Kitchen Large Electric Appliances - GE Spacemaker Microwave Blown Fuse

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nyjetsfanotown
10-22-07, 09:16 AM
Hello,

I have a GE Spacemeaker Microwave and I changed the internal fuse. As soon as I start to cook something, the fuse blows. Ive confirmed that the interlocks are ok. I have the HV cap and I beleive it is shorted inside. When I check the resistance between the cap terminals I get .3 ohms. The cap does not charge or discharge (it is disconnected). I also verified that the HV diode is open.

A few questions, is the cap bad?

If its bad, should I check out the magnatron or something else to make sure when I put in a new cap and diode that I dont blow them again?

Thanks!:alarm:

daddyjohn
10-22-07, 05:20 PM
Hello,

I have a GE Spacemeaker Microwave and I changed the internal fuse. As soon as I start to cook something, the fuse blows. Ive confirmed that the interlocks are ok. I have the HV cap and I beleive it is shorted inside. When I check the resistance between the cap terminals I get .3 ohms. The cap does not charge or discharge (it is disconnected). I also verified that the HV diode is open.

A few questions, is the cap bad?

If its bad, should I check out the magnatron or something else to make sure when I put in a new cap and diode that I dont blow them again?

Thanks!:alarm:


Are you using a capacitor tester? If you're using a digital meter, you might want to change to an analog meter or a cap tester. Did you check each capacitor terminal to the cap case? The diode increases the voltage to the magnetron for more power. Does the tech sheet indicate any specs for the magnetron? Each terminal should read infinity to the magnetron case. Even a slight reading = bad magnetron. I'm thinking that terminal to terminal is a low resistance like 4 to 6 ohms but not sure. Working from memory on that and that spec is a general magnetron spec, not necessarily GE.
daddyjohn
10-22-07, 05:42 PM
Hello,

I have a GE Spacemeaker Microwave and I changed the internal fuse. As soon as I start to cook something, the fuse blows. Ive confirmed that the interlocks are ok. I have the HV cap and I beleive it is shorted inside. When I check the resistance between the cap terminals I get .3 ohms. The cap does not charge or discharge (it is disconnected). I also verified that the HV diode is open.

A few questions, is the cap bad?

If its bad, should I check out the magnatron or something else to make sure when I put in a new cap and diode that I dont blow them again?

Thanks!:alarm:

.3 ohms sounds like the cap is shorted unless there's a bleed resistor on the terminals that you're reading thru? I'm doubtig that a bleeder resistor would be .3 ohms. As you probably know, the capacitor should take a charge one direction or the other. Did you check each capacitor terminal to the cap case? The diode increases the voltage to the magnetron for more power. Does the tech sheet indicate any specs for the magnetron? Each terminal should read infinity to the magnetron case. Even a slight reading = bad magnetron. At www.partselect.com they have some troubleshooting help for microwave ovens. They say that terminal to terminal on the magnetron should be less than 1 ohm. I believe that is general spec, not necessarily a GE spec. Also, check out www.gallawa.com/microtech/index.html nice site

disregard my post before this one I clicked on submit b4 I was ready.