m





The microwave oven is a complicated and potentially

dangerous appliance but thanks to many built in safety
features such as fuses, interlocks and thermal
protectors most people never have a problem.
 m
 
m
 


V The Control Section

V The High Voltage Section

The Control Section
V Ãuses
V Interlocks
V Thermal protector
V Timer

A problem with any of these components will prevent

the oven from turning on.
 Ã 

Ãuses are devices that melt when too much current

flows. Too much current flows when there is a short
circuit or other malfunction. The Dzblowndz fuse
interrupts the circuit in which it is connected stopping
further damage.
 


Interlocks are switches used to prevent the oven from
running when the door is open.
 

A thermal protector or thermal cutoff is like a fuse, but Ú
ÚÚÚ
within the oven rather than Ú
ÚÚ

Ú breaks the circuit to

protect the oven and the user!

Should my soufflé blow the oven door off?

  

Setting the oven timer and starting

a cook operation activates an
electronic switch called a TRIAC.
  

The TRIAC sends voltage to the high-voltage
transformer.
The High-Voltage Section

×

 
 

V The TRIAC in conjunction with the High Voltage

transformer increases the household voltage of
115 volts to the c
 high amount of 3,000 volts!

V The Magnetron Tube converts the high voltage

into undulating waves of electromagnetic energy.
 ‘igh-Voltage Section
High voltage electromagnetic energy radiates from the magnetron
like radio waves from antennas.
 The Waveguide
A waveguide feeds the microwaves into the cooking
area where it encounters the slowly revolving stirrer
blades.
 Stirrer Blade and Turntable
The Stirrer Blades and Turntable ensures the microwaves are
evenly distributed to the food to prevent cold spots or uncooked
areas.
 m

V ^ike poles repel.
V Opposite poles attract.
m

Ã
V The magnetron produces electromagnetic waves that change
from positive to negative voltage at 2.5 GHz or 2.5 billion times
per second.

V When the wave is positive it behaves like the SOUTH pole of a

magnet.

V When the wave is negative it behaves like the North pole of a

magnet.
 Gm
 

Magnetic South

+1,500 Volts

-1,500 Volts

Magnetic North

The higher the frequency the chorter the

wavelength. The high frequency waves from the
magnetron are very short so are called m

waves.
 m

Ã

V As the microwave changes from North to South the food molecules

change from South to North because opposite poles attract and like
poles repel just like magnets.

V The rapidly rotating food molecules cause friction

creating the heat needed for cooking.




The Microwave

The wave is switching poles causing the

molecules in the food to switch or rotate
! "
m


Which way do I go


 Ã
 

Whew! Iǯm getting warm!





[
now I¶m really ‘[T

Why do some foods cook
better

V Whether a food is suitable for microwave cooking has

to do with the structure of the food.

V Ãoods like bread have an internal structure that break

down during cooking and become tough if cooked too
long.
Why do some foods cook
better

V Ãoods with high water content do not have delicate

structures to damage and cook nicely in the
microwave.

V Soups, meats, vegetables and popcorn are examples of

foods well suited for microwaves.
"

#

V Conventional ovens heat up and the food within them cooks

because the surrounding air is hot.

V Microwaves do not cook using hot air. They bombard the food
with microwaves that cause the food molecules to heat the food.
 m

"


Microwave Ovenǯs
Conventional Oven's
Just Heat up the Ãood
Heat up everything
 m
m


Microwaves electrically charge the air between a

metallic object and the metal contained in the oven
walls. This ionized air produces an electric current like
a small bolt of lightning that can spark and damage
the microwave or start a fire.
 m
m


Sparking in the microwave is more likely when metal

with sharp edges, such as forks or crinkled aluminum
foil, is left inside. The arcing effect can actually melt
or burn thin metal layers like those found in mugs or
plates with metal trim.
 m
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‰ou might have heard of microwave boiled water

'bursting' in the face and causing serious injury.
Such accidents are not uncommon.
"

%&' $%

Unlike water heated on a stove, a microwave heatc the

water co fact the formation of vapor bubbles is unable
to keep pace with the rapid increase in temperature.
 

m


The heat normally released by the bubbles is retained

in the water.
 

m


When the container holding the super hot water is

removed the slightest jerk or movement causes rapid
formation of the unreleased vapor bubbles.
 

m


The trapped heat to c ddenly EXPLODES in an

eruption of bubbles that sprays the water in all
directions.
 
"
Water 'bursting' is not an everyday occurrence but the
danger always exists. If you boil water in a microwave
a few simple measures could prevent a nasty accident.
 
"
V Always use a container that is Ǯmicrowave-ableǯ.

V Never go beyond suggested heating time recommended

in the ovenǯs user manual.

V Put a cmall wooden mixing cpoon into the water before

heating this will allow vapor bubbles to form on the uneven
surface of the spoon and release.
 
"
V After heating let the water stand in the oven for a
minute or two .

V Donǯt move the water or put anything into it.

V Remove the water, do not hold it near yo r face or

body.
m

Ã
 

V http://home.howstuffworks.com/microwave.htm

V http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/microwaves/in
dex.html

V http://www.gallawa.com/microtech/how_work.html