Diode and magnetron are also frequent failure causes. The magnetron is easy to test with a resistance meter. Should be low ohms through and infinity to its casing. (all cables removed of course)
I believe a new magnetron was fairly expensive, and I’m not by any means good with electricity (beyond some very simple car stuff), so I didn’t even bother trying to check it. We kind of hated that microwave anyway, its beeps were so annoying.
It just stopped heating things up. A bit of research suggested that the most common failure was the capacitor, which was like $10, so I figured why not? I was going to have to take the broken microwave off the wall whether I could fix it or not.
Microwave repair can actually be quite dangerous if I understand correctly, as they can hold a residual charge which can be very harmful if you short it.
If I understand it the ceramic of the magnatron can contain beryllium. Inhaling or contacting beryllium can cause beryllicosus, lumps in the lungs and body, not fun. That said if you don’t damage the magnetron you should be fine on that front.
I tried to repair a microwave once. I was unsuccessful.
Good thing you survived. They are seriously dangerous. The capacitor usually retains enough energy to kill you for days after it was unplugged.
Hum… The stuff I’m finding on the internet should keep enough energy to harm a person for an hour or two. Not several days.
Did microwave design change after it popularized?
At least it doesn’t kill you permanently
😁
That’s exactly the part I was changing. The terminals on it were plenty recessed, and I was careful not to stick my finger directly into the socket.
Diode and magnetron are also frequent failure causes. The magnetron is easy to test with a resistance meter. Should be low ohms through and infinity to its casing. (all cables removed of course)
I believe a new magnetron was fairly expensive, and I’m not by any means good with electricity (beyond some very simple car stuff), so I didn’t even bother trying to check it. We kind of hated that microwave anyway, its beeps were so annoying.
So it quit before you could fire it then. 😁
Did the popcorn button burn your popcorn?
It just stopped heating things up. A bit of research suggested that the most common failure was the capacitor, which was like $10, so I figured why not? I was going to have to take the broken microwave off the wall whether I could fix it or not.
Didn’t work, bought a new microwave.
Microwave repair can actually be quite dangerous if I understand correctly, as they can hold a residual charge which can be very harmful if you short it.
There’s also some kind of toxic powder in there that’ll just straight up make you dead. Or so I have heard from youtube
If I understand it the ceramic of the magnatron can contain beryllium. Inhaling or contacting beryllium can cause beryllicosus, lumps in the lungs and body, not fun. That said if you don’t damage the magnetron you should be fine on that front.
So many reasons to never open a microwave, giant capacitor, high voltage, the fact it’s a radiation machine.