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Facing a broken microwave? Buttons not working? Do not rush to call a specialist. Try to check the outlet to which you connect the device. To do this, turn on an electric kettle or any other device that consumes electricity. This will eliminate at least one item from the list and get one step closer to understanding why the microwave does not work.
Easily Fixable Microwave Problems
Sometimes the technique does not work due to external factors that are easy to fix.
Low voltage
One of the reasons for the failure of the microwave may be low mains voltage. Your household appliances will stop functioning properly if it is less than 220 V.
In this case, individual functions may even continue to work normally: the display shows the time, the saucer rotates, and the light inside the chamber is on. In this case, the food will not be heated.
Solution – connect the device to the network through an uninterruptible power supply.
Wrong mode selected
The funniest and most common reason can be setting the wrong mode. Check if you are trying to reheat food in defrost mode. So the question is: “Why doesn’t it start?” – may disappear at this stage.
Network reboot
The last easily eliminated reason for the failure of a microwave oven is network overload. This happens when several powerful devices (electric kettle and TV) are connected to one outlet at once. The solution lies on the surface: connect no more than one device to the outlet.
Troubleshooting inside the microwave
To start troubleshooting inside a microwave oven, you need to stock up on courage and tools. To dismantle the protective screen, a flat or Phillips screwdriver is usually used, and in extremely rare cases, pliers (not all covers are easy to remove by hand).
Be sure to unplug the device and prepare a clean work surface before removing the screen.
Fuse failure
After disassembling the microwave, first check the fuses. Most manufacturers, includingSamsung», LG, «Burning” and “Panasonic», produce microwave ovens with two pre-installed fuses. If they turn black or the internal filament inside is burnt out, replace them. Ideally, they should be with a thick wire inside.
Important! Before you go shopping for new fuses, take your old fuses with you. You can show them to the seller so that he picks up similar ones. Their average cost in the market is 60 rubles.
Most often, fuses fail due to a voltage drop.
Capacitor failure
A preliminary diagnosis of a “capacitor failure” can be made for a microwave oven if, during operation, a squeak or a slight crackle is heard from it. The final diagnosis is made using an ohmmeter. Attach it to the capacitor: if its arrow deviates, it is serviceable, and if not, it is broken.
Common causes of capacitor failure:
- Physical deterioration.
- Failure after power surge.
What to do in this case? If your capacitor is broken, get a new one from the market or contact a technical service.
High voltage diode failure
What can break down if, when you turn it on, you simultaneously hear a squeak and a smell of burning? It’s a burnt high voltage diode.
Checking a high-voltage diode is not an easy procedure even for professionals. Because of this, they prefer not to carry it out at all, replacing the burned-out element with a new one at the slightest suspicion of a malfunction.
At home, you can check the health of the diode like this:
- Turn on the microwave and set the mode of heating food.
- Wait 10-20 seconds and unplug.
- If the diode heats up during the operation of the microwave, then the problem is in it.
If the diode in your microwave oven is burned out, broken, or crumbled, replace it with another one. You can buy this item on the market at a price of 80 rubles.
Damaged magnetron
Failed to find problems in the main part of the circuit? It’s time to move on to the diagnosis of the magnetron. Perhaps he is not showing signs of life.
The magnetron is the heart of any microwave oven. It is directly involved in the generation of microwaves when the electron flow interacts with the electric component of the microwave field in space.
How to determine that the magnetron is out of order? Very simple. Listen for the hum while the microwave is running. If it is, there is a high probability that this part of the device has stopped working. Confirm your guess by examining the magnetron. If cracks or black soot are visible on its surface, the problem is in it.
The old magnetron can be easily replaced with a new one by disconnecting the plugs from it and unscrewing the bolts. The new device is installed in place of the old one, fixed in the grooves and screwed to the body. Further, plugs are attached to it (snap into contacts). Installation completed.
Since the magnetron is a key element of any microwave oven, its cost will be corresponding. A new one can be purchased on the market at a price of 1 rubles.
Door breakage
If the door in the microwave is broken, take it to a technical service. It will be extremely difficult for you to fix it yourself, especially if the latch is broken or the glass is broken.
With bent hinges, the doors are a little easier. Even with minimal skill, they can be easily changed to others. The only problem is that finding the right loops is extremely difficult.
Control panel failure
How to check if the microwave control panel has stopped working? It breaks extremely rarely and mainly due to the negligence of the owners. They are made strong enough to withstand several powerful blows. But if the panel does break, you can’t do without the help of a specialist.
Repair of the electrical circuits of which it consists requires special skills and tools, which we will discuss in the next article.