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Taking apart a microwave. Fairly simple. Fairly dangerous if you just plugged it in to "See if it works" and then start taking it apart.
it's also worth the very little effort. I've taken one apart to show you what you get.
PS: I'm only thirteen so don't be too critical
it's also worth the very little effort. I've taken one apart to show you what you get.
PS: I'm only thirteen so don't be too critical
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Signing UpStep 1Things you should know
there are a few things you should know before you start.
1. Don't power up the magnetron. You will probably DIE
2. Don't use the transformer unless you know what you are doing
3. Be Safe
4.Take out any loose objects (the glass plate)
5. Have fun
The tools you will need are simple and everyone should have them.
A screwdriver and a pair of wire cutters.
It helps to have a drill with a screwdriver bit.
1. Don't power up the magnetron. You will probably DIE
2. Don't use the transformer unless you know what you are doing
3. Be Safe
4.Take out any loose objects (the glass plate)
5. Have fun
The tools you will need are simple and everyone should have them.
A screwdriver and a pair of wire cutters.
It helps to have a drill with a screwdriver bit.
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those two diodes and the capacitor are arranged in a voltage doubler matter of fact
Basically, your mains freed is probably tapping one phase of a three-phase, sometimes four-phase, street feed against neutral (some soul at the far end of the street usually has all phases, and in Belgium they tap across phases, two lives, no neutral). That means live feeds fluctuate sinusoidally, usually both sides of zero. But you need a second rectification bridge for the negative side from the positive, and to bridge the two into a single output you need further capacitors ti buffer against the unwanted phase being tapped on the other circuit leaking into the output. The result is a loop of four diodes, negative to positive all the way around, input across connections 0 and 2, output across 1 and 3.
That simply flips the sine wave into a bumpy DC, as the trough becomes a peak alongside the existing peak. To smooth that out, a capacitor is used to flatten the peaks and troughs
Fans like in microwave ovens work through inductance of magnetic fields. A magnetic field surrounds the motor spindle which carries small magnets of alternating poles, causing the motor to spin (Wikipedia inductance motor, and AC motor for more on how it works). I have no idea what you're talking about with it drawing 70W because it uses a transformer and its far away from the actual motor. It does not use a transformer, it uses standard AC that the microwave plugs into and the motor is attached directly to the fan blades. The fan is inefficient and draws so much power because manufacturers of microwaves try to make the microwave as cheap as possible, which includes inefficient fans, bulky transformers, and cheap parts. Newer microwaves use more efficient transformers that require less power, and use more quality parts.
Microwave ovens use one 2000v diode to supply half wave dc to the magnetron (again, Wikipedia rectification)
Actually, the capacitor is mainly to double the voltage output of the transformer to 4000 volts dc, (half wave) rather than smoothing the voltage. The magnetron really doesn't care how consistent the voltage is.
The beryllium oxide is a carcinogen as in cancer causing. According to the state of California, wood dust is a carcinogen, as is everything else in that state. Anyway, it is not particularly harmful to the environment, so it's not a hazardous waste material.
Again, be careful, don't experiment with high voltages until you're older, so good job sticking with a 12v ac transformer rather than the 2kv MOT. Have fun!
Anyway thanks for the advice.
or from those 18v relays it uses transiistor to do the triggering (maybe a voltage divider for the ic circuitry)
on other microwave i have the tray wont spin, dont know if its simply a loose wire or something more sirious.. i cant take the cover out since the screws are kinda wierd.. =|
It's great what you can do with the stuff you salvage!
I used to work at a Computer monitor company, and I always have a ton of flybacks to play with. Gave my self one hell of a shock once too =(
Anyhow, keep up the good work!
:D
For the magnetron: oversize fridge magnet
Lamp: a simple nightlight
Motor: revolving plate food server for parties or something
Transformer: cut off the secondary coil and replace with wire to make a high power 12v AC supply
Switches: robot sensors
Salvage the timer circuit components like the relays etc
Capacitor: For coils of some sort. Don't really have a use... yet
I don't really know.
I will probably make something awesome with this stuff
and it classed as non hazardous waste. What about the processing of waste? does't that crush it up. Bulldozing?
anyway thanks for the advice!