Why do carousel microwaves always spin in the opposite direction from the last time you turned them on?

[Flammable]

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Mine curves to the right a little.

what

 

[ballmode]

Never noticed

 

[Jeff7]

It could relate to the type of motor. I seem to have it in my head that some simple AC motor types can be made so that they have no preference for a starting direction.

 

[BurnItDwn]

The engineers who designed the carousel microwaves were VERY OCD and wanted to make sure that over the entire life of the microwave, that the rotation number will be in equilibrium.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Flammable

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Mine curves to the right a little.

what

Oh...we were talking about microwaves? Sorry.

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Mine curves to the right a little.

:laugh:

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: Flammable

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Mine curves to the right a little.

what

Betcha his cursive slants to the right as well.

 

[SpunkyJones]

Originally posted by: Leros
Mine always spins the same direction.

 

[rockyct]

If the microwave has a safety feature that reverses the direction of the motor if something blocks its rotation, I could see it being related. Maybe its designed to change the direction every time the power is cycled whether that power cycle has to do with normal use or a plate causing the motor to stop.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

some AC motors alternate rotation...

 

[Modelworks]

Curious so I asked my brother who does appliance repair.

The motors are standard AC motors. The motor shafts are offset from the turntable mount, so it isn't a direct drive. There is a gear inside that grabs the motor shaft , depending on where the gear is when the motor starts turning determines which direction the tray turns. The gear is what attaches to the turntable. Converts the high rpm motor down to 2-3 RPM. He said the plastic gear usually breaks meaning you have to replace the entire motor.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Curious so I asked my brother who does appliance repair.

The motors are standard AC motors. The motor shafts are offset from the turntable mount, so it isn't a direct drive. There is a gear inside that grabs the motor shaft , depending on where the gear is when the motor starts turning determines which direction the tray turns. The gear is what attaches to the turntable. Converts the high rpm motor down to 2-3 RPM. He said the plastic gear usually breaks meaning you have to replace the entire motor.

:thumbsup:

Watch it sometime. Sometimes it will appear to start turning one way, but the suddenly turn the other. There's no real rhyme or reason to it.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Curious so I asked my brother who does appliance repair.

The motors are standard AC motors. The motor shafts are offset from the turntable mount, so it isn't a direct drive. There is a gear inside that grabs the motor shaft , depending on where the gear is when the motor starts turning determines which direction the tray turns. The gear is what attaches to the turntable. Converts the high rpm motor down to 2-3 RPM. He said the plastic gear usually breaks meaning you have to replace the entire motor.

:thumbsup:

Watch it sometime. Sometimes it will appear to start turning one way, but the suddenly turn the other. There's no real rhyme or reason to it.

Are you sure they aren't just fucking with you?

http://www.maniacworld.com/Spi...-Optical-Illusion.html

 

[jinduy]

it's spinning two dimensionally... right brain dominant people see it go clockwise, left brain see it go counter, and those of you who see both are pure geniuses

 

[SlitheryDee]

That usually happens when you surprise the hamster while he's on a smoke break.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
It could relate to the type of motor. I seem to have it in my head that some simple AC motor types can be made so that they have no preference for a starting direction.

First correct answer.

I had an old AC motor like this. It was slow but fairly powerful, however, if you held the spindle, you could feel it "try" both directions over and over until you let it go, and if you forced it in one direction, it would keep going in that direction.

 

[Cattlegod]

It isn't really switching back and forth because it was designed that way, it is because it runs off AC power. 50% of the time it starts near the peak, 50% of the time it starts near the trough. Keep trying it a few more times, it is just coincidence that you have noticed it changing every other time.

 

[nineball9]

"Carousel" is a registered trademark of Sharp. The general term for a rotating microwave oven platter is simply "turntable".
From SharpUSA's microwave FAQ

"The turntable in the oven reverses direction. Is this normal?"
"Yes. The turntable reverses direction at random intervals."

The FAQ doesn't say why it reverses however!

My last Sharp Carousel died last October, two months short of its 20th birthday. I purchased a new Sharp and I'm still not used to the different position of the Start button.

 

[5to1baby1in5]

It's to unwind the spring a little so it doesn't snap during the next use.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Jeff7
It could relate to the type of motor. I seem to have it in my head that some simple AC motor types can be made so that they have no preference for a starting direction.

First correct answer.

I had an old AC motor like this. It was slow but fairly powerful, however, if you held the spindle, you could feel it "try" both directions over and over until you let it go, and if you forced it in one direction, it would keep going in that direction.

We don't come here to post the RIGHT answer, we come here to post the SCARCASTIC answer.

 

[Itchrelief]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
It could relate to the type of motor. I seem to have it in my head that some simple AC motor types can be made so that they have no preference for a starting direction.

now they just need to make it so that motor can run on both AC/DC

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS

Originally posted by: SSSnail
It's a designed feature, to offset wear and tear is my guess.

I think even cooking is the reason, not wear and tear. Yes I can see the R&D guys saying, "Let's make it more complex so it breaks less..."

If the food is already spinning 360 how would changing the direction make a difference.

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Curious so I asked my brother who does appliance repair.

The motors are standard AC motors. The motor shafts are offset from the turntable mount, so it isn't a direct drive. There is a gear inside that grabs the motor shaft , depending on where the gear is when the motor starts turning determines which direction the tray turns. The gear is what attaches to the turntable. Converts the high rpm motor down to 2-3 RPM. He said the plastic gear usually breaks meaning you have to replace the entire motor.

Nice.

I've wondered the same thing.

 

[Fritzo]

Mine switches direction every few minutes. Probably to ensure even heating.

 

[KentState]

I always thought i was just hungry and seeing things.