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Microwave Mystery

Mary

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Joined
Nov 12, 2019
Messages
47
I'm confused. Just now I was using my 700w microwave and noticed that according to the readout on my all in one unit the power was running as high as 1100w and as low and as low as 40w. I wasn't too alarmed by the high but the low seemed odd and I assumed something was wrong with the readout. So I put the Kill-o-Watt on the microwave, and yes, it is cycling as low as 40 watts during cooking. The food came out cooked, but,,, is that normal? why would it run so low? I have never done a specific test before but I've used this microwave off solar devices for a couple of years now, and though I can't claim to have been glued to the readout I don't recall ever seeing it drop to 40 watts in the past. I assumed it was cycling with a drop of no more than 100w or so. I would venture to say it dropped to 40 a least 1/3 of the cooking time.
 
What is the Wattage of the light bulb used in the microwave?
How much power does it show when it is not running but the door is opened with the light on?
The old style micowave pulse the power (Magnetron) full on and off, the amount of On/OFF time is based on the power setting, inverter type is more efficient.
 
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Budmartin has the answer. Many microwave ovens run full power all the time and cycle the power on and off based on the settings options you selected as he said.

A 700W micro is 700W output. However, the input watts are much higher as you have seen.

I’m assuming your AIO unit is a pure sine wave inverter.

Modified sine wave inverters don’t play well with many (most) microwave ovens and some can show weirdly high watts dependent on the brand/design. A small microwave oven that reads ~850W-900W running input on grid power can test out at 1600W on some old modified sine wave inverters. Or at least the one I’m aware of.
That was over 20 years ago. Statpower? Can’t remember. Wasn’t my house and can’t remember the circumstances exactly either.
 
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What is the Wattage of the light bulb used in the microwave?
How much power does it show when it is not running but the door is opened with the light on?
The old style micowave pulse the power (Magnetron) full on and off, the amount of On/OFF time is based on the power setting, inverter type is more efficient.
It's not possible to have the light on with the door open. This microwave is mechanically operated, with a dial similar to an egg timer that you set manually. It has zero draw when not in use, and when the door is open no power is going to it. I don't know the wattage of the light but judging from what I saw it's probably the bulb and the rotation of the plate that is equaling 40 watts. I just had no idea the cooking power ever stopped in a normal microwave cycle - that's the part i'm wondering about. Thanks for the link, I will check that out.
 
Budmartin has the answer. Many microwave ovens run full power all the time and cycle the power on and off based on the settings options you selected as he said.

A 700W micro is 700W output. However, the input watts are much higher as you have seen.

I’m assuming your AIO unit is a pure sine wave inverter.

Modified sine wave inverters don’t play well with many (most) microwave ovens and some can show weirdly high watts dependent on the brand/design. A small microwave oven that reads ~850W-900W running input on grid power can test out at 1600W on some old modified sine wave inverters. Or at least the one I’m aware of.
That was over 20 years ago. Statpower? Can’t remember. Wasn’t my house and can’t remember the circumstances exactly either.
Yes i know 700 is the output, and that the input is higher. It was the LOW number that confused me. Thanks for the response.
 
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It's not possible to have the light on with the door open. This microwave is mechanically operated, with a dial similar to an egg timer that you set manually. It has zero draw when not in use, and when the door is open no power is going to it. I don't know the wattage of the light but judging from what I saw it's probably the bulb and the rotation of the plate that is equaling 40 watts. I just had no idea the cooking power ever stopped in a normal microwave cycle - that's the part i'm wondering about. Thanks for the link, I will check that out.
Your link answered my question, thanks so much!
 
I also did not realize that a microwave cycled until I put a meter on it checking the draw on different settings.
 
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