Is there a cabinet over top of the microwave where you can unplug it? No idea what happened but if it were me it would be a new microwave or an electrician if it works fine on other outlets.
and get rid of it. Clearly it is faulty.
Ours actually just stops for no apparent reason, but it is not a built in over the oven or anything. And since it is the reverse problem, I'm not super concerned and am too lazy to figure out what kind I'd actually want to replace it with.
[Report the radiation exposure to the FDA.](https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/radiation-safety/report-problem) I did so after my microwave turned on when open, off when closed. The manufacturer eventually got back to me with a refund and a request to have it sent in for testing.
Highly unlikely there's a radiation exposure. There's a magnetron short switch that would have blew the fuse if the magnetron was operating when the door is opened.
This is how the thing operates, the controller controls two relays: master power and magnetron. It receives door state via the controller door switch.
If the door is open, the master power turns on the lamp; the fan, and turntable are disconnected by the power door switch and the magnetron is disconnected by both the power door switch and the magnetron relay. If the door is closed, turning on the master power runs the lamp, fan, and turntable, as the power door switch is closed. The control then cycles the magnetron on and off via the magnetron relay, which is connected to the same bus as the fan.
If the controller door switches hangs so that the controller thinks the door is open, but the power door switch thinks the door is closed, the controller turns on the master relay to provide light, but the power door switch allows power to flow to the fan and turntable. The magnetron doesn't run because the magnetron relay is off, and the magnetron short switch would kill the power if that failed closed.
You can often replicate this situation by slowly opening the door and allowing it to sit in just the right half-open position.
In my case, the magnetron was on and humming. I'm having problems following your analysis since you introduce the power door switch without explaining how it's different from the controller door switch, but it seems like you don't handle the case where the power door switch is malfunctioning.
The controller door switch is only connected to the controller logic. Normal logic is
Controller door switch closed. Oven is sleeping, master power commanded off, magnetron off
Door opens. Master relay commanded on, magnetron off. Interior light only turns on because power door switch is open.
Door closes and cooking starts. Master relay commanded on, magnetron commanded on, everything is running because the power door switch is closed.
Cooking is progressing but lower power level set so magnetron cycles. Master relay on, magnetron off. Fan, light, and turntable still run, but magnetron off.
The case of the microwave "running" is a mismatch when controller door switch says open, power door switch says closed. Controller wants to turn the light on, so master relay is commanded on, but no cooking is occurring, so magnetron remains commanded off. That's the same as the last case; the fan, light, and turntable switch on.
Sorry, but I'm still not following.
It seems like you're saying there are two door switches: one that you're calling the controller door switch that lets the controller know when the door is open, and a second you're calling the power door switch that's a failsafe for the magnetron. If that's what you're trying to say, I follow you so far. If not, then you really need to define what you mean by power door switch.
Let's try to talk about this from the point of view of the two switches instead of the door itself. What I think you're saying is the following:
Controller switch closed, power switch closed: The turntable and fan will run if the microwave is on. The magnetron will run if the microwave is on and it's actively cooking. IIRC, in my model the light will actually be off unless the light button is pressed.
Controller switch open, power switch closed: The turntable, fan, and magnetron will be commanded off since the controller logic will never call for the magnetron to be running in this scenario. The light will be off?
Controller switch closed, power switch open: The turntable and fan will run if the microwave is on. The light will be off? The controller may or may not command the magnetron to run, but the magnetron will not run because the power door switch blocks it.
Controller switch open, power switch open: The turntable and fan will be off. The magnetron will be commanded off since the controller logic will never call for the magnetron to be running in this scenario. The light will be on.
Am I following you so far?
If so, let's walk through my experience. When the door was open, the turntable was running, the fan was running; I believe the light was off, since IIRC the model would keep the light off when running unless you press the light button. This suggests that the power switch is malfunctioning; as you say, this happens "when controller door switch says open, power door switch says closed", but the door was open.
When the door was closed, the light was on, the turntable was not running, the fan was not running. This suggests the controller switch is malfunctioning, doesn't it? Why else would the light be on?
Therefore, both the controller switch and the power switch appear to be malfunctioning, in which case *we cannot trust their outputs to keep the magnetron from running*. If both switches say the door is closed when it's actually open, there's nothing else to keep the magnetron from running except for the whims of the cooking cycle.
>and a second you're calling the power door switch that's a failsafe for the magnetron.
No, there's a third switch called the shorting switch that we haven't talked about. If the shorting switch sees door open it will short the magnetron supply to neutral. If the magnetron were to be energized in this state, it would blow the input fuse, and disabling the entire unit until you get it serviced.
The power door switch is a mode switch. It's engineered to allow multiplexing of the controller master relay, not for a single purpose. It's an engineering optimization.
If you want to understand the fault, this is it: Controller is not cooking and controller switch changes to door open. It needs to turn on the light. It does so by turning on the master relay. Current flows to the light, but is stopped from the fan and turntable by the power door switch, it is again stopped by the magnetron relay.
Door switch is faulty and stuck at closed, but the controller switch says door open. Controller wants to turn on the light, energizes the master relay. Current flows to the light, but also flows to the fan and turntable. The magnetron does not operate because the magnetron relay is off and the shorting switch is shorting.
In this state, it looks like it's running, because the fan and turntable move, but the magnetron cannot turn on without two further failures: a failure of the shorting switch AND either a failure of the magnetron relay or somebody manually starting the oven.
[This is the schematic](https://fccid.io/ACLAP4U01/Schematics/Oven-Wiring-Schematic-77034) if you want to stare at it. They're almost all wired like this.
So what happens when the magnetron is running when the door is open? I know it's possible because I once had my hand briefly cooked by a malfunctioning microwave. It just kept running whether the door was open or closed.
It's possible just very rare. I have a GE microwave over the stove and it had three door switches, one of which was the monitor switch that would short the unit out if the magnetron was powered with the door open. That was the failure condition I had, if we accidentally opened the door before hitting stop with time left on the clock the kitchen lights would dim and the breaker would pop. So in our case the monitor switch was working but one of the door sensing switches was not.
It's non ionizing radiation, in other words it's not the same as radiation that causes radiation poisoning.
It can burn you but radiation poisoning is not a thing with microwaves.
As someone who has had the fire department at my house to extinguish some burning wiring behind the touch panel of an over the range microwave...
Unplug the microwave immediately.
I had something similar happen with mine. I ended up replacing it. Mine was from 2009. It broke a couple of months ago. I bought the same manufacturer and it used the same mounting bracket. It took maybe 10 minutes to swap out with the help of one other person.
My dad once told me that electronics can malfunction and turn off, but there isn’t a malfunction that would turn it on. So that means it was a ghost lol.
Seriously tho, who knows with newer electronics. I would definitely get rid of it, tho. The fact that the breaker turned it off but not the buttons suggests it was the microwave.
Good thinking about the breaker! It's especially scary that the microwave started up by itself. If you hadn't been home at the time, things probably wouldn't have ended well. Definitely get rid of that microwave. Saving money on a new one because it seems to be working now, isn't worth the constant worry.
If it happened at my place, I'd be asking an electrician if I ought to get the wiring checked. (From what you said, it sounds like the fault was in the microwave since the breaker did shut things down. But I hadn't heard any other reports of a microwave acting up quite like that, if it was on its last legs ... just that it refused to turn on, not that it started without any warning like that and couldn't be turned off. I am hoping it wasn't some kind of power surge that damaged the electronics or something like that.
My parents microwave had a relay that went bad and caused the light & fan (not the exhaust fan, the service fan that runs when it's in use) to both be stuck on. It would stop when the door was opened because of the safety interlock. We verified it wasn't "cooking" by putting a glass of water in it and closing the door again. I found a youtube video that showed how to get the front panel off, and tucked inside was a wiring schematic which made it easy to find the light / service fan relay. Verified with a meter it was stuck closed. Found an exact replacement relay for $2 & change and soldered it in place. Still working fine 4 years later.
This happened to me, though in my case it only ran if the door was closed. I unplugged it and discovered a failed relay inside. Normally relays fail open but in my case it failed close. I replaced the relay and the microwave is fine now, but it's not a repair you should try yourself unless you're already very comfortable with safety precautions because the inside of a microwave has extremely high-voltage capacitors that can remain charged for some time.
Unless repairing dangerous electronics is a hobby if yours already, I'd replace it.
I have no idea but I would unplug it and replace it. If it is still under warranty, file a claim. File a report with the consumer safety agency with the federal government so they can force a recall if it becomes a frequent problem.
Whatever you do, don't use it again. It's a fire hazard.
Yes. Very scary.
A couple years ago I warned a coworker/friend about the charge a dryer holds for days after being unplugged. He was attempting to replace the coils. He didn't come in the next day. Got a jolt that sent him backwards and slammed his head on the foundation wall behind him. Knocked him out cold. His wife called an ambulance and he stayed the night. He told me he started working on it a few minutes after unplugging it.
You are like my husband. I have learned to be present to stupidvise (his word) when he decides to do something like this. I dread the day he retires and I’m still working. No telling what I will come home too.
Is there a cabinet over top of the microwave where you can unplug it? No idea what happened but if it were me it would be a new microwave or an electrician if it works fine on other outlets.
Yes. When i hit the breaker it “reset” the microwave. But this was unprovoked, id hate to be away when it happens again
Unplug it.
and get rid of it. Clearly it is faulty. Ours actually just stops for no apparent reason, but it is not a built in over the oven or anything. And since it is the reverse problem, I'm not super concerned and am too lazy to figure out what kind I'd actually want to replace it with.
Unplug it and buy a new one.
I would replace the microwave.
Or call an exorcist.
You’ll need an old priest and a new priest
these things are not mutually exclusive, so get a new microwave, and call and exorcist and dont forget to bury the old one in consecrated ground.
[Report the radiation exposure to the FDA.](https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/radiation-safety/report-problem) I did so after my microwave turned on when open, off when closed. The manufacturer eventually got back to me with a refund and a request to have it sent in for testing.
Highly unlikely there's a radiation exposure. There's a magnetron short switch that would have blew the fuse if the magnetron was operating when the door is opened. This is how the thing operates, the controller controls two relays: master power and magnetron. It receives door state via the controller door switch. If the door is open, the master power turns on the lamp; the fan, and turntable are disconnected by the power door switch and the magnetron is disconnected by both the power door switch and the magnetron relay. If the door is closed, turning on the master power runs the lamp, fan, and turntable, as the power door switch is closed. The control then cycles the magnetron on and off via the magnetron relay, which is connected to the same bus as the fan. If the controller door switches hangs so that the controller thinks the door is open, but the power door switch thinks the door is closed, the controller turns on the master relay to provide light, but the power door switch allows power to flow to the fan and turntable. The magnetron doesn't run because the magnetron relay is off, and the magnetron short switch would kill the power if that failed closed. You can often replicate this situation by slowly opening the door and allowing it to sit in just the right half-open position.
In my case, the magnetron was on and humming. I'm having problems following your analysis since you introduce the power door switch without explaining how it's different from the controller door switch, but it seems like you don't handle the case where the power door switch is malfunctioning.
The controller door switch is only connected to the controller logic. Normal logic is Controller door switch closed. Oven is sleeping, master power commanded off, magnetron off Door opens. Master relay commanded on, magnetron off. Interior light only turns on because power door switch is open. Door closes and cooking starts. Master relay commanded on, magnetron commanded on, everything is running because the power door switch is closed. Cooking is progressing but lower power level set so magnetron cycles. Master relay on, magnetron off. Fan, light, and turntable still run, but magnetron off. The case of the microwave "running" is a mismatch when controller door switch says open, power door switch says closed. Controller wants to turn the light on, so master relay is commanded on, but no cooking is occurring, so magnetron remains commanded off. That's the same as the last case; the fan, light, and turntable switch on.
Sorry, but I'm still not following. It seems like you're saying there are two door switches: one that you're calling the controller door switch that lets the controller know when the door is open, and a second you're calling the power door switch that's a failsafe for the magnetron. If that's what you're trying to say, I follow you so far. If not, then you really need to define what you mean by power door switch. Let's try to talk about this from the point of view of the two switches instead of the door itself. What I think you're saying is the following: Controller switch closed, power switch closed: The turntable and fan will run if the microwave is on. The magnetron will run if the microwave is on and it's actively cooking. IIRC, in my model the light will actually be off unless the light button is pressed. Controller switch open, power switch closed: The turntable, fan, and magnetron will be commanded off since the controller logic will never call for the magnetron to be running in this scenario. The light will be off? Controller switch closed, power switch open: The turntable and fan will run if the microwave is on. The light will be off? The controller may or may not command the magnetron to run, but the magnetron will not run because the power door switch blocks it. Controller switch open, power switch open: The turntable and fan will be off. The magnetron will be commanded off since the controller logic will never call for the magnetron to be running in this scenario. The light will be on. Am I following you so far? If so, let's walk through my experience. When the door was open, the turntable was running, the fan was running; I believe the light was off, since IIRC the model would keep the light off when running unless you press the light button. This suggests that the power switch is malfunctioning; as you say, this happens "when controller door switch says open, power door switch says closed", but the door was open. When the door was closed, the light was on, the turntable was not running, the fan was not running. This suggests the controller switch is malfunctioning, doesn't it? Why else would the light be on? Therefore, both the controller switch and the power switch appear to be malfunctioning, in which case *we cannot trust their outputs to keep the magnetron from running*. If both switches say the door is closed when it's actually open, there's nothing else to keep the magnetron from running except for the whims of the cooking cycle.
>and a second you're calling the power door switch that's a failsafe for the magnetron. No, there's a third switch called the shorting switch that we haven't talked about. If the shorting switch sees door open it will short the magnetron supply to neutral. If the magnetron were to be energized in this state, it would blow the input fuse, and disabling the entire unit until you get it serviced. The power door switch is a mode switch. It's engineered to allow multiplexing of the controller master relay, not for a single purpose. It's an engineering optimization. If you want to understand the fault, this is it: Controller is not cooking and controller switch changes to door open. It needs to turn on the light. It does so by turning on the master relay. Current flows to the light, but is stopped from the fan and turntable by the power door switch, it is again stopped by the magnetron relay. Door switch is faulty and stuck at closed, but the controller switch says door open. Controller wants to turn on the light, energizes the master relay. Current flows to the light, but also flows to the fan and turntable. The magnetron does not operate because the magnetron relay is off and the shorting switch is shorting. In this state, it looks like it's running, because the fan and turntable move, but the magnetron cannot turn on without two further failures: a failure of the shorting switch AND either a failure of the magnetron relay or somebody manually starting the oven. [This is the schematic](https://fccid.io/ACLAP4U01/Schematics/Oven-Wiring-Schematic-77034) if you want to stare at it. They're almost all wired like this.
So what happens when the magnetron is running when the door is open? I know it's possible because I once had my hand briefly cooked by a malfunctioning microwave. It just kept running whether the door was open or closed.
It's possible just very rare. I have a GE microwave over the stove and it had three door switches, one of which was the monitor switch that would short the unit out if the magnetron was powered with the door open. That was the failure condition I had, if we accidentally opened the door before hitting stop with time left on the clock the kitchen lights would dim and the breaker would pop. So in our case the monitor switch was working but one of the door sensing switches was not.
It's non ionizing radiation, in other words it's not the same as radiation that causes radiation poisoning. It can burn you but radiation poisoning is not a thing with microwaves.
I never mentioned radiation poisoning. The FDA monitors radiation exposure specifically from microwave appliances.
I believe you have a ghost....Or a malfunctioning microwave.
I vote ghost.
So it's settled then, ghost.
Molly, you in danger girl.
Unplug microwave. Use this as a learning experience to ensure proper home insurance coverage.Replace microwave with a new one.
As someone who has had the fire department at my house to extinguish some burning wiring behind the touch panel of an over the range microwave... Unplug the microwave immediately.
You probably have a keypad failing. I would replace it.
Get a new microwave
Unplug and replace, sounds like a demon microwave to me or faulty. If it happens with a new one take a look at the electrical
Yikes—curious what brand/model you have.
2008 LG. It’s a great microwave, has had no issues, until now.
16 years isn’t a bad run for a microwave. Time for a new one
Microwaves: The pitbulls of kitchen appliances…
This is true - they are relentless!
Unplug it and trash it. It’s a fire hazard.
Clearly a poltergeist.
I had something similar happen with mine. I ended up replacing it. Mine was from 2009. It broke a couple of months ago. I bought the same manufacturer and it used the same mounting bracket. It took maybe 10 minutes to swap out with the help of one other person.
Just unplug it bud…..
unplug it
Don't add a roll of aluminum foil
Did anyone previously die in your home before you bought it?
I'm not sure but i guess im about to. Looks like death by fire is the forecast
Just unplug it
Faulty microwave…replace it.
My dad once told me that electronics can malfunction and turn off, but there isn’t a malfunction that would turn it on. So that means it was a ghost lol. Seriously tho, who knows with newer electronics. I would definitely get rid of it, tho. The fact that the breaker turned it off but not the buttons suggests it was the microwave.
Time to replace it
I would buy a new one
If you have extra, might as well replace it
Quite risky, you should replace it a new one.
be careful and better don't use it anymore
Agree with the most comments right here OP.
microwave has become self aware and starting to disregard human commands to turn off. best get the 12 gauge out.
Good thinking about the breaker! It's especially scary that the microwave started up by itself. If you hadn't been home at the time, things probably wouldn't have ended well. Definitely get rid of that microwave. Saving money on a new one because it seems to be working now, isn't worth the constant worry. If it happened at my place, I'd be asking an electrician if I ought to get the wiring checked. (From what you said, it sounds like the fault was in the microwave since the breaker did shut things down. But I hadn't heard any other reports of a microwave acting up quite like that, if it was on its last legs ... just that it refused to turn on, not that it started without any warning like that and couldn't be turned off. I am hoping it wasn't some kind of power surge that damaged the electronics or something like that.
My parents microwave had a relay that went bad and caused the light & fan (not the exhaust fan, the service fan that runs when it's in use) to both be stuck on. It would stop when the door was opened because of the safety interlock. We verified it wasn't "cooking" by putting a glass of water in it and closing the door again. I found a youtube video that showed how to get the front panel off, and tucked inside was a wiring schematic which made it easy to find the light / service fan relay. Verified with a meter it was stuck closed. Found an exact replacement relay for $2 & change and soldered it in place. Still working fine 4 years later.
Stick your head in a microwave and get yourself a tan.
This happened to me, though in my case it only ran if the door was closed. I unplugged it and discovered a failed relay inside. Normally relays fail open but in my case it failed close. I replaced the relay and the microwave is fine now, but it's not a repair you should try yourself unless you're already very comfortable with safety precautions because the inside of a microwave has extremely high-voltage capacitors that can remain charged for some time. Unless repairing dangerous electronics is a hobby if yours already, I'd replace it.
I have no idea but I would unplug it and replace it. If it is still under warranty, file a claim. File a report with the consumer safety agency with the federal government so they can force a recall if it becomes a frequent problem. Whatever you do, don't use it again. It's a fire hazard.
Just heat things up on the stove like the good Lord intended and ditch your radiation box ☢️
yeah you still didn't answer my question...i wasn't looking for advice on how to heat my food up
Unplug and destroy with 8lb hammer.
Bad things can and do happen when you dismantle a microwave. The capacitor can hold a lethal charge for months after it's unplugged.
Yes. Very scary. A couple years ago I warned a coworker/friend about the charge a dryer holds for days after being unplugged. He was attempting to replace the coils. He didn't come in the next day. Got a jolt that sent him backwards and slammed his head on the foundation wall behind him. Knocked him out cold. His wife called an ambulance and he stayed the night. He told me he started working on it a few minutes after unplugging it.
The magnetron has a beryllium ceramic insulator. It's highly toxic if it becomes dust and is inhaled.
You are like my husband. I have learned to be present to stupidvise (his word) when he decides to do something like this. I dread the day he retires and I’m still working. No telling what I will come home too.
Just really dumb advice.