Ozzie D, NP-hard  Nov 7

What's the right way to dispose of a dead cavity magnetron?

Our over-the-range LG microwave oven went BZZT and died a couple of weeks ago. We bought and installed it around 2.5 years ago. The magnetron is technically covered by a 5-year warranty -- but that doesn't cover labor, so a professional repair would have cost more than a new microwave. Hence we ordered a replacement OEM part for $40, took down the damn thing (not the easiest task given the way I'd connected the exhaust vent), disassembled it and swapped the magnetron a few days ago. Works fine again now.

#HomeRepair #DIY #appliances

Show threadOzzie D, NP-hard  

My assumption is that the #magnetron died because it overheated. I figure that's a hazard for microwaves which live above a rangetop/oven. And although I cleaned its vent fan grilles every 1-2 months, a lot of dusty grease worked its way into every possible crevice (I spent as much time scraping crap out of the chassis as performing the part swap).

Today my partner said she remembered the last thing she'd made in the microwave before it died: popcorn. She uses one of those collapsible silicone bowls with a cover. That particular time, she'd added extra kernels to the bowl, and they popped so vigorously and voluminously that she remembers it pushed the lid up to the chamber ceiling, where it would have blocked the exhaust vent. So at least there may be a reason for the magnetron's early demise. Although it has its own temperature sensor running to the main board (see photo), but I guess it didn't help in this case, or my theory is wrong.

#appliances #microwave #repair

Nov 7 at 4:55amWeb
Show threadOzzie D, NP-hard  Nov 7
This LG microwave replaced a Kenmore model which also crapped out, but that one was probably 20 years old (we inherited it when we moved into our place) and had several other problems, including a dodgy door handle, and several buttons which no longer worked. I couldn't find all its replacement parts online, and didn't have time to go junkyard surfing, so we said goodbye and went to Costco. I don't really like our current LG very much, but it fit into the same footprint (most other comparable units were taller, and would have left us with less clearance to work with over the range).