Microwave parts?
Pete Gaden
I have a Tricity Microwave which, despite being 10 years old has had
fairly little use and was performing well up until last week. The
Transformer sent out some nice smoke signals then gave up the ghost. I
decided it was not worth repairing and dashed out to buy a new one, only
to find a depraessing "advance" in the interface on just about all new
models on the market. I seem to be in the minority in wishing to key in
(say) "4 5 (start)" as most machine require at least "(time) 45 (start)"
for very basic models and "(vegetables) 200" or variants thereof for the
bigger beasties.... Does anyone know of supplier(s) for Microwave
parts in the South East? I know Microwave service is potentially
hazardous and that the capacitor is not as big as a baked bean can for
nothing, but if I dont touch the wave-guide or magnetron is there any
radiation danger/settup worries? Is the Magnetron likely to be on the
way out anyway, making a repair at this stage pointless?
Pete
Mungo Henning
A work colleague's microwave failed to rotate, hence she did the decent
and
sensible thing and bought a whole new microwave.
Knowing that it was the "record-turntable" motor that was jiggered, I
contacted a
local Microwave Repairer and asked to buy a spare motor.
"No can do Sir" said Mr Repairer
"Why?"
"Because only authorised repairers can repair microwave ovens" says he
"But it's only the blooming motor" said I
"Sorry. If the spares supplier found that I had sold it on to you, they
would
stop supplying me." said repairer.
"You do understand my concern" says I.
"Yes, but here's a compromise: you bring the microwave into my workshop,
You
fit the new motor, I check for leakage and charge you for the motor
alone."
"Done, says I"
And so the pantomime of me carrying a microwave ten yards into this
guy's
house-garage, taking the pozidrive screwdriver out of the back pocket,
releasing
two screws, fitting a new motor and then watching the guy run a wand
around the oven
occurred one Saturday morning.
It seemed to work okay in the end, and I was happy that the oven had
been
checked, and Mr Repairer was quite happy that he did get some cash...
In future, any microwave repairs will be sent to that kind (un-named)
gentleman.
Mungo
Mike Paley
In article: <34BA3B...@itacs.strath.ac.uk> Mungo Henning
<mun...@itacs.strath.ac.uk> writes:
:) A work colleague's microwave failed to rotate, hence she did the decent
:) and
:) sensible thing and bought a whole new microwave.
:) Knowing that it was the "record-turntable" motor that was jiggered, I
:) contacted a
:) local Microwave Repairer and asked to buy a spare motor.
:) "No can do Sir" said Mr Repairer
A friend threw a microwave oven out and I caught it. The turntable didn't
rotate, the bulb didn't light and it was either on or off, the "power"
settings didn't work.
In an hour, I'd fitted a bulb, a drive belt and my mum had cleaned it. The
following weekend I got 50 quid for it - FULLY working.
--
Comm again, Mike.
My friend used to go to parties on the moon. He stopped going, so I asked
him why and he replied. "They've got no atmosphere."
Ex Windows 95 user Ex Turnpike user.
More info.: http://www.paley.demon.co.uk/ [1998:01:10]
Mike Paley
In article: <34B9F3...@gatwick.geco-prakla.slb.com> Pete Gaden
<pe...@gatwick.geco-prakla.slb.com> writes:
:) I have a Tricity Microwave which, despite being 10 years old has had
:) fairly little use and was performing well up until last week. The
:) Transformer sent out some nice smoke signals then gave up the ghost. I
:) decided it was not worth repairing and dashed out to buy a new one, only
:) to find a depraessing "advance" in the interface on just about all new
:) models on the market. I seem to be in the minority in wishing to key in
:) (say) "4 5 (start)" as most machine require at least "(time) 45 (start)"
:) for very basic models and "(vegetables) 200" or variants thereof for the
:) bigger beasties....
Not really your original thoughts which I recommend you follow up, but if
you want a bog standard microwave, I will VERY HIGHLY recommend a Matsui
M161M. I got it as a cheapy jokie but as a microwave, it's FAR superior
as a basic microwave than a flashy Panasonic I also got. Although I've no
real complaints about that, just niggles that you can't tell what the oven
temp. is like an earlier model and that it doesn't use both heating
elements to heat the oven - I wangle it by setting it for oven+grill !
Phil Nettleton
Pete Gaden <pe...@gatwick.geco-prakla.slb.com> wrote in article
<34B9F3...@gatwick.geco-prakla.slb.com>...
I know Microwave service is potentially
> hazardous and that the capacitor is not as big as a baked bean can for
> nothing, but if I dont touch the wave-guide or magnetron is there any
> radiation danger/settup worries? Is the Magnetron likely to be on the
> way out anyway, making a repair at this stage pointless?
>
>
> Pete
> Dear Pete
I used to repair these for SEB
Before you go out and buy a transformer you first have to find out why it
burnt out in the first place,they dont usually fail for no reason
It may be the mag has already gone
your best bet is to get it looked at as this may work out cheaper in the
long run and as the capacator works with the transformer as a c/r circuit
the voltages are around 4to5Kv with more than enough current to give you an
appointment with the undertaker
If you are NOT sure leave it alone and dont run it with the cover off
I`ll make life longer
Phil
Simon Canfer
At around a hundred notes for a simple new microwave, I'd be tempted to
buy a new one.....
--
Simon
Yamaha XJ600S
Check return email address for anti-junk measures
Disclaimer: all views expressed are mine and not those of my employer
Frank Erskine
In article <851033...@paley.demon.co.yuk>, Mike Paley
<mi...@paley.demon.co.yuk> writes
>
>Not really your original thoughts which I recommend you follow up, but if
>you want a bog standard microwave, I will VERY HIGHLY recommend a Matsui
>M161M. I got it as a cheapy jokie but as a microwave, it's FAR superior
>as a basic microwave than a flashy Panasonic I also got. Although I've no
>real complaints about that, just niggles that you can't tell what the oven
>temp. is like an earlier model
Well, of course it doesn't *have* an oven temperature (unless it's an
oven & grill) - all the heating takes place in the nosh :-)
--
Frank Erskine
Sunderland
For the benefit of Spambots everywhere:
webmaster@localhost
abuse@localhost
postmaster@localhost
Frank Erskine
In article <634384...@paley.demon.co.yuk>, Mike Paley
<mi...@paley.demon.co.yuk> writes
>A friend threw a microwave oven out and I caught it. The turntable didn't
>rotate, the bulb didn't light and it was either on or off, the "power"
>settings didn't work.
>In an hour, I'd fitted a bulb, a drive belt and my mum had cleaned it.
And why couldn't *you* have cleaned it?!
I suppose Mums are designed for that type of work...
> The
>following weekend I got 50 quid for it - FULLY working.
>
I hope Mum got her share of the 50 quid...
Cheers -
Mike Paley
In article: <HvVdLoApN$u0E...@g3wte.demon.co.uk> Frank Erskine
<fr...@g3wte.demon.co.uk> writes:
:) And why couldn't *you* have cleaned it?!
:)
:) I suppose Mums are designed for that type of work...
:) > The
:) >following weekend I got 50 quid for it - FULLY working.
:) >
:) I hope Mum got her share of the 50 quid...
:)
I think having me for a son is quite enough.
Mike Paley
In article: <9O2DzMAn...@g3wte.demon.co.uk> Frank Erskine
<fr...@g3wte.demon.co.uk> writes:
:) Well, of course it doesn't *have* an oven temperature (unless it's an
:) oven & grill) - all the heating takes place in the nosh :-)
:)
Or just a convection oven cum micro.
Wookey
In article <01bd1fba$8a0e1a00$78022cc3@default>, Phil Nettleton
<URL:mailto:phil...@mcmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Pete Gaden <pe...@gatwick.geco-prakla.slb.com> wrote in article
> <34B9F3...@gatwick.geco-prakla.slb.com>...
> I know Microwave service is potentially
> > hazardous and that the capacitor is not as big as a baked bean can for
> > nothing, but if I dont touch the wave-guide or magnetron is there any
> > radiation danger/settup worries? Is the Magnetron likely to be on the
> > way out anyway, making a repair at this stage pointless?
I used the Sci.electronics 'microwave repair FAQ' (search the web). It's an
extremely informative document. tells you how to build a resistor on a stick
to discharge the cap so you don't kill youself and all about how microwaves
work. The problem is that it can be hard to suss whats goin on as you can't
easily test anything whilst it's running (most instruments won't take 4Kv). I
built a voltage divider out of suitably high V resitors.
I bought a replacement magnetron from Seme (you have to pretend to be trade,
but can pay by CC). CPC didn't stock one for mine (or at least I'm pretty
sure they did but didn't have a suitable cross-reference and weren't very
interested in sorting it out). In fact there was nothing wrong with the
magnetron - it was the capacitor which was fine at 250V, but shorted at 2KV,
but I'd put the diode back in the wrong way after replacing the cap so it
still had exactly the same fault ;-(
So, if I'd sent it to a repair man he'd have found the first prob and charged
me about 10-15 quid, but this way I get to find out all about microwaves,
and have a spare magnetron handy, for an extra 40 quid.... Oh, and we had no
microwave for 3 months whilst I traced the bits....I suspect this is a
sign of terminal DIY enthusiasm :-)
one little warning. Everyone insisted that there was no such microwave when I
read them the part number off the circuit diag inside. Eventually a man from
Panasonic tech support said to look for tiny writing on the keypad. He was
right that had exactly the same number with the last suffix letter changed.
Suddenly everyone could find one of those!! (serious lake of imagination
displayed by CPC, Seme & panasonic support/sales depts)
Wookey
--
Aleph One Ltd, Bottisham, CAMBRIDGE, CB5 9BA, UK Tel (00 44) 1223 811679
work: http://www.aleph1.co.uk/ play: http://www.chaos.org.uk/~wookey/
Gary
In article <851033...@paley.demon.co.yuk>, mi...@paley.demon.co.yuk
says...
> Not really your original thoughts which I recommend you follow up, but if
> you want a bog standard microwave, I will VERY HIGHLY recommend a Matsui
> M161M. I got it as a cheapy jokie but as a microwave, it's FAR superior
> as a basic microwave than a flashy Panasonic I also got. Although I've no
> real complaints about that, just niggles that you can't tell what the oven
> elements to heat the oven - I wangle it by setting it for oven+grill !
>
> Comm again, Mike.
>
> My friend used to go to parties on the moon. He stopped going, so I asked
> him why and he replied. "They've got no atmosphere."
>
> Ex Windows 95 user Ex Turnpike user.
>
> More info.: http://www.paley.demon.co.uk/ [1998:01:10]
>
>
I would not recomend a MATSUI anything. As you regular readers Know i was
in to repairs of domestic equipment.
Never get a Dixons/Curries or any other own brand on the expectation
that they are comparable to the more expensive 'Proper brands'.
Very occasionaly they are but normaly they are made down to the price.
I had a 14 year old toshiba 14" tv come in with duff scan coils. cost of
part £35. Plus fitting, a good tv repaired for £55.
I had a 13 month old Matsui 14" with duff coils. Cost of coils £110 +
P&P. Not bad set but not very good. £130 to replace with new set.
I think the original poster said it with 'I got it as a cheapy jokie'.
My point. Look at price of 'Own Brand' Never belive the salesman who says
'it is the same as'. If you are happy with the preformance and are
not worried about getting it repaired then buy it and enjoy.
--
Gary
Facts are good.
My Thoughts. Not Everest.
UK.
Mike Paley
In article: <ant15165...@chewy.aleph1.co.uk> Wookey
<woo...@bigfoot.com> writes:
:) but this way I get to find out all about microwaves,
:) and have a spare magnetron handy
Should have left it in and doubled the power of the microwave !
Mike Paley
In article: <MPG.f26febd7...@news.compuserve.com>
10620...@compuserve.com (Gary) writes:
:) Just a thought.
:) I would not recomend a MATSUI anything. As you regular readers Know i
was
:) in to repairs of domestic equipment.
Neither would I normally. But this microwave outperforms a Panasonic combi
oven. I got a Matsui or some other cheapy jokie VHS video - well VHS is
cheapy jokie anyway, so what's the point of getting anything expensive ? I
chose that for it's connectors o the back. Again it's been "surprisingly"
reliable. It is a two speed video, but audio is crap on LP.
:)
:) Never get a Dixons/Curries or any other own brand on the expectation
:) that they are comparable to the more expensive 'Proper brands'.
:) Very occasionaly they are but normaly they are made down to the price.
2 out of 2 Hitachi products have been failures. First was a casette
recorder which lasted a year +/- 7 days and a tv. I insisted on seeing the
tv working bbefore purchase to check the picture was straight, in focus,
lines were vertical/horizontal and not bent and that the colours were all
where they should be within tolerances.
I failed to spot the yellow corner :( and the damn thing turns itself on
every 24 hours for 2 minutes. Oh, unless you're watching it of course, then
it switches off ! If I could find the clock in it, I'd cut it's power
supply !
:)
:) I had a 14 year old toshiba 14" tv come in with duff scan coils. cost of
:) part ?35. Plus fitting, a good tv repaired for ?55.
:) I had a 13 month old Matsui 14" with duff coils. Cost of coils ?110 +
:) P&P. Not bad set but not very good. ?130 to replace with new set.
:)
:) I think the original poster said it with 'I got it as a cheapy jokie'.
:)
I suspect it has more to do with what day of the week it was built.
Mike Paley
In article: <34bb0ca3.14216809@burton> gan...@mpc-data.co.uk (Graham
Anstey) writes:
:) I bought one a few days ago. There are two controls; power, and time.
:) All you have to do is twiddle the timer to the correct setting. I know
:) its 'analogue' and you had a 'digital' one, but it is nice and easy to
:) use.
Like the Matsui M161M I suggested. Far better than the digital ones. And
there's no need to be deceived by the labels of the controls.