Best way to prove a microwave isnt leaking

[yhelothar]

If it's leaking out, you'll instantly get serverely burned if you're standing in front of it.

 

[techfuzz]

Buy her a new one if you're that concerned. Even the more expensive one's only cost about $100.

techfuzz

 

[merlocka]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
If it's leaking out, you'll instantly get serverely burned if you're standing in front of it.

Got proof?

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: edro13
Microwave radiation will not do long term damage. It is instantaneous... so unless you feel the burn while you are standing there, you are not in harm's way.

Ever see a victim of x-ray burns? You wouldn't feel a thing when it happened, but the damage is done. After a few hours or a day, it becomes quite noticeable. It can look like the worst 3rd degree burns you've ever seen.

I had to watch a video on the dangers, etc. of the x-rays before working with x-ray crystalography and spectroscopy equipment while in engineering. I've never been able to find pics on the internet that show the severity of the damage that can be done - without the victim aware that it's happening.

Now, as to microwaves:
This site says that there's a level set by the FDA, they're harmful, etc.
Text

I can't think of anything off the top of my head to detect microwaves - more importantly - to differentiate between safe and harmful levels.

Maybe a simple circuit with a FET (field effect transistor) would do something? A quick googling shows that there are microwave field effect transistors...
A couple of years ago, I built a *very* simple circuit using a little wire, a 9V battery, an FET, and an LED which could detect static electricity from someone rubbing a balloon on their head about 15 or 20 feet away. IIRC, the transistor came 2 in a pack for 99 cents (or something like that) at radio shack.

Cool site on MESFET's: Text

And finally, since there are a bunch of EE people around here, challenge one of them to design a detector... I found a project to build a detector on one of the EE lab pages here, but it doesn't have any instructions.

 

[amoeba]

put a light in front of it, if it lights up, you got a leak.

 

[Slimline]

Originally posted by: hjo3

Originally posted by: Stumps
damn grammer nazi's, I believe they belong in a microwave!

Spelling, not grammar. And you spelled grammar wrong.

In light of the other topic....PWNED!

 

[DeMeo]

duct tape a girbil (or some other small rodent) to the outside of the unit near the door. If it explodes, then you have a leak.

 

[imported_Phil]

There's an extremely obvious way of checking this that people seem to be overlooking.

Take mobile phone (or cellphone, whatever), place inside microwave. Call it. If it rings, then the microwave is leaking.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: MrDingleDangle

Originally posted by: Stumps
put your genitals close to it and when you don't need to turn on the light to pee...the door leaks!

uhm...i hope you arent cooking your food with radiation that would make stuff glow in the dark :shocked: !!

He must be using one of those macrowaves.

 

[trmiv]

At a junior college I went to after HS there was a microwave that would work without the door closed!

 

[myusername]

Originally posted by: trmiv
At a junior college I went to after HS there was a microwave that would work without the door closed!

I ran into one of those in the caf at college. It was an Amana, which is (or was) the shiz for microwaves - it didn't have an "off" button, just a big button that opened the door. When I opened it, it kept humming away. It's possible (probable?) that it was just the exhaust fan running and the magnetron cycled off, but it freaked my ass out at the time.

 

[0roo0roo]

would knock ur wifi wout wouldn't it.

 

[Slacker]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
would knock ur wifi wout wouldn't it.

:Q I think YOUR microwave may be leaking.

 

[GroundZero]

take it in the shower with you to see if it is leaking...

 

[Wallydraigle]

This is not the easiest or cheapest way, but it is the best way:

Go out and eat hamburger after hamburger, and start chuggin beers left and right. Feel like smoking? Go for it. Down that fifth of Jagermeister, you know you want it. Eventually you'll screw your body over so bad that you'll need a pacemaker to live. After having your pacemaker installed go nuke a burrito. If you survive to eat it, then the microwave is fine.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Dopefiend
There's an extremely obvious way of checking this that people seem to be overlooking.

Take mobile phone (or cellphone, whatever), place inside microwave. Call it. If it rings, then the microwave is leaking.

Winnar. Seriously, CDMA phones are 2.4 GHz. GSM phones are 900 MHz. Right?

 

[SagaLore]

Place a glass of water in front of the "leaking area". Get some frozen meat to defrost which takes a long time - if that water starts boiling, you've got a problem.

 

[cpals]

Originally posted by: Wallydraigle
This is not the easiest or cheapest way, but it is the best way:

Go out and eat hamburger after hamburger, and start chuggin beers left and right. Feel like smoking? Go for it. Down that fifth of Jagermeister, you know you want it. Eventually you'll screw your body over so bad that you'll need a pacemaker to live. After having your pacemaker installed go nuke a burrito. If you survive to eat it, then the microwave is fine.

And if it rings, then turn on the microwave until it stops ringing, right?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: myusername

Originally posted by: trmiv
At a junior college I went to after HS there was a microwave that would work without the door closed!

I ran into one of those in the caf at college. It was an Amana, which is (or was) the shiz for microwaves - it didn't have an "off" button, just a big button that opened the door. When I opened it, it kept humming away. It's possible (probable?) that it was just the exhaust fan running and the magnetron cycled off, but it freaked my ass out at the time.

lol -- we have an old microwave at work, too...I forget what brand it is, but IIRC, it'll keep running whether the door's open or not.

 

[merlocka]

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: Dopefiend
There's an extremely obvious way of checking this that people seem to be overlooking.

Take mobile phone (or cellphone, whatever), place inside microwave. Call it. If it rings, then the microwave is leaking.

Winnar. Seriously, CDMA phones are 2.4 GHz. GSM phones are 900 MHz. Right?

2.4GHz is ISM band (WLAN, BT, Cordless phones)

Cellular (in US) = 800, 900, 1800, 1900 depending on carrier/location

Since all microwaves leak, and you phone may be operating at 900MHz (which the microwave cage might not be as good at isolating) the above test is probably not going to tell you anything.

Again. They will all leak a bit. If you are worried, don't stand close to it while it's running. you likely get more radiation from your cellphone when it's pressed against your head.