Help me find a resistor

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
I need to discharge the capacitor in a microwave. Online instructions call for 100K-150K ohm 10-25 watt resistor. I've spent the last 20 minutes looking online with no luck. I'd rather be neffing.

The capacitor is right there next to the magnetron (the one that now sounds like a game show buzzer) that I need to change. I'd prefer to come out of this with my eyesight, all my screwdrivers in good shape, and my heart still beating.
 
Oct 27, 2007
17,009
5
0
vivalaresistance.jpg
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
Couldn't you hook up a light or something to bleed it off?
I dunno, I was kinda hoping one of these electronic gurus would come in here and say something along these lines or tell me to yank something out of my car, or dishwasher, or toaster oven, or whatever and tell me to use that.

I wouldn't mind waiting a half a week to buy something either. I brought my basement microwave up to the kitchen for now.
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
how old is this microwave?



most microwaves made in the last ~25 years have an internal bleeding resistor as part of the capacitor.
 

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
3
0
I dunno, I was kinda hoping one of these electronic gurus would come in here and say something along these lines or tell me to yank something out of my car, or dishwasher, or toaster oven, or whatever and tell me to use that.

I wouldn't mind waiting a half a week to buy something either. I brought my basement microwave up to the kitchen for now.

no lightbulb is going to withstand 8 - 15 KV
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
how old is this microwave?



most microwaves made in the last ~25 years have an internal bleeding resistor as part of the capacitor.

I've read that too, but I'd prefer to be certain without causing a light show.

btw-the microwave came with the house (over the stove) and the house is only 9 yrs. old.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,611
10,966
126
I'm certain there's a mostly safe:)^D) improper way of doing that, but I don't know enough about electronics to say what. I think a light might blow out, but there's no reason you couldn't build a quick ultraduty lightbulb. In other words, a heavy wire that would heat up and glow, but drain the charge.
 

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
3
0
If you don't want to order one, I could probably send you something rather quickly, being that I'm also in Michigan.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
i'd do that.

unplug the microwave, wait ~30 mins ( internal bleeder should be okay ) , take off the cover, short terminals with screwdriver, hold short for a few seconds -> it's discharged.

Yeah, the microwave should have a bleeder resistor built in.

I built a rather large capacitor array for my Tesla coil. Each capacitor has a 10MegaOhm 10W resistor on it. It takes about 20 minutes to drop from 15kV down to a safe level.
 

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
3
0
Yeah, the microwave should have a bleeder resistor built in.

I built a rather large capacitor array for my Tesla coil. Each capacitor has a 10MegaOhm 10W resistor on it. It takes about 20 minutes to drop from 15kV down to a safe level.

I wouldn't be surprised if those caps had internal resistances on the order of 10 megs.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
I wouldn't be surprised if those caps had internal resistances on the order of 10 megs.

I forget the exact values, but I did the math at the time and tested the bleeders after I constructed the array. It worked. :)