Looks like my radar range no longer works...

[dennilfloss]

Just had a macaroni & ground beef meal go through two nine-minute rounds of cooking and it was still frozen solid. The revolving plate below it was cold. Top of the microwave oven was just a bit warm. Everything seems to work, clock, revolving platter, but the range seemingly no longer emits microwaves to cook stuff. I suppose there's nothing left to do but buy another cheap unit.

Do these things suddenly seem to stop working like this for no reason? It's only a couple of years old and was working perfectly yesterday. The one I had before worked flawlessly for 10 years before I decided to replace it for a new unit and gave it to a friend. Gonna try to unplug it and reboot it as a desperation computerlike move.

In the mean time, I put the frozen meal in the gas oven. Gonna take 1/2 hour at 375F.

Edit: stupid gas oven I haven't used in months triggered my fire alarm. Probably because I had forgotten to turn the hood fan on. So much noise...

 

[Imp]

Radar. Range... how old are you again.

We had two microwaves die on us within the past few years. The one before those worked a good 5 years or more. Seems like the newer ones crap out pretty quickly after the warranty expires. The worst part is that it's hard to definitively tell that they're dead because most indicators of "workingness" are the lamp, turn table, and loud cooling fan.

They don't make them like they used to.

 

[Rubycon]

Radar range...is your radar...jammed?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcArnepkhv0

:biggrin:

Most people toss out and buy new and frankly these days with seemingly everything made in CN that's all too common.

Back in the day when they were well made and people would have a repairman come out to fix it, well those ovens did last a while!

Sudden loss of heating could be a blown fuse which keeps the magnetron from powering up.

If anyone's interested in further reading by far there's no more information packed place on the web than Sam Goldwasser's FAQ here!

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/micfaq.htm

 

[dennilfloss]

Gonna get a new one pronto. I don't like using the gas oven. Been scared of fire since I was a little kid and the upstairs neighbours caused a fire in their apartment twice. First time only their flat burned but the second time our apartment burned also. Being carried down the stairs in a fireman's arms is probably the earliest memory I recall. Still vivid to this day. I was 4 yars old at the time of that second fire.

 

[Rubycon]

Speaking of fire...

Imagine being in a place where there is no place to be carried!
Fire is THE biggest threat @sea, definitely something to be taken very seriously.

Just don't put something in the radarrange too long. A baked potato that takes 8 minutes will start a fire if put in there for 80 minutes. (fire starts way before that time, don't ask!)

 

[dennilfloss]

I make a point of reading the instructions under my frozen dinners before cooking them.

 

[techs]

That's how my last one went bad. It still kinda heated things up a little bit but was essentially ususable.
So, yeah, when they go it is possible that they don't fail completely

 

[dennilfloss]

Just checked behind the unit and it says manufactured in 2007, so it looks like I've had it longer than I thought. Aw well, those 700W 0.7 cubic foot ovens are pretty inexpensive. Just gonna order one online at Futureshop (how I bought the last one). They have free delivery on this model.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/prod...spx?path=c7a3fd843633f6c84341551e021a492aen02

 

[jupiter57]

Wow!
When you said RadarRange, I thought you meant an old Amana RadarRange!
Flashback!

I had an 1100 watt GE Microwave for years, still looked like new, best microwave I ever had.
Ex-wife told me one day it had quit, so I picked up a new one.
Put the GE in my truck to throw in the dumpster at work. Got to work, got the microwave out to toss it, but thought I would take it into the job trailer & check it out. (I always take everything apart, try to fix or at least learn about their inner workings!)
Plugged it in, put a cup of water in it, 1 minute & water was hot.
That was in '04, I used it in my office trailers after that, then for a few years after my divorce.
Still have it, it's in the closet now since this new house came with a built-in Microwave!

 

[Red Squirrel]

Radar range...is your radar...jammed?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcArnepkhv0

:biggrin:

Most people toss out and buy new and frankly these days with seemingly everything made in CN that's all too common.

Back in the day when they were well made and people would have a repairman come out to fix it, well those ovens did last a while!

Sudden loss of heating could be a blown fuse which keeps the magnetron from powering up.

If anyone's interested in further reading by far there's no more information packed place on the web than Sam Goldwasser's FAQ here!

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/micfaq.htm

Hahahaha just realized, the black guy that runs the radar is from Police Academy. :biggrin:

Interestingly, microwave ovens were actually invented while working with radar systems.

 

[dennilfloss]

Friend is giving me a lift to go fetch a new one at Futureshop on Tuesday. He's gonna pick me at the dentist after my appointment.

 

[Imp]

I'd stick to Panasonic if you're going to FS/BB... best experience with them. Danby is probably a budget brand, which is reflected in the price.

 

[jupiter57]

Interestingly, microwave ovens were actually invented while working with radar systems.

Correct!
A tech walked past a microwave device with a chocolate bar in his shirt pocket & it melted!

 

[Rubycon]

Correct!
A tech walked past a microwave device with a chocolate bar in his shirt pocket & it melted!

They also figured out it cooked franks and beans in record time as well!

 

[Imp]

Correct!
A tech walked past a microwave device with a chocolate bar in his shirt pocket & it melted!

Wonder if the tech is still alive... If not, what did he die of...

 

[techs]

Have you checked to see if you put stealthy foods in it?

 

[techs]

I'd stick to Panasonic if you're going to FS/BB... best experience with them. Danby is probably a budget brand, which is reflected in the price.

I have had a Sharp Carousel that gets used at least 5 times a day. It has worked flawlessly for 11 years.

 

[EagleKeeper]

You may be able to get a new magnetron.

You would have to open up the unit; locate the mag (back in the late 60s, they used to be the size of an small alternator), unbolt it; insert new one; bolt in back on the system and for $100 you are up and cooking. there may be a diode also that has blown.

$75-100 estimate is the cost of a replacement mag.

Building these was the first honest job I had out of high school

 

[EagleKeeper]

Wow!
When you said RadarRange, I thought you meant an old Amana RadarRange!
Flashback!

I had an 1100 watt GE Microwave for years, still looked like new, best microwave I ever had.
Ex-wife told me one day it had quit, so I picked up a new one.
Put the GE in my truck to throw in the dumpster at work. Got to work, got the microwave out to toss it, but thought I would take it into the job trailer & check it out. (I always take everything apart, try to fix or at least learn about their inner workings!)
Plugged it in, put a cup of water in it, 1 minute & water was hot.
That was in '04, I used it in my office trailers after that, then for a few years after my divorce.
Still have it, it's in the closet now since this new house came with a built-in Microwave!

If you get a chance, open it up and look for initials on the wave guide.

We were making them for Ammana and every inspector would initial the guide as it went down the assembly line and past safety checks.

Back in '77, I actually found one that I had checked and my wife had assembled 10 years earlier.

 

[notposting]

Our GE microwave was made in June 1983. Also, I was really leaning towards this being a parody of this thread.

 

[robphelan]

i came in here expecting to read about a radar detector.. oh well since I'm here.. I"m dying for my over the stove microwave to go out - it came with the house 9+ years ago. the wife says no dice to buying a new one until it's dead.

 

[EagleKeeper]

i came in here expecting to read about a radar detector.. oh well since I'm here.. I"m dying for my over the stove microwave to go out - it came with the house 9+ years ago. the wife says no dice to buying a new one until it's dead.

Unplug it!

 

[LTC8K6]

I like the Panasonic Inverter ones. You get true power levels with them. 50% power is 500 watts, and not 1000W on a 50% duty cycle.

 

[thebestMAX]

Impact adjustment required.

My 17 year old MW stopped working about a year ago. Unplugged it for a weeks vacation, came back and tried it again and it worked a few times then stopped. Then each time I used it a good smack in the right place started it up again. Its given up the fight now and just works all the time!!! I just dont have any faith in it anymore but as long as it works its got a home.

Whatever was not making a connection has possible fused back together. I have had light bulbs do this, well at least back when we had real light bulbs.

BTW, we bought an Amana Radar Range back when they first came out. About $300 with no fancy controls. Unlike my first wife, I think it is still working.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Impact adjustment required.

My 17 year old MW stopped working about a year ago. Unplugged it for a weeks vacation, came back and tried it again and it worked a few times then stopped. Then each time I used it a good smack in the right place started it up again. Its given up the fight now and just works all the time!!! I just dont have any faith in it anymore but as long as it works its got a home.

Whatever was not making a connection has possible fused back together. I have had light bulbs do this, well at least back when we had real light bulbs.

BTW, we bought an Amana Radar Range back when they first came out. About $300 with no fancy controls. Unlike my first wife, I think it is still working.

$300 when min wage was $1.25

One dial for a timer and 2-3 buttons.