issue so if I have to buy over $600 worth of oil and throw 99.999 percent of it away so be it, but I can’t even confirm the actual viscosity required so my hands are tied here.
Anyway hopefully someone knows exactly what this compressor calls for as far as oil goes. Any help is greatly appreciated as I have never run into anything like before despite doing a ton of HVAC work, although never on small disposable appliances like this fridge.
. Actually I am the third guy who has been hired to fix it as the last two were hacks judging by the quality of the work. The last guy changed out the compressor and didn’t even bother to flow nitrogen when he brazed it in.