How do I reuse coldplates with new compressor.

[Wookiee_King]

I have an old Norcold icebox conversion in my 79 Irwin. Until recently it was amazing, made great ice. The control board got smashed, and no one on the face of this earth seems to have that part. Looks like I’ll have to buy a new compressor, but I don’t want to tear out walls to replace the cold plate. Cold plate works fine. It was one of the pre-pressurized tank units so I’m guessing I will have to brace a Schrader valve in. Does anyone have any experience with this? I’ve been trying to hotwire the compressor to run, but no luck. Please tell me I don’t have to spend $1000 and rip out a wall

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by Wookiee_King

I have an old Norcold icebox conversion in my 79 Irwin. Until recently it was amazing, made great ice. The control board got smashed, and no one on the face of this earth seems to have that part. Looks like I’ll have to buy a new compressor, but I don’t want to tear out walls to replace the cold plate. Cold plate works fine. It was one of the pre-pressurized tank units so I’m guessing I will have to brace a Schrader valve in.

The part you circled in red in the picture is a thermostat, with what appears to be a connecting wire of a "phone plug" type.
Why to think you have to "brace", (I think you mean "braze",) a Schrader valve into the system?
That type of thermostat should be available from "R Parts".
The pictures also show a normal evaporator plate, not a "coldplate".
I think we need some better info.

[Wookiee_King]

Below is the part number, and the actual discontinued product. The part I need is not a thermostat. It is a small circuit board with knob control switch, that dose use a pronged plug, nothing like phone plug. I was hoping I could trust braise a valve in there and get a new compressor. Looks like I’m buying a whole new unit though. the part is impossible to find, I have spent hours on the phone with the actual company, and the only possibility, would be to find a used one. It looks like I’m just going to have to replace my icebox conversion, anybody live in Key West that’s smarter than me?

[Bowdrie]

I see now, sorry, I misunderstood the situation.
Perhaps Richard Kollman, (a regular here,) might have a line on a replacement part.

[Wookiee_King]

Unfortunately today is D day for the ice box conversion. If I’m going to replace it, I have to do it now before I build the battery bank. Looks like I’m just gonna have to buy a whole new system, gotta love boats.

[Delaware]

I replaced my entire unit recently. The only hole that I required was one large enough to pass the supply and return lines through. Then a little foam to seal that hole up.
Be careful not to kink the lines as you fish them to your compressor.
Easier with two people but can be done by one.
You can do it!

[hzcruiser]

it seems as if the control box only turns the compressor on and off?

[Dougtiff]

What you call the control box is a THERMOSTAT and has a on and off function, you should be able to purchase a generic thermostat , the thermostat is only a on/off switch with a resister], if fact you can bypass it by going to the electronic module and installing a switch or timer where the wires from the thermostat are attached, a new unit from W.Marine is $ 800 buck's, i just installed one in a customers boat, it is the cheapest 12 volt fridge unit on the market, if your unit is old, it will have R 12 gas, so time to replace with a new 134A gas system,as already stated, all copper tubing will go thru one hole, after installing, fill with a can of spray foam. Love Key West, spent a whole winter there back in 1990, got a job on the gamboling ship the Atlantic X, became a honorary Conk, loved the Havana dock circus each evening, wonder if the Cookie Lady is still there and of coarse the Cat man with the performing Cat's, good memories., good luck,