how to check microwave fuse
The microwave oven does not work. As expected, it was a blown fuse. My mom's microwave oven stopped heating. The thermal fuse cannot be reset—if the fuse is blown, it must be replaced. If it still does nothing, it needs service. To test them, set your multimeter dial to the continuity test if present, with the symbol))). Look for the fuse inside the exposed controls of the microwave. You’ll have to do some disassembly to get to the fuse. Check if a fuse is blown or a circuit breaker is tripped. You might be running too many appliances on the same circuit, or the oven could be defective. if you are not sure which one it is, we can help! I have a lot of these fuses at my shop and right away I replaced it with an intact one. Then using your ohmmeter, check to see if you have continuity across the fuse. If you’re adventurous enough to open up your microwave oven and replace a blown fuse, you could be in for a bigger challenge. Once off, you should see the fuse, remove it. To determine if the thermal fuse has blown, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. Turn the microwave oven so that its rear is accessible. Usually, the microwave fuse holder is located in the vicinity of where the power cord is attached internally. Using a small screwdriver the fuse should be easily snapped out of the holder. If while protecting the microwave oven a fuse gets blown or melts, it will need to be replaced. You need to test whether the ceramic fuse has blown. To determine if the thermal fuse has blown, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. The power cord will lead to the fuse holder. I have a GE Profile built-in microwave oven, model JE2160SF01. To determine if a ceramic fuse is blown, test it with an ohmmeter. I have a GE JVM1650WH05 microwave that blows the internal 20A fuse. In blown fuses, the readings are much higher or infinite. Start with what’s obvious and easy to check. If you just simply replace the fuse, there is a good chance the fuse will blow again. The new fuse must have the same ampere rating as the original; one with too low a rating will blow immediately, and one with a higher rating won’t stop dangerous current. Website operating Microwaves nearly always use a 250v 20a fuse. Here, you are likely to find a metallic plate secured with screws. If you have a blown fuse, take a look at the other circuitry without touching it. Use the covered tip to gently scrape the fuse surfaces. Then use gator clips to put the diode in a series circuit with the battery to test the voltage. If the fuse failed when opening or closing your microwave’s door, check for a shorted monitor switch. Tried fuse, it does not blow untill cooking starts. Step 2 - Locate and Test the Microwave Ceramic Fuse The fuse holder clips are comprised of mild spring steel and should not be bent. If you don’t know a capacitor from a caster, leave the matter to a professional. A blown glass fuse will produce flash burn marks on nearby surfaces, or it will be completely black on the inside. It worked fine for a few years. If your microwave oven blows a fuse, there are a couple possible causes. If not, the problem is more likely a circuit breaker than the oven. Set all the screws aside. We welcome your comments and If the ohmmeter reads zero ohms, your fuse is fine. If your microwave oven suddenly stops working, the problem may be the fuse. The fuse is located in a small receptacle with two wires running to it. Testing a ceramic fuse is the only way to tell if the fuse has blown. Secure the microwave back cover and tighten its screws. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. We’ll be happy to get your appliances working again. A homeowner can determine if a glass fuse in blown by performing a visual inspection and looking for a break in the thin wire and a brown discoloration in the center of the fuse. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Ceramic fuses give no outward signs of having blown. Your microwave may have two types of fuse. Test the fuse resistance: For this, use a dry cloth wrapped around the tip of a flat head screwdriver. Put a microwave-safe cup of water in, and run the oven for fifteen seconds. Their exact location depends on your model, but check … It appears ... Troubleshooting a nukular oven that no longer heats. If a continuity tester indicates continuity when you touch its lead to the ends of the fuse, it’s good. The ceramic fuse will be found near the power cord. The main capacitor holds a very high voltage, and it needs time to discharge. Simply insert it within its dedicated slot in the fuse holder. Generally speaking, the water should start to boil around the time your minute of cooking is up. Reassemble the oven and plug it in. To check the fuse, first disconnect power then remove the case by removing screws around the edge of the back. Along with glass fuses, ceramic fuses are among the most commonly used fuses in household electrical appliances. If the fuse is open, then the next step is determining what caused the fuse to blow. If the fuse seems stuck, use pliers for this. If you’re learning, be sure you have expert supervision, and follow all instructions. You can do this by removing the plug. In my case, the replacement of the fuse fixed the issue. Make sure to wear rubber gloves. The thermal fuse cuts off power to the microwave if the microwave overheats. Fred's ApplianceNovember 12, 2016ServiceLeave a Comment. If the meter reading shows … It should give a reading of zero or thereabouts. Simple repairs such as this aren’t a problem if you have basic electrical skills. Most microwave fuses do not look any different after they are blown. A microwave oven is prone to short-circuiting caused by severe voltage fluctuations. If your oven is not heating or powering on then you should test the thermal fuse for continuity to see if it is good or bad. The fuse holder clips are comprised of mild spring steel and should not be bent. If the room is a bit dark, use a flashlight. Checking the fuse Start with what’s obvious and easy to check. View our Privacy Policy here. Microwave blows fuse - it's not the diode, capacitor or magnetron. It’s easy to tell if a glass fuse is blown; it will show scorch marks, and the filament will be melted. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Make sure not to induce too much pressure or you might harm the conducting surface of the fuse. If the control display comes on, you’ve replaced the fuse successfully. Remove all the connecting power cords of the microwave. Unlike glass fuses, those ceramic fuses called "current-limiting fuses" are very fast-acting, filled with sand that melts into glass shall a fault occur, which is an insulator, thus opening the electrical circuit. Unplug the appliance and check if the outlet is delivering power. If the fuse failed, but you can’t see an obvious reason why, check the major components such as the magnetron, high voltage diode, capacitor and transformer, and the associated wire terminals before you rush to replace the fuse. The outlet may have an unreliable connection, or another component may have failed. suggestions. Don’t attempt the job if you aren’t comfortable with it. This is an indication that there’s a blown fuse in the microwave. To determine if the thermal fuse has blown, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. All information is provided "AS IS." You can congratulate yourself on a job well done. Check the microwave’s manual if you don’t know how to … Order new capacitor, simple installation. Be careful not to touch any electrical parts or interior metal objects. It is better that you take the blown fuse to an electrical supply store to get an exact replacement. Just as most homes are equipped with fuses or circuit breakers, microwave ovens also have fuses that short out or blow in the event of an overload. Set your multimeter to Rx1 and touch the probes to the fuse’s terminals. With an ohmmeter or multimeter, you should see a reading close to zero ohms if the fuse is intact, or infinite if it’s blown. The Procedure for Testing the Diode, or Rectifier, of Your Magnetron: Get a nine-volt battery and insert the readers of your voltmeter as a standard. If they are operating properly, test … Plug in a lamp at the same outlet and see if it gets power. If you see damaged electrical components, replacing the fuse won’t do any good and could create a hazard. The thermal fuse cannot be reset—if the fuse is blown, it must be replaced. Once you have removed the fuse from the microwave, touch the probes of your multimeter to each terminal of the part. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent If all goes well, it will run fine with the new fuse. Sand-filled ceramic fuses also have a higher breaking point since sand can sustain the extra heat to a greater extent. The internal fuse wire (filament) will be melted and blackened. For more difficult ones, get in touch with Fred’s Appliance. problems contact
[email protected]. Ideally, you should turn off the main electrically supply. It may be a glass fuse with a filament, or a ceramic fuse. A ceramic fuse, however, shows no damage upon visual inspection. Okay guys, so in our bathroom, we have a double switch plate. The microwave oven seemed to be operating fine a few days ago, so why did it suddenly stop working? You don’t need tools to install the new fuse. To do this, use a voltmeter/ohmmeter. This is necessary for ceramic fuses since they don’t develop a blackened appearance like blown glass fuses. Using a small screwdriver the fuse should be easily snapped out of the holder. BE SURE TO UNPLUG MICROWAVE AND DISCHARGE CAPACITOR BEFORE WORKING ON ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. If a thermal fuse is blown, you'll need to … another new fuse and all is good and cooking again. And if it blows the fuse for your kitchen, there also is a likely cause for that. Listen for the multimeter to beep continuously as you hold the probes against the Place your meter leads on the ends of the diode and you should see a quick rise and fall on your meter. If the fuse does not have continuity, replace it. Some of the fuses may not carry a voltage or amperage labeling. Otherwise, set it to the lowest Ohm setting. Recently it quit heat... How to test and replace vanity light fixture? Leave the oven unplugged for at least fifteen minutes before opening it up. Remove the microwave’s cabinet, locate the fuse, and remove it in order to test it for continuity. Even an unplugged microwave oven may contain high voltages and could give you a dangerous shock. The microwave went dead. The thermal fuse cannot be reset—if the fuse is blown, it must be replaced. However, this is dependent on several factors, including the material of the mug, the amount of water in the mug and the wattage of the microwave. 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