modded my microwave oven

[Matt Gruber]

i had 2 complaints:
1. noisey fan
2. bell way too loud.
everyone knows how efficient micros are, how all the energy goes into the food, right?
so i disconnect the 17w fan.
i ran it <1 min w/cup of water in it.
WOW that sucker(magnatron tube) sure gets hot fast!
was 112F <1min! Has 4 aluminum heat sinks on it and it needs them
so i re-hooked the fan. still gets hot fast! So how much power does it waste?
it is a claimed 600w output. 850w input on the label.
i measured 955w input! so there is over 300w wasted!
No wonder the tube gets hot fast and NEEDS a fan. That big heavy transformer stayed cool on this short test.
.
2.
so i put some duct tape on the bell, and now it has a nice click when it is done, no longer wakes the dead.

 

[EMF]

I have never seen a manufactured appliance with any "extra parts" that are not required for operation. I suppose in some certain isolated end use, that it would be possible to forgo something. But, to operate as designed to the full design parameters - you probably can't pull anything. Most appliances are engineered by someone with a degree and are designed in the most cost effective manner possible. Notice I did not say most efficient but most cost effective. If you want efficiency, you pay more.

Therefore, in your situation, you should look for a more efficient, quieter fan, that moves about the same cfm or more. I did this with my HTPC CPU and case fans and simply researched the 'Net until I found a better fan that did not annoy me whilst watching movies. Maybe you could also install a lower wattage light bulb for the inside of the microwave too.

 

[Matt Gruber]

i was thinking, if i use it only 3 min a day, does it need a fan?, not that the mfg would somehow know how much i use it. they have to design it for maximum use, not minimum.
And yes, i've removed LOTS & LOTS of parts over the years not needed by me that were annoying. How about that chime in your car? LOL i put my seatbelt on because i want to, don't need a DING DONG.
.
as for micros, do i need a turntable, motor, and glass plate if all i do is heat water? 3 more useless parts!

 

[Anonymous]

.

 

[EMF]

i was thinking, if i use it only 3 min a day, does it need a fan?, not that the mfg would somehow know how much i use it. they have to design it for maximum use, not minimum.
And yes, i've removed LOTS & LOTS of parts over the years not needed by me that were annoying. How about that chime in your car? LOL i put my seatbelt on because i want to, don't need a DING DONG.
.
as for micros, do i need a turntable, motor, and glass plate if all i do is heat water? 3 more useless parts!

I follow your thinking. I guess it is important to wonder about such things that we seldom think about. Who knows what can be learned?

If all you do is heat water...do you really need a microwave? If you have an electric stove (not gas) it is 25% more efficient to heat a cup of water on that. I was surprised to find this out!

analysis by Home Energy Magazine found otherwise. The magazine’s researchers discovered that an electric burner uses about 25 percent less electricity than a microwave to boil a cup of water.

On the car chime, I simply got on the Internet and Googled: Subaru annoying chime. It gave instructions on how to disable it without removing it. You just click and unclick the seatbelt 20 times with the car on but not running.

 

[Matt Gruber]

nuts
i've read that resistance heat is 100%. is this wrong?
.
what do u think the "thermostatic circuit breaker" does?
.
EMF
yes, i'm in the process of adding a timer to my stove. I'll be using it for water without danger of fire/overheat.
thanks for that Home Energy mag reference. another guy here(dnmun) flat out didn't believe a burner is more efficient. I wasn't sure how much, so the 25% figure helps!

 

[TylerDurden]

Thrift-store treasure... Philips cordless kettle. Dings once & shuts off when water reaches rolling boil.

Heating 8oz water to 100*C...

Microwave: 1400W @ 60sec
Kettle: 1500W @ 30sec

 

[dnmun]

maybe combine the two. put the kettle on the heatsink fins while microwaving.

can't believe the electric burner, td has the data. wouldn't it be neat to have little heat storage module where you could save the heat from the microwave heat sinks and then use it to defrost the freezer by plugging it into the freezer coils. people would buy them too.

 

[Link]

i was thinking, if i use it only 3 min a day, does it need a fan?, not that the mfg would somehow know how much i use it. they have to design it for maximum use, not minimum.
And yes, i've removed LOTS & LOTS of parts over the years not needed by me that were annoying. How about that chime in your car? LOL i put my seatbelt on because i want to, don't need a DING DONG.
.
as for micros, do i need a turntable, motor, and glass plate if all i do is heat water? 3 more useless parts!

 

[Zoot Katz]

I once went looking for microwave mods to fry my neighbour's stereo.
They're out there.

 

[Matt Gruber]

thanks for all the comments!
i do use the top of the micro to defrost.
the micro allows me to run the dishwasher only once a week.
(avoids soiling pots).
Made breakfast today without that annoying bell!
Will be working on my stove timer now and then. Main advantages
1. can't leave burner on by mistake.
2. can slow cook w/timer
3. can't turn wrong burner on by mistake
4. hobby- everthing is modded as i please

 

[TylerDurden]

Adding a timer adds complexity to the system and the significant issue of possible failure.

Defrosters, ovens and dryers can have timers because the heaters are contained and thermal safeguards.

A digital timer you carry would alert you and force you to ensure manually that the heat is turned off. Safer, IMO.

 

[dnmun]

what did you do about the bell? you could put some masking tape on the striker to make it quiet.

we gotta have a new verb to describe these kinda modifications. we will say that when someone has done something like this to absolutely normal and functioning equipment, then they have 'Grubered' it up.

i give on the microwave. but i cook with gas, and heat water with gas too, which is cheaper heat imo.

 

[Matt Gruber]

Adding a timer adds complexity to the system and the significant issue of possible failure.

Defrosters, ovens and dryers can have timers because the heaters are contained and thermal safeguards.

A digital timer you carry would alert you and force you to ensure manually that the heat is turned off. Safer, IMO.

i suggest you call your fire department and ask if burners left on by mistake cause house fires. This mod eliminates this fire hazard, unless the timer fails while cooking on high. This is like you saying WHY WEAR A SEAT BELT, WHEN THE BELT COULD FAIL. The belt adds complexity and cost.
are you thinking this thru?
Actually i intend to cook on low or medium, which should not produce enough heat to start a fire, even if i pass out and the timer fails and days pass with the burner on. This mod is a MAJOR safety improvement! Isn't this a terrific "thermal safeguard"?
.
U guys remind me of that Senator, about 100 years ago, that wanted to close the patent office because
EVERYTHING WORTHWHILE HAD ALREADY BEEN INVENTED
I predict that, in the future, electric stoves will have some sort of automatic shut off.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Adding a timer adds complexity to the system and the significant issue of possible failure.

Defrosters, ovens and dryers can have timers because the heaters are contained and thermal safeguards.

A digital timer you carry would alert you and force you to ensure manually that the heat is turned off. Safer, IMO.

i suggest you call your fire department and ask if burners left on by mistake cause house fires...

They would also tell you how many fires get started because the close dryer timer failed to shut off the dryer. My brother in law is a fireman.

I recently had my house flooded because of a failed timer on the dish washer. the house is semi well sealed and I had 4 inches of water in it. enough to ruin just about everything.

Part of the danger of a timer is you get used to them, and think it means you can let the timer do the work for you. Since its doing your job, you don't need to pay as much attention and can let it work. All devices will fail eventually.

 

[Jay64]

I took that more of him saying if you start relying on the timer to turn things off and there is a failure vs using the timer as a backup in case you forget to turn it off. But I could be wrong.

 

[Matt Gruber]

I took that more of him saying if you start relying on the timer to turn things off and there is a failure vs using the timer as a backup in case you forget to turn it off. But I could be wrong.

after 30+ years of using a microwave timer am i foolish to conclude they are a great safety feature?
did u guys all rip out YOUR timer for fear it will fail? Did you install a simple toggle switch? ON/OFF Is this your comfort level? Don't dare leave the room! Sit and watch it cook.
Or maybe you have the timer, but you guys never leave the kitchen when the micro is on? Fear of a failure? Well, OK, if this is how worried you are, then I can see YOUR point as you simply don't trust timers. That's not my experience with cooking. I'm 100% satisfied and ordered an exact replacement to get the same best quality.

 

[Anonymous]

.

 

[Matt Gruber]

We didn't rip out our timers, but then again, we didn't rip out our cooling fans either. The timer is controlled by a microcontroller. If the circuitry overheats due to removal of cooling fan, the timer could stop functioning. It's not a safety feature! You did this because the fan was too loud and you found it annoying?

Oh, I see. You were unable to understand my 1st post. Then u imagined whatever, and responded to your imagination. (i only got a C in English, so i'm sure it could be written better)
I could repeat my 1st post, and i will if you confirm that u cant understand what i said after u read it SLOWLY. dnmun too, he is hard of reading also. (hard of reading is similar to being hard of hearing)

 

[Anonymous]

.

 

[Matt Gruber]

i had 2 complaints:
1. noisey fan
2. bell way too loud.
everyone knows how efficient micros are, how all the energy goes into the food, right?
so i disconnect the 17w fan.
i ran it <1 min w/cup of water in it.
WOW that sucker(magnatron tube) sure gets hot fast!
was 112F <1min! Has 4 aluminum heat sinks on it and it needs them.

*********so i re-hooked the fan.****************
.
.
still gets hot fast! So how much power does it waste?
it is a claimed 600w output. 850w input on the label.
i measured 955w input! so there is over 300w wasted!
.
**********No wonder the tube gets hot fast and NEEDS a fan.************************************************






That big heavy transformer stayed cool on this short test.
.
2.
so i put some duct tape on the bell, and now it has a nice click when it is done, no longer wakes the dead.

The part u missed was where i re-hooked the fan. i'm pleased with the quiet bell, so the operation was a success, despite still having a noisey fan.
No, I'm not going to describe all my mods i've done over the years; they are way more complicated(if u guys can't understand a simple timer or bell mod, then u will be unable to follow harder mods)

 

[EMF]

I had my gall bladder removed and my wisdom teeth. So, I guess I am modded. The cool thing is, no scars! They used that new fangled system on my gall bladder, with the probes and C02 and such, I'm sure Toshi knows the term - I can't remember what you call it - arthroscopy? But, it's the way to go!

 

[TylerDurden]

Or maybe you have the timer, but you guys never leave the kitchen when the micro is on? Fear of a failure? Well, OK, if this is how worried you are, then I can see YOUR point as you simply don't trust timers. That's not my experience with cooking. I'm 100% satisfied and ordered an exact replacement to get the same best quality.

The devices with timers also have TCOs, in the event of a timer failure.... toasters being a notable exception and the source of many fires.

 

[Matt Gruber]

Or maybe you have the timer, but you guys never leave the kitchen when the micro is on? Fear of a failure? Well, OK, if this is how worried you are, then I can see YOUR point as you simply don't trust timers. That's not my experience with cooking. I'm 100% satisfied and ordered an exact replacement to get the same best quality.

The devices with timers also have TCOs, in the event of a timer failure.... toasters being a notable exception and the source of many fires.

Commercial products should not be confused with a single mod that is not for sale.
As i said, someday stoves will have an auto shut off, and i fully expect it to be more complicated than my 1st "prototype".
i haven't used a toaster in years; quit after i read about the fire hazard; have u quit?

 

[Matt Gruber]

Adding a timer adds complexity to the system and the significant issue of possible failure.

Defrosters, ovens and dryers can have timers because the heaters are contained and thermal safeguards.

A digital timer you carry would alert you and force you to ensure manually that the heat is turned off. Safer, IMO.

i suggest you call your fire department and ask if burners left on by mistake cause house fires...

They would also tell you how many fires get started because the close dryer timer failed to shut off the dryer. My brother in law is a fireman.

I recently had my house flooded because of a failed timer on the dish washer. the house is semi well sealed and I had 4 inches of water in it. enough to ruin just about everything.

Part of the danger of a timer is you get used to them, and think it means you can let the timer do the work for you. Since its doing your job, you don't need to pay as much attention and can let it work. All devices will fail eventually.

How in the world can a timer =4 inches of water? I know enough to not leave the house when the DW is on.
.
Yes, all devices fail; my brain failed and i left the burner on. It may be some sort of genetic defect as my mom & sister have made the same mistake! this is why i'm adding auto shut off. They like my mod and saw the advantage right away!
.
I Don't own a dryer.
.
Good points!
.
My guess is, you guys are younger than me, and have never made a mistake. Let's see how u all do in 20+ years. Ask your mom if she ever left a burner on by mistake. Her answer will give u a clue to your future.