It's a Sharp 1200W model, and I see that replacements of this size/capacity don't go cheap ... usually they're hovering in the $175-200 range when new.

It was working fine, then without warning when I went to use it last night, it now makes a LOT of noise when turned on (sounds like it normally does when you use it, just a lot louder) and does not heat. I'm pretty sure the turntable is turning though. (It's harder to tell because the inside bulb blew some years ago, and I was able to open it up and replace the bulb, but then when it blew again, I finally gave up on it.)

Apparently when they do this, it's usually either the diode or the magnetron; the former being cheap and the latter not so much, such that if it's the latter, I'd probably be better off buying new or even used.

What say you all?

---

Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Your national retailer depends on your online purchases.

Although really you could just buy a used one locally from FB Marketplace or Craigslist if cost is a concern.

There are only a few variants of magnetron designs for consumer microwaves...but even off ebay most seem to be ~$50, so I'd just buy a new microwave.

They can be very cheap used...e.g. ~$50 form the used appliance dealer here for a refurb OTR microwave.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2021 04:09PM by Bill in NC.

PeterB,

Assuming it's countertop? Countertop models are rarely worth repairing. It'll probably cost more than it's currently worth just to have someone look at it, let alone repair it. Over the range models are a different beast entirely. If it's an over the range model, then it might be worth having someone check it out. Depends on the age and model. Some of them run into the hundreds of dollars brand-new (without installation), so it might be cost effective to have it serviced and repair. A countertop model? Nope. Not worht it at all these days.

Robert

Thanks folks. Yes, indeed this is a countertop model. I just checked my receipt, and it's 11 years old ... which, for a microwave, is apparently a decent run (considering how disposable electronics have become).

That being said, I like this guy's attitude: [www.youtube.com]

Now, the question is ... do I want one of those 1990's microwaves you all were drooling over?: [forums.macresource.com]

---

Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

PeterB,
gotta say it's probably not worth it.

I can personally recommend the Panasonic NN-SN67HS, checks all the boxes.

• 1200W
• 1.2cf
• Inverter (true power regulation)
• Sensor cooking
• Stainless Steel

It's $120 @ Target [www.target.com]
but can frequently be purchased for < $80 on sale with various Target promotions.

---

39°36'17"N 75°44'43"W

DuckDuckGo
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DemComm Records 2021 Greatest Hits
includes:
Taxman by Joe & Nancy's Rich Ice Cream Band
The Humpty Dance by The Harris-Brown Hookup
Lets Spend The Night Together by The Fang-Swalwell Gang
Díaz-Canel Is A Friend of Ours by The AOC Squad
My Old Kentucky Retirement Home by MitchMcC & The Soggy Boxer Boys
Burning Down The House by Merrick & The Goons
Back In the USSR by Bernie's Red Square Trio

Seems like you might be passing up a golden opportunity to pop it open and cook yourself

---

Quote
MrNoBody
PeterB,
gotta say it's probably not worth it.

I can personally recommend the Panasonic NN-SN67HS, checks all the boxes.

• 1200W
• 1.2cf
• Inverter (true power regulation)
• Sensor cooking
• Stainless Steel

It's $120 @ Target [www.target.com]
but can frequently be purchased for < $80 on sale with various Target promotions.

Interesting ... the Target reviews aren't so spectacular though. A lot of folks complaining about it suffering an early death.

---

Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

[www.nytimes.com]

---

I would have replaced it after the bulb blew the first time.

---

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2021 05:05PM by bazookaman.

Quote
PeterB.
Interesting ... the Target reviews aren't so spectacular though. A lot of
folks complaining about it suffering an early death.

not really "A lot"...
Target: 4.2 Stars/80% would recommend

from Zoidberg's NYT link...

Quote
WireCutter -
Okay, not all microwaves are carbon copies of one another. Panasonic
still makes some of its own ovens, and the models with inverters are
really good, including the midsize Panasonic NN-SN67HS. In our testing,
it heated faster and more evenly than every other microwave. We aren’t
convinced that the Panasonics will last any longer than the mass of cheap
Midea clones, and if you’re just making popcorn and reheating leftovers,
you might not notice the superior performance anyway.

---

39°36'17"N 75°44'43"W

DuckDuckGo
The search engine that doesn't track you.

DemComm Records 2021 Greatest Hits
includes:
Taxman by Joe & Nancy's Rich Ice Cream Band
The Humpty Dance by The Harris-Brown Hookup
Lets Spend The Night Together by The Fang-Swalwell Gang
Díaz-Canel Is A Friend of Ours by The AOC Squad
My Old Kentucky Retirement Home by MitchMcC & The Soggy Boxer Boys
Burning Down The House by Merrick & The Goons
Back In the USSR by Bernie's Red Square Trio

Quote
bazookaman
I would have replaced it after the bulb blew the first time.

Ehhh, the bulb replacement wasn't so bad ... the hardest part was getting the damned thing open.

Turns out I have a spare (used) microwave, so no urgency in replacing the dead one. The spare is only a 1.1 cf and 1100W though, so not quite as roomy or powerful, and it's a GE ... so lord knows how long it'll last.

---

Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

PeterB,

One key thing about microwaves is making sure its interior is large enough to hold your favorite plate and/or microwave-safe cookware. Know someone who bought one that had rave reviews. Forgot to check the interior specs. Had to return it when he discovered his favorite Corningware cooking dish would go in but not turn when the plate turned. Found a near identical model from a different brand. He remembered to bring in a cardboard sizer for his favorite plates, pie plate and cooking dish. Everything fit perfectly. Bought it. Done. I believe the first was a Sharp. The second a Kenmore.

Robert

This is the one you want

[www.youtube.com]

Quote
mattkime
Seems like you might be passing up a golden opportunity to pop it open and cook yourself

yeah, don't mess with microwaves unless you know how to check for microwave leaks

Quote
PeterB

... Turns out I have a spare (used) microwave, ...

TECHNOLOGY CRISIS AVERTED!

But start trolling Goodwill just the same.

We bought an older Panny inverter a few years ago when our overhead model died. It was OK but the button to open the door took a little too much effort to press. The whole thing could be scooted across the counter.

When we moved we took the oven but stored it. I think my mother in law now uses it, despite having her own counter top micro she left here in the basement. Maybe two of them actually. Stacked on top of the wood stove I need to get rid of.

Shortly after we moved into this place I brought with me a craigslist micro and dishwasher. Each were $40. Or maybe they were $40 for both. The dishwasher's fine but the micro has a broken display ... all we use it for is the 30-sec function. Want a 90 seconds? Three presses of the 30 second button.

.....wave......of destruction.....

---

_____________________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

The funny thing is that I got the spare (used) microwave off of Nextdoor (safer than Craigslist, IMHO) ... well before the pandemic hit, I had planned on bringing it into the lab to use it there as a spare, but the pandemic changed those plans too. It's a 2006 (!) GE which definitely needs cleaning, I'm open to ideas on how best to clean these things.

And funny that Robert M. should bring up the issue of interior space. One of the microwaves I currently have in the lab is this one -- which is just a great design, but apparently Samsung stopped making them:



(not as powerful as I'd like, but the design is really convenient...)

---

Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Bought a new Sharp from Best Buy (I know) for just under a hundred dollars. It's probably a little smaller and weaker than the former Sharp, but the new one doesn't cause the electrical outlet to give off sparks and smoke, and it heats food. Does the rotate thing for 1100 W and probably the 1.1 or so cu ft.

Have several old microwaves in the lab which I used to use to melt agar etc but not doing old fashioned pcr's for a while.

Toshiba 1.5 cubit foot convection microwave in stainless steel is $190

You kids these days!

You got it easy.

Why in my day, my Litton weighed near 50lbs and was only 600W.

I had to walk to the store and carry it home, in the snow and uphill, both ways.

It didn't have a turntable, keypad, presets, or clock!.

And it didn't slide on the counter when opening or closing the door.

It finally died last year, at 44yrs+ of faithful service.

I'll never see its like again, especially in reliability.

---

I am that Masked Man.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

I'll never see its like again, especially in reliability.
imho; that also applies to American cars, motorcycles, and Boeing aircraft!

---

39°36'17"N 75°44'43"W

DuckDuckGo
The search engine that doesn't track you.

DemComm Records 2021 Greatest Hits
includes:
Taxman by Joe & Nancy's Rich Ice Cream Band
The Humpty Dance by The Harris-Brown Hookup
Lets Spend The Night Together by The Fang-Swalwell Gang
Díaz-Canel Is A Friend of Ours by The AOC Squad
My Old Kentucky Retirement Home by MitchMcC & The Soggy Boxer Boys
Burning Down The House by Merrick & The Goons
Back In the USSR by Bernie's Red Square Trio

To clean a microwave put a large wet sponge or towel and let the microwave run for a few minutes to create a nice steam bath. Then use another wet towel or sponge to clean. Works pretty well.

Quote
deckeda

Quote
PeterB

... Turns out I have a spare (used) microwave, ...

TECHNOLOGY CRISIS AVERTED!

But start trolling Goodwill just the same.

I'm all for buying used stuff at Goodwill, but if it were me, there's no way I'd buy a used microwave oven from Goodwill. Lord knows why they got rid of it in the first place. I'm not going to take a chance on something that could possibly cook my innards if it's leaking and I happen to be standing nearby.

I suspect any repair will largely exceed the price of a new one.

We still have a Panasonic one at our house that is well over 20 years old. It was made in the USA and has been a work horse. I hope it NEVER breaks!

JPK

Quote
MrNoBody
I'll never see its like again, especially in reliability.
imho; that also applies to American cars, motorcycles, and Boeing aircraft!

Yeah, sure. Those Americars from the 1980's were epitomes of sound construction. And Boeings products 777, 737 Max have set benchmarks of performance.

Quote
rz

Quote
deckeda

Quote
PeterB

... Turns out I have a spare (used) microwave, ...

TECHNOLOGY CRISIS AVERTED!

But start trolling Goodwill just the same.

I'm all for buying used stuff at Goodwill, but if it were me, there's no way I'd buy a used microwave oven from Goodwill. Lord knows why they got rid of it in the first place. I'm not going to take a chance on something that could possibly cook my innards if it's leaking and I happen to be standing nearby.

Who told you that’s a risk?

I wouldn't think twice about buying a used microwave (obviously, I have) ... so long as it's thoroughly cleaned/disinfected before sale.

The steam idea to clean the inside -- I have one of those Angry Mama cleaner things, but have never found it worked particularly well in terms of cleaning.

On the other hand, the steam will probably kill most things inside the microwave, and if one is really concerned about such things (as might be legitimate if buying something during these corona times), one could also always use disinfectant sprays or wipes.

I've always found it difficult to clean microwaves, because of the stuck-on gunk that accumulates especially on the sides and inside top. And I do cover my food, too... usually what happens is the saran wrap gets melted and/or does not prevent things from splattering upwards.

---

Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

The method I use for cleaning the MW, you'll need an 8-12oz Pyrex type
MW safe glass bowl & adequate ventilation:
> Put 4oz white vinegar or clear ammonia and 4oz water in bowl.
(I use ammonia but lots of folks can't handle the odor.)
> Place in MW and heat @ full power for 1.5 to 2 minutes.
> Leave in MW for 5 minutes then open the door & allow to vent for a
few moments.
> Remove bowl and wipe out inside with clean towel or paper towels.

this type of bowl:

---

39°36'17"N 75°44'43"W

DuckDuckGo
The search engine that doesn't track you.

DemComm Records 2021 Greatest Hits
includes:
Taxman by Joe & Nancy's Rich Ice Cream Band
The Humpty Dance by The Harris-Brown Hookup
Lets Spend The Night Together by The Fang-Swalwell Gang
Díaz-Canel Is A Friend of Ours by The AOC Squad
My Old Kentucky Retirement Home by MitchMcC & The Soggy Boxer Boys
Burning Down The House by Merrick & The Goons
Back In the USSR by Bernie's Red Square Trio

Quote
rz

Quote
deckeda

Quote
PeterB

... Turns out I have a spare (used) microwave, ...

TECHNOLOGY CRISIS AVERTED!
But start trolling Goodwill just the same.

I'm all for buying used stuff at Goodwill, but if it were me, there's no way I'd buy a used microwave oven from Goodwill. Lord knows why they got rid of it in the first place. I'm not going to take a chance on something that could possibly cook my innards if it's leaking and I happen to be standing nearby.

The local used appliance dealer here buys when apartment complexes replace existing appliances (OTR microwaves, ranges, dishwashers, etc.) & refurbishes them before resale.