Brendan Hughes

I'm a cheapskate, so brought my microwave (panasonic combi) over as luggage on the plane. Didn't have the original packing, so filled a box with poly chips, put it in the middle, padded the corners and put it in another box. (I'm used to packing for international freight football teams).

Got it home and it had clearly been dropped on a corner, and there was a 1mm gap btwn door and frame. This could be, and was, taken up by adjusting the hinges, but I still can't guarantee it's a perfect fit and that I'm not cooking myself when I use it. there is no other visible damage and it seems to work fine, simply that the door had moved and now I don't know if it's gone back to normal. At first I could see the oven light through the crack in the door, now I can't as I've closed it.

Any experts out there? Should I panic, get it seen to "when I can", or ignore it? Any tests for leaky microwaves?

Thanks

Brendan

Squizz

Microwave ovens can usually be tested with the right equipment in-situ.

Try your local Yellow Pages?

Edited coz you haven't said if you've got this thing in UK or Portugal!!

[Edited by Squizz - 12/21/2001 11:58:52 AM]

Brendan Hughes

Ta Squizz - took it from the UK, is now in Portugal.

Local shops want me to go to a Panasonic dealer, I wonder if it is really as complicated as that. Thought there might be a quick test of some sort (hang bacofoil around gap in door, switch on, if house blows up it is leaking sort of thing).

?

BJH

carl

A DIY shop should be able to sell you a detector for this for around a tenner -- also works for detecting mains cables in the walls and studwork.

Brendan Hughes

Carl thanks; talking elementary physics, how does that work? I can imagine the words "electromagnetic fields", but I have difficulty linking the ideas of electric cables and microwave ovens. Aren't they two different types of field?

Otherwise, I think I get your drift. If it leaks the same amount as an elec cable, it's OK, and if it goes off the scale, there is a prob?

Tiggs

just stand real close to it and see if it tingles

Tiggs

Jerry*

Brendan,

No wonder you're saying its nice and hot over there in Portugal !!

Do you glow in the dark too ?!

John

p.s. I'd personally get it checked, if they leak they can be dangerous as far as I'm aware... A new one only costs about £70 !

Brendan Hughes

John - touché! Should I change my name to Ready-Brek?

If you can tell me where to get a brand new brand name grill convection combination microwave for 70 quid, I'll go there. My old Saisho I left in Mongolia for that reason, but this one cost a lot more than that! 350, I think. Hence the shipping attempt.

I'm still curious about this pipe tester idea.

Silent Monkey

The tester used by some firms works by measuring the rise in temperature of a known volume of water over a known period of time. These are around £100 - £150
see http://www.martindale-electric.co.uk...age/index.html

At the other end of the scale are things like http://www.sinclairanddrummond.co.uk...sp?prod_ID=142
No idea how they are supposed to work but not sure if I'd want to rely on one.

boomer

Get several eggs, separate off the whites, then place them in a plastic container.

Put the container near where you think that the oven may be "leaking", insert a large jug of water in the oven, turn on and see if the egg whites cook (on the outside)!!!

Not very scientific, but if they do start cooking, then things don't look very good

Usual disclaimers apply.

mb

BOB.T

OK, I've sussed it!

Get a plastic bag and fill it with paint, take care to choose a paint which is a different colour to your microwave and if possible, lead free. Make the bag air tight by tieing a knot in the top, place it in the oven and boil the living bejeepers out of it till it bursts, if the microwave has a leak it will be clearly shown by the trails of paint. Problem solved

I also have a nifty idea for checking gas pipes, drop me a mail to find out more

bob

boomer

...or...

fill the oven with raw metallic sodium, close the door and then lower the whole thing down to the bottom of your local swimming pool. This is best done outside normal opening hours.

Should there be a minor leak anywhere around the door seal (or indeed the magnetron power feed, external vent, or the poxy bulb that lights the oven) it will be given away by the total destruction of the oven.

Better safe than sorry.

mb

p.s. Oh, and even if the oven was actually safe in the first place, i would not recommend using it after submersion in water

Brendan Hughes

ROFL at you guys!

Hey Webbie - please can we have a Viz Top Tips forum???

"To stop your bread from drying out overnight, store it in a bucket of water."



BJH

mega_stream

Its probably fine anyway, if you've adjusted the door hinges and it all looks good..microwaves can only travel through certain size holes due to the wavelength (This is why doors can have perforated doors so you can see whats going on inside, but the holes are a size that microwaves can't get through)

In days of old I used to fix microwave ovens and have replaced loads of doors, all of which tested fine with a microwave detector.
I'd take it into a local Currys repair centre, they should test it FOC for you.

John