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Fix microwave?

Is it really worth fixing? Unless it is something fancy, a new microwave can be had for pretty cheap. My understanding is that their performance does deteriorate over time...?
 
Only advice I can offer is make sure the capacitor is discharged before you mess with it.

The capacitor will be the really heavy thing in there.
 
Originally posted by: ironwing
Only advice I can offer is make sure the capacitor is discharged before you mess with it.

The capacitor will be the really heavy thing in there.



the human tounge dischanges capacitors just fine 😀
 
Originally posted by: Zolty
Originally posted by: ironwing
Only advice I can offer is make sure the capacitor is discharged before you mess with it.

The capacitor will be the really heavy thing in there.



the human tounge dischanges capacitors just fine 😀

The only proper way to discharge a capacitor is to lay a screwdriver across the poles. :Q

Anyway, you didn't tell us what was wrong with the microwave. I've fixed one or two in my life, there really is not much too it. If you have a basic understanding of electronics, A quick google search will tell you almost everything you need to know.
 
Originally posted by: Squisher
Microwaves need to be tested for leakage after repairs. That is why they tell you to take it to a pro.

:roll: Microwaves don't leak radiation, that is a myth. Microwaves are safe. There is no need to test microwaves for anything other then normal electrical safty issues.
 
I wouldn't recommend fixing it yourself, and it is probably cheaper to get a new microwave (albeit a cheap one).
 
Originally posted by: SMOGZINN
Originally posted by: Squisher
Microwaves need to be tested for leakage after repairs. That is why they tell you to take it to a pro.

:roll: Microwaves don't leak radiation, that is a myth. Microwaves are safe. There is no need to test microwaves for anything other then normal electrical safty issues.
Well... they could...

But you would have to do something braindead like bypass the door interlock and run it with the door open or something.
 
Originally posted by: SMOGZINN
Originally posted by: Squisher
Microwaves need to be tested for leakage after repairs. That is why they tell you to take it to a pro.

:roll: Microwaves don't leak radiation, that is a myth. Microwaves are safe. There is no need to test microwaves for anything other then normal electrical safty issues.

WRONG
 
Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
Originally posted by: SMOGZINN
Originally posted by: Squisher
Microwaves need to be tested for leakage after repairs. That is why they tell you to take it to a pro.

:roll: Microwaves don't leak radiation, that is a myth. Microwaves are safe. There is no need to test microwaves for anything other then normal electrical safty issues.

WRONG
It is impossible for microwaves to leak microwave radiation unless there is a LARGE breach in the casing/door.

The wavelength is rather large.

 
Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
Originally posted by: SMOGZINN
Originally posted by: Squisher
Microwaves need to be tested for leakage after repairs. That is why they tell you to take it to a pro.

:roll: Microwaves don't leak radiation, that is a myth. Microwaves are safe. There is no need to test microwaves for anything other then normal electrical safty issues.

WRONG

I'm convinced!
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: SMOGZINN
Originally posted by: Squisher
Microwaves need to be tested for leakage after repairs. That is why they tell you to take it to a pro.

:roll: Microwaves don't leak radiation, that is a myth. Microwaves are safe. There is no need to test microwaves for anything other then normal electrical safty issues.
Well... they could...

But you would have to do something braindead like bypass the door interlock and run it with the door open or something.

That wont even do it unless you stand closer than 18 inches to the microwave. Microwaves dont go far according to my neighbor who works on them.
 

http://home.cvc.org/microwaves/detecto.htm

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/microwave.html

"All microwave ovens made after October 1971 are covered by a radiation safety standard enforced by the FDA. The standard limits the amount of microwaves that can leak from an oven throughout its lifetime. The limit is 5 milliwatts of microwave radiation per square centimeter at approximately 2 inches from the oven surface. This is far below the level known to harm people. Furthermore, as you move away from an oven, the level of any leaking microwave radiation that might be reaching you decreases dramatically. For example, someone standing 20 inches from an oven would receive approximately one one-hundredth of the amount of microwaves received at 2 inches."

 
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
Originally posted by: SMOGZINN
Originally posted by: Squisher
Microwaves need to be tested for leakage after repairs. That is why they tell you to take it to a pro.

:roll: Microwaves don't leak radiation, that is a myth. Microwaves are safe. There is no need to test microwaves for anything other then normal electrical safty issues.

WRONG
It is impossible for microwaves to leak microwave radiation unless there is a LARGE breach in the casing/door.

The wavelength is rather large.

Even then it is unlikely to do much harm. Contrary to popular belief, microwaves are relatively harmless in the small amounts that a home microwave oven puts out. The microwave oven works by concentrating the microwaves to the center of the oven building up a lot of energy in that space. If the oven had a hole in it that was ?leaking? microwaves (or even was missing the entire front door) it would not be able to concentrate the microwaves enough to much of anything, much less do you much harm. I think you would have to really try to burn yourself with microwaves from a home oven. I imagine it could do a number on surrounding electronics though.
 
Sorry, hadn't had time to reply until now. I wouldn't bother fixing one normally, but it was part of a pallet of stuff I bought at an auction.
It's a Goldstar MAB745W and new in the box, but won't do anything. I figure it could be a fuse.

Here's a pic of the inside. What I need to know is where to unplug the high voltage so I don't get shocked. The high voltage in the pic is on the magnetron, correct? HV transformer is underneath? What would you unplug? Or is that not necessary? If it's been sitting for a couple months, wouldn't the capacitor be discharged?

Here's another pic. Is a fuse in the yellow cylinder, or the black terminal above that?
 
Originally posted by: Slickone
Sorry, hadn't had time to reply until now. I wouldn't bother fixing one normally, but it was part of a pallet of stuff I bought at an auction.
It's a Goldstar MAB745W and new in the box, but won't do anything. I figure it could be a fuse.

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/5306/microwave11pi.jpg">Here's</a> a pic of the inside. What I need to know is where to unplug the high voltage so I don't get shocked. The high voltage in the pic is on the magnetron, correct? HV transformer is underneath? What would you unplug? Or is that not necessary? If it's been sitting for a couple months, wouldn't the capacitor be discharged?

Here's another pic. Is a fuse in the yellow cylinder, or the black terminal above that?



Um, your first link takes me to microsoft.com.
 
IF you are asking questions like this please STOP.

No offence, but you have NO BUSINESS MESSING AROUND inside of a microwave oven. 2000 volts at half an amp WILL KILL YOU if you touch it. Do you want to die? Go right ahead and plug away.
 
Originally posted by: C6FT7
IF you are asking questions like this please STOP.

No offence, but you have NO BUSINESS MESSING AROUND inside of a microwave oven. 2000 volts at half an amp WILL KILL YOU if you touch it. Do you want to die? Go right ahead and plug away.
I was waiting for this reply, and thanks but I am asking questions before doing anything. I'm always cautious opening up TV's as well. Besides, again this microwave has been sitting for a month since I plugged it in (though it never ran), and I've been told caps dissipate their charge after a period of time. And I don't see why I couldn't discharge it myself. Else if I stay away from the transformer, what could happen?
 
Is anyone willing to provide any tips? I hate to throw this thing away without at least checking for something simple.
 
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