Re: Microwave oven arcing



On Dec 15, 11:02 am, "MikeC" <My_addr...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Folks,

I'm not sure if this isn't a bit banale for this group, so please direct me
elsewhere if I'm in the wrong place.

My microwave oven has lasted quite a long time (it must be heading for its
10th birthday). In the top of it, there is what appears to be a mica window
through which the UHF arrives. Intermittently (but getting more frequently)
it produces, on the magnetron side of this window, what looks, smells and
sounds like arcing - like a welding set. The light comes through the mica
window and lights up the inside of the oven quite brightly. It arcs for two
or three seconds then stops, and may start again after 10 seconds. The
problem has been there, then disappeared for three weeks, but it's back at
the moment.

I haven't taken it to bits yet, but can anybody tell me if they have had the
same experience, and whether it is even worth dismantling. If it's the
magnetron, how much do they cost? Ovens aren't very expensive, so would it
be worth repairing? It's quite a good one (Matsui 170TC, if you know it),
so it is worth more to me than a bottom-of-the-range replacement.

Incidentally, I started my carreer as a microwave engineer (S-band), though
I haven't been near that side of the business for a long time (in computer
storage now), but I'm aware of the consequences of running it with the
covers off, so please don't let that danger steer you to recommending a
replacement.

Many thanks,

MikeC


I've seen this before, a couple of times on my Panasonic over-the-stove
model microwave oven, only not on the mica window. The arcing I've
seen always happens at the HV anode of the magnetron, and it it usually
fatal. Since the microwave cost more than 2 times the replacement cost
(even in today's dollars), I have the magnetron replaced (total cost
for part + labor around US$75) versus a new 1200Watt over-the-stove
model starting at US$199. The problem is the buildup of grease and
cooking aromatics in-and-around the magnetron. It usually arcs when
the humidity gets high (that's the variable factor you might be looking
for). If it happens to me again, I'll ask my repairman to put alot of
HV silicone around the anode terminal.

If your microwave is a cheap ($50 - $70) microwave, it's a throw-away.
If it is a $150+ high power fancy model, consider replacing the
magnetron.

good luck
Tom P.

.

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