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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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How can I tell if my microwave oven is unsafe?
Hello,
Our microwave oven has been sparking intermittently. On the inside wall of the oven, (i.e. in the food area) is a shield made of sheet metal, about 2 inches by 4 inches. The sparking has occurred at the top center of that shield. Now there is a small hole at the sparking site, about 1/8 inch across. How safe (or unsafe) is this oven? Is it fixable? Thank you very much! Ted Shoemaker |
#2
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How can I tell if my microwave oven is unsafe?
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#4
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How can I tell if my microwave oven is unsafe?
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#5
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How can I tell if my microwave oven is unsafe?
"Just Me!" writes:
Mistress wrote: In article , says... On the inside wall of the oven, (i.e. in the food area) is a shield made of sheet metal, about 2 inches by 4 inches. The sparking has occurred at the top center of that shield. Now there is a small hole at the sparking site, about 1/8 inch across. How safe (or unsafe) is this oven? Is it fixable? "Safe" is a subjective judgement. It is fairly obvious that this condition needs to be fixed. I would recommend not using the unit until it is. I am trying to guess what the piece may be. Are you sure it is metal? (The size and placement lead me to think it might be a difuser; mentioned in my response post a couple days ago) If it is metal, are there screws securing it to the other metal? If so, try removing the piece, cleaning the goop off it and securely replacing it. A metal part must be securely connected to the cabinet wall. Of course the new hole in it suggests you should replace the part anyway. These are only long-distance guesses. Good luck. think it was my post you refer to, yes indeed a diffuser(in my case), developed slight hole and started arcing, removed it cleaned it off both sides and replaced as securely as it was. Now works fine but has small hole through middle, does this mean the micro part is now focused through the hole and not diffused, if so is there any danger to anyone using it? its a combi and the oven is used more than the micro will replace as soon as I can find someone that knows what I am talking about As far as I know, it's just cover for the waveguide and doesn't affect the distribution of microwave energy in any way. The turntable or rotating paddle distributes the microwaves more evenly. Also keep in mind that the wavelength of the microwaves is about 5 inches. They don't sneak through little holes. --- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/ Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/ +Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersam.htm | Mirror Sites: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_mirror.html Note: These links are hopefully temporary until we can sort out the excessive traffic on Repairfaq.org. Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header is ignored. To contact me, please use the feedback form on the S.E.R FAQ Web sites. |
#6
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How can I tell if my microwave oven is unsafe?
Mistress writes:
In article , says... Now works fine but has small hole through middle, does this mean the micro part is now focused through the hole and not diffused Good question. I have no idea what effect the hole would have. Nothing at all. 2.45 GHz (5 inch) microwaves won't go through a 1/4" hole. But that's even irrelevant since the plate is most likely just an inert waveguide cover, not a "diffuser". --- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/ Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/ +Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersam.htm | Mirror Sites: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_mirror.html Note: These links are hopefully temporary until we can sort out the excessive traffic on Repairfaq.org. Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header is ignored. To contact me, please use the feedback form on the S.E.R FAQ Web sites. |
#7
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How can I tell if my microwave oven is unsafe?
Personaly I would have the microwave oven properly checked by someone
who is experienced at servicing them. If you have something that is sparking, there is definately something wrong. The sparking means that something is conducting to itself or ground, and acting as a load. This can damage the magnetron after a period of time. If you are cooking, and there is sparking, the sparks can be releasing some fumes due to the breakdown of the material being arced. This may not be safe for the food, depending on the material composition that is arcing. As for radiation safety, this depends on how well sealed the cabinet and doors are. This can be properly checked with a microwave oven radiation meter. Any of the service centers that service microwave ovens can check this for you. If your oven is a low cost oven and it is out of warranty, and you do not have the experience and skills to service it yourself, you may be better off to get a new one if the service cost will be high. First, take it in to the service center find out what is involved. Jerry G. ======== (Ted Shoemaker) wrote in message . com... Hello, Our microwave oven has been sparking intermittently. On the inside wall of the oven, (i.e. in the food area) is a shield made of sheet metal, about 2 inches by 4 inches. The sparking has occurred at the top center of that shield. Now there is a small hole at the sparking site, about 1/8 inch across. How safe (or unsafe) is this oven? Is it fixable? Thank you very much! Ted Shoemaker |
#8
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How can I tell if my microwave oven is unsafe?
Thank you for all answers.
Ted Shoemaker |
#9
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How can I tell if my microwave oven is unsafe?
Had the same thing happen to an old Emerson microwave. It was just a waveguide
cover held on by plastic snaps. Grease had made its way around the edges and up over the top of it and thats what burned and caused a hole. A nearby appliance store had a new cover. Cheap. |
#10
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It's the wave guide cover,needs replacing before working the oven again.
Some models[Matsui etc] have metal waveguides,others have the more easily cut foil lined cardboard guides. Metal you need the original part replacement,foiled cardboard you can buy a sheet and cut[carefully] to shape. Either way it should be a cheap repair. |
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