Over-Used Microwave?
May 27, 2023 07:33:03 #
I noticed my microwave was making a rumbling noise, and I wondered what was going on. Like most microwaves, the plate revolves when it operates. Over the years, the wheels on the turntable wore through the metal "floor," and they stumble as they encounter these holes. I wonder if I'm the only one whose microwave has worn holes in the base. It's a Farberware, just a few days over five years old. The light never worked consistently, and there seems to be no way to get to the bulb. The manual says nothing about it.
Maybe I can repair the floor with fiberglass. Maybe the microwaves would set the fiberglass on fire.
As you probably know, there are powerful electronics inside a microwave oven. People have removed them and either died as a result, or they puts the parts to good use. I'm not going to take any chances.
Crazy - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=using+microwave+parts
Time to go shopping.
EDIT: Side note - Most of the world's microwave ovens are made by one company in China. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSrVG74Emyk
Maybe I can repair the floor with fiberglass. Maybe the microwaves would set the fiberglass on fire.
As you probably know, there are powerful electronics inside a microwave oven. People have removed them and either died as a result, or they puts the parts to good use. I'm not going to take any chances.
Crazy - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=using+microwave+parts
Time to go shopping.
EDIT: Side note - Most of the world's microwave ovens are made by one company in China. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSrVG74Emyk
May 27, 2023 07:46:41 #
I never experience such a problem. The problem with the microwave is either
1. It has problem relatively young with the display, push buttons and controls board.
2. The magnetron wears out with use and no longer generate enough microwave to be useful.
I never had mechanical wear on a microwave that makes it fails.
A material is transparent to microwave it will let the microwave goes thru with no effect on it.
A material is reflective to microwave (like metal) will reflect the microwave energy back
A material that absorbs microwave will take the engergy from the microwave and gets hot. (like the food and water)
Now I don't know but I think the glass fiber will let microwave goes thru and not getting hot but the resin may absorb the microwave and gets hot.
1. It has problem relatively young with the display, push buttons and controls board.
2. The magnetron wears out with use and no longer generate enough microwave to be useful.
I never had mechanical wear on a microwave that makes it fails.
A material is transparent to microwave it will let the microwave goes thru with no effect on it.
A material is reflective to microwave (like metal) will reflect the microwave energy back
A material that absorbs microwave will take the engergy from the microwave and gets hot. (like the food and water)
Now I don't know but I think the glass fiber will let microwave goes thru and not getting hot but the resin may absorb the microwave and gets hot.
May 27, 2023 07:49:36 #
BebuLamar wrote:
I never experience such a problem. The problem wit... (show quote)
I think it's time to replace rather than repair.
May 27, 2023 07:52:59 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I think it's time to replace rather than repair.
Oh by the way you asked whether your microwave oven is over used? I think not. Because if you use the microwave oven a lot it's the magnetron that is going. That is the microwave still work but generate very little heat. The magnetron wears out with use. This is quite predictable if you keep track of the number of hours use. I used to maintain microwave powered UV lamp for curing.
May 27, 2023 07:57:00 #
BebuLamar wrote:
Oh by the way you asked whether your microwave oven is over used? I think not. Because if you use the microwave oven a lot it's the magnetron that is going. That is the microwave still work but generate very little heat. The magnetron wears out with use. This is quite predictable if you keep track of the number of hours use. I used to maintain microwave powered UV lamp for curing.
We really don't use it all that much, but I guess that was a weak point. Plastic wore a hole in metal.
I wonder if the wheels are smaller than they used to be. I wonder if there was a maintenance schedule I should have been following. "Lubricate wheels after every ten hours of operation." May 27, 2023 08:02:26 #
jerryc41 wrote:
We really don't use it all that much, but I guess that was a weak point. Plastic wore a hole in metal. I wonder if the wheels are smaller than they used to be. I wonder if there was a maintenance schedule I should have been following. "Lubricate wheels after every ten hours of operation."
I wonder if the wheels are smaller than they used to be. I wonder if there was a maintenance schedule I should have been following. "Lubricate wheels after every ten hours of operation." If the microwave is built properly there is no maintenance. It should work fine until the magnetron wears out. In the microwave oven the magnetron is considered the consumable parts but replacing it is too expensive so the life of the microwave oven should be the same as the life of the magnetron. Just like your ink jet printer the life of the printer should be the life of the print head. Nothing should fail before that.
May 27, 2023 08:11:44 #
[quote=jerryc41]I noticed my microwave was making a rumbling noise, and I wondered what was going on.
“Time to go shopping. “
Exactly!
We have an old Maytag that came with the house. August will be 17 years. It was seemingly old when we moved in but it has served us well since we moved in. Light still works as does everything else.
(Note: i probably just jinxed ourselves by revealing that.)
Don’t know about yours but it does seem like you need a new one.
Good Luck!
“Time to go shopping. “
Exactly!
We have an old Maytag that came with the house. August will be 17 years. It was seemingly old when we moved in but it has served us well since we moved in. Light still works as does everything else.
(Note: i probably just jinxed ourselves by revealing that.)
Don’t know about yours but it does seem like you need a new one.
Good Luck!
May 27, 2023 08:35:07 #
Schoee
Loc: Europe
jerryc41 wrote:
I noticed my microwave was making a rumbling noise... (show quote)
I would not take any chances. Probably leaking microwaves through the holes. Buy a new one.
May 27, 2023 08:38:44 #
From my experience most microwave ovens and small appliances are designed to be replaced and not repaired when they fail.
May 27, 2023 08:48:39 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I noticed my microwave was making a rumbling noise... (show quote)
We have a Whirlpool Gold microwave that is 18 years old. We purchased our home in 2012, but it was built in 2005. All the appliances were installed when it was built in 2005. It has some terrific features. As an example, it has a "fresh vegetable" button, that cooks via a sensor and keeps vegetables crispy but cooked. All features, and there are many, still work perfectly. I'm sure the cost of Whirlpool Gold appliances was not "cheap". I'm delighted the original owners did not skip on appliances. This seem to be the new equivalent:https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-1-1-cu-ft-Built-in-Microwave-with-Standard-Trim-Kit/5001836419
Mark
May 27, 2023 08:51:30 #
I prefer a microwave without any fancy features. Just a timer and in inverter based variable power control. Because the microwave doesn't do anything more except setting the time and power level. I prefer to do that manually. And inverter based power control can actually varies the power. Otherwise low lever mean on a a few seconds and off for a few seconds at full on and full off.
May 27, 2023 09:05:37 #
I’ve seen where people have removed the transformer and built a spot welder. I’ve wanted to strip the magnets out of the magnetron.
May 27, 2023 09:08:51 #
GreenReaper wrote:
I’ve seen where people have removed the transformer and built a spot welder. I’ve wanted to strip the magnets out of the magnetron.
I found some how the magnets from the magnetron are very strong but after I took them out for a while they got weak in rather short time. I am not sure why. I used to maintain microwave powered UV lamp that had 2 3000W magnetrons. I generally had to replace the magnetrons once every 6 months or so. So I ended up with a lot of magnets but they went weak so fast.
May 27, 2023 10:09:26 #
Schoee
Loc: Europe
Did you know the microwave frequency is chosen to target the O-H bond in water. That is what it vibrates and so heats. Works also on other things but not so efficiently. Most food contains water so it works well
May 27, 2023 20:43:56 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I noticed my microwave was making a rumbling noise... (show quote)
I hope you're not thinking of putting those parts to good use to become the new Inspector Gadget there Jerry!
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