Fix microwave?

flot

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
3,197
0
0
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...?
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,351
32,911
136
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.
 

Zolty

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2005
3,603
0
0
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 :D
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
Microwaves need to be tested for leakage after repairs. That is why they tell you to take it to a pro.
 

SMOGZINN

Lifer
Jun 17, 2005
14,339
4,614
136
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 :D

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.
 

Fiat1

Senior member
Dec 27, 2003
880
0
0
It?s usually an internal fuse that blows. Find it and replace it.

That is all?
 

SMOGZINN

Lifer
Jun 17, 2005
14,339
4,614
136
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.
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
I wouldn't recommend fixing it yourself, and it is probably cheaper to get a new microwave (albeit a cheap one).
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
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.
 

AmdEmAll

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2000
6,698
9
81
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
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
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.

 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
0
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!
 

slag

Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
10,473
81
101
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.
 

AmdEmAll

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2000
6,698
9
81

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."

 

SMOGZINN

Lifer
Jun 17, 2005
14,339
4,614
136
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.
 

Slickone

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 1999
6,120
0
0
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?
 

villageidiot111

Platinum Member
Jul 19, 2004
2,168
1
81
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.
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
126
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.
 

Slickone

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 1999
6,120
0
0
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?
 

Slickone

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 1999
6,120
0
0
Is anyone willing to provide any tips? I hate to throw this thing away without at least checking for something simple.