Any Electricians? Need help with Microwave.

J

J

OCCUPY LoD :)
So...wierd thing going on.

There it is...siting there with the clock working appropriately and waiting for me to put dinner in. It's like the lotto...you don't know when its gonna happen but it surprises you when it does. So almost everytime I open the door to the microwave, it trips the breaker. I have to walk way down the hallway and reset it. After reset it works fine until it sits and I use it again. Probably happens once a day if I use the microwave 3 times a day. I've tried pulling the door open fast, slow, making sure nothing is plugged into the wall outlets on the same circuit, etc. and nothing helps. I don't want to just condemn the microwave but I don't know where to go in order to test this. It seems the microwave maybe goes into a standby mode or something and when I open it, it powers up (even though I hear nothing, just see the inside light come on) and boom, turns off. No crazy noises or anything.

Its a Magic Chef above stove w/fan type.

Some direction would be great, any help is appreciated. :)
 
That's too much money! Lol, expecially when I plug it in and it does the EXACT same thing. You guys don't get my "thanks", no help at all, lol. The point is to save money, haha.
 
I fixed a microwave oven once that had a bad door switch.

There were 2 switches (for safety) that would turn the oven off when the door was opened. I'd check the operation of the switches, with the oven unplugged of course.

I think I just bypassed one of the switches (unsafe).:D

I just made sure that the oven was off before I opened the door.
 
Of the two, perfectly valid approaches here, I think Bill has the one you're looking for.

I'm going to write this like you may not have done this before, even though I'm quite certain that you have. Don't be offended, just covering my bases. :)

Unplug it, take it down, get some screwdrivers, ("but I'm all out of orange juice!") a voltmeter, and dig in.

Look for a microswitch (or two) by the door latches, and see what it takes to bypass them. keeping in mind that they usually have three contacts. They may be "closed" with the door closed, or "open" when the door is closed. just wire them up so it thinks the door is closed all the time, and you're golden.

Mostly. keep in mind that this is quite possibly indicative of a larger problem with the microwave. And why it is blowing the breaker, rather than an internal fuse is confusing, but far more convenient for you.

If you move forward with this project, Neither Michael Martin, nor the "Lincolns of Distinction" club, may be held responsible for you, or any other user of this microwave oven cooking your head, or something equivalently stupid.

Good luck. This post will self destruct within 5 seconds of your reading it.

A picture of what a microswitch might look like.
 

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J have you tried plugging something else into the outlet to see if it trips the breaker.
If it's the breaker just opening the door should not be a big draw, But I think I would try a 1500w portable heater if you have one.

If it's not the breaker as said above buy a new one. Did I really just say that?? The guy who just took the fridge apart and fixed it. LOL
 
billcu said:
I fixed a microwave oven once that had a bad door switch.

There were 2 switches (for safety) that would turn the oven off when the door was opened. I'd check the operation of the switches, with the oven unplugged of course.

I think I just bypassed one of the switches (unsafe).:D

I just made sure that the oven was off before I opened the door.
Click to expand...

Sweet Bill thanks. Oh....I get it, when you're cooking something, you made sure it was off before opening the door, lol. This sounds like the culprit.

steve said:
Call an electrician
Click to expand...

Pssh....read "Throw your money away and call someone else when I'm completely competent." No "thanks" for you. :p

tixer said:
Look for a microswitch (or two) by the door latches, and see what it takes to bypass them. keeping in mind that they usually have three contacts. They may be "closed" with the door closed, or "open" when the door is closed. just wire them up so it thinks the door is closed all the time, and you're golden.

Mostly. keep in mind that this is quite possibly indicative of a larger problem with the microwave. And why it is blowing the breaker, rather than an internal fuse is confusing, but far more convenient for you.
.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike...if you don't see me post for a few days....call 911. :wave:

Meister said:
..coming from someone who has bought how many Mark's this month?

Doug
Click to expand...

Oooh burn! Loan on one and the other was cheap! :p

Be2lose said:
J have you tried plugging something else into the outlet to see if it trips the breaker.

If it's the breaker just opening the door should not be a big draw, But I think I would try a 1500w portable heater if you have one.

If it's not the breaker as said above buy a new one. Did I really just say that?? The guy who just took the fridge apart and fixed it. LOL
Click to expand...

Barry...no, I haven't gone that far but good idea. Hmmm...what can I weld in the kitchen? :)

Lol....yeah, maybe I can have it apart when you come by and you can be my guinea pig. :D
 
LOL. I can take anything apart. It's putting back together that seems to be the problem. Those damn extra screws, how do they hide them inside to make you think you missed puting it back in?
 
Just hope the microwave doesn't turn into a money-pit.

I think we all have that one appliance that we fix... and fix... and fix again.

Mine is a Oreck vacuum. We call him Bob since he's lived here so long and has undergone numerous surgeries.
 
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