After the recent thread on combination cookers our 15 year old Panasonic
died. Probably from shame at only ever having the grill used by accident
(makes a mess of plastic utensils) and the oven, never.

Power supply OK local fuse OK. Nothing on the display and no functions.

Do I take the back off or is it junk? I have noted previous warnings
about high voltage capacitors.

Also..

The replacement which is micro only weighs about 1/3rd. of the original.
I was a younger man when I lifted it on top of the fridge!
Claims to be an inverter model and has a curious feature as the *fan*??
starts and continues running after the cooked item is removed and the
door re-closed.

If this is necessary to cool the electronics they really ought to make
it clear because my wife is in the habit of leaving the door open (i.e.
fan off) to let the cooking steam disperse.

regards
--
Tim Lamb

On 06/06/2011 20:48, Tim Lamb wrote:
After the recent thread on combination cookers our 15 year old Panasonic
died. Probably from shame at only ever having the grill used by accident
(makes a mess of plastic utensils) and the oven, never.

Power supply OK local fuse OK. Nothing on the display and no functions.

Do I take the back off or is it junk? I have noted previous warnings
about high voltage capacitors.

Also..

The replacement which is micro only weighs about 1/3rd. of the original.
I was a younger man when I lifted it on top of the fridge!
Claims to be an inverter model and has a curious feature as the *fan*??
starts and continues running after the cooked item is removed and the
door re-closed.

If this is necessary to cool the electronics they really ought to make
it clear because my wife is in the habit of leaving the door open (i.e.
fan off) to let the cooking steam disperse.

regards

Our new microwave is more-or-less the same.

Our old one had a massive iron-cored transformer etc, but the new one is
lightweight. By 'inverter', I guess they have replaced the HV PSU with
some switch-mode thing.

Yes, it too has fan run-on which is a bit irritating.

By biggest grumble is thet it is so light, it slides about on the
worktop when you press the buttons. At least the old one stayed
solidly put.

Just the way they are these days, it seems.

Also gives a wimpy 'zzz' as it fires up, not a proper 'WHUMP-Wooooo'

--
R

In message , Tim Lamb
writes
After the recent thread on combination cookers our 15 year old
Panasonic died. Probably from shame at only ever having the grill used
by accident (makes a mess of plastic utensils) and the oven, never.

Power supply OK local fuse OK. Nothing on the display and no functions.

Do I take the back off or is it junk? I have noted previous warnings
about high voltage capacitors.

Also..

The replacement which is micro only weighs about 1/3rd. of the
original. I was a younger man when I lifted it on top of the fridge!
Claims to be an inverter model and has a curious feature as the *fan*??
starts and continues running after the cooked item is removed and the
door re-closed.

If this is necessary to cool the electronics they really ought to make
it clear because my wife is in the habit of leaving the door open (i.e.
fan off) to let the cooking steam disperse.


On ours the fan runs whilst operating and then continues running once
the program completes. Regardless of door open or closed.

I've always assumed it was to clear steam etc. from the cooker cavity
--
Chris French

On 06/06/2011 22:25, chris French wrote:
In message , Tim Lamb
writes
After the recent thread on combination cookers our 15 year old
Panasonic died. Probably from shame at only ever having the grill used
by accident (makes a mess of plastic utensils) and the oven, never.

Power supply OK local fuse OK. Nothing on the display and no functions.

Do I take the back off or is it junk? I have noted previous warnings
about high voltage capacitors.

Also..

The replacement which is micro only weighs about 1/3rd. of the
original. I was a younger man when I lifted it on top of the fridge!
Claims to be an inverter model and has a curious feature as the
*fan*?? starts and continues running after the cooked item is removed
and the door re-closed.

If this is necessary to cool the electronics they really ought to make
it clear because my wife is in the habit of leaving the door open
(i.e. fan off) to let the cooking steam disperse.


On ours the fan runs whilst operating and then continues running once
the program completes. Regardless of door open or closed.

I've always assumed it was to clear steam etc. from the cooker cavity

Ours is built in at outrageous cost cos her indoors wanted a white one.
Had to arrange venting. At least it doesn't move when you press the buttons.

On Mon, 6 Jun 2011 20:48:58 +0100, Tim Lamb
wrote:


Do I take the back off or is it junk? I have noted previous warnings
about high voltage capacitors.

Microwaves often have an internal fuse which is prone to random
failure, worth checking. You need to use a slow blow replacement as
the switch on surge is high.

In message , Ron Lowe writes
On 06/06/2011 20:48, Tim Lamb wrote:
After the recent thread on combination cookers our 15 year old Panasonic
died. Probably from shame at only ever having the grill used by accident
(makes a mess of plastic utensils) and the oven, never.

Power supply OK local fuse OK. Nothing on the display and no functions.
Our new microwave is more-or-less the same.

Our old one had a massive iron-cored transformer etc, but the new one
is lightweight. By 'inverter', I guess they have replaced the HV PSU
with some switch-mode thing.

Yes, it too has fan run-on which is a bit irritating.

By biggest grumble is thet it is so light, it slides about on the
worktop when you press the buttons. At least the old one stayed
solidly put.

Yes. I envisage some sticky backed foam pads under the feet. Might lose
a bit of noise as well.

Just the way they are these days, it seems.

Also gives a wimpy 'zzz' as it fires up, not a proper 'WHUMP-Wooooo'

Oh well. It was not expensive.

regards

--
Tim Lamb

In message , Peter Parry
writes
On Mon, 6 Jun 2011 20:48:58 +0100, Tim Lamb
wrote:


Do I take the back off or is it junk? I have noted previous warnings
about high voltage capacitors.

Microwaves often have an internal fuse which is prone to random
failure, worth checking. You need to use a slow blow replacement as
the switch on surge is high.

OK.

Not sure about the benefits of a workshop microwave. Re-heated coffee?

regards


--
Tim Lamb

On Jun 6, 8:48*pm, Tim Lamb wrote:
After the recent thread on combination cookers our 15 year old Panasonic
died. Probably from shame at only ever having the grill used by accident
(makes a mess of plastic utensils) and the oven, never.

Power supply OK local fuse OK. Nothing on the display and no functions.

Do I take the back off or is it junk? I have noted previous warnings
about high voltage capacitors.

Also..

The replacement which is micro only weighs about 1/3rd. of the original.
I was a younger man when I lifted it on top of the fridge!
Claims to be an inverter model and has a curious feature as the *fan*??
starts and continues running after the cooked item is removed and the
door re-closed.

If this is necessary to cool the electronics they really ought to make
it clear because my wife is in the habit of leaving the door open (i.e.
fan off) to let the cooking steam disperse.

regards

Mirowaves are very fixable, but the HV cap can be lethal if
mishandled. Leakage shouldnt be an issue if the magnetron & door
aren't disturbed.


NT

In message
,
Tabby writes
On Jun 6, 8:48*pm, Tim Lamb wrote:
After the recent thread on combination cookers our 15 year old Panasonic
died. Probably from shame at only ever having the grill used by accident
(makes a mess of plastic utensils) and the oven, never.

Power supply OK local fuse OK. Nothing on the display and no functions.

Do I take the back off or is it junk? I have noted previous warnings
about high voltage capacitors.

Also..

The replacement which is micro only weighs about 1/3rd. of the original.
I was a younger man when I lifted it on top of the fridge!
Claims to be an inverter model and has a curious feature as the *fan*??
starts and continues running after the cooked item is removed and the
door re-closed.

If this is necessary to cool the electronics they really ought to make
it clear because my wife is in the habit of leaving the door open (i.e.
fan off) to let the cooking steam disperse.

regards

Mirowaves are very fixable, but the HV cap can be lethal if
mishandled. Leakage shouldnt be an issue if the magnetron & door
aren't disturbed.

Hmm.. The internal fuse is OK. Apart from jiggling connectors I have
made no progress.

regards
--
Tim Lamb

On Jun 6, 8:48*pm, Tim Lamb wrote:
After the recent thread on combination cookers our 15 year old Panasonic
died. Probably from shame at only ever having the grill used by accident
(makes a mess of plastic utensils) and the oven, never.

Power supply OK local fuse OK. Nothing on the display and no functions.

Do I take the back off or is it junk? I have noted previous warnings
about high voltage capacitors.

Also..

The replacement which is micro only weighs about 1/3rd. of the original.
I was a younger man when I lifted it on top of the fridge!
Claims to be an inverter model and has a curious feature as the *fan*??
starts and continues running after the cooked item is removed and the
door re-closed.

If this is necessary to cool the electronics they really ought to make
it clear because my wife is in the habit of leaving the door open (i.e.
fan off) to let the cooking steam disperse.

regards
--
Tim Lamb

I think the early ones had cavity magnetrons. (Same as they used for
radar equipment.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavity_magnetron