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Mike

On 2/12/2019 3:21 PM, wrote:
Semi-related: Will a microwave last longer if lower
power levels are used instead of full power all the
time?

IE: Instead of heating something for the typical one
minute at full power, heating it for two minutes at
half power(or even medium high or 60% if such
setting available)? That way the magnetron cycles
on and off instead of running constantly, and also
the food is more evenly heated.

It depends.
On older microwave ovens, the filament runs off the transformer
and cycles on and off with the high voltage.
The thermal cycling can't be good for it.

Newer microwaves with the "inverter" technology switch the
HV on and off much more rapidly leaving the filament hot.
That's gotta be better for the magnetron, but has a lot more
high voltage parts to fail.

Would be interesting to know how the cost of a new magnetron
and the time to replace it compares to the cost of a new
microwave oven.

It goes without assuming that you're sure the magnetron is at fault?