I believe the magnatron in my microwave is busted.
I did some research on the web, and the symptoms seem to fit (light goes on, “turntable” turns, makes that nuking sound, LCD counts down accurately, but does not heat food).
I can probably get a replacement part from Sears, and what I’ve read on the web leads me to believe that this shouldn’t be too hard to replace.
Is this something I can do myself? Or are there issues I’m not aware of that neccesitate a professional?
Without knowing your electronics background, the question is difficult to answer. Be aware that magnetrons operate at a high voltage, and as such, unless you have experience with these matters, they are best left to someone else. This is essentially the same advice I’d afford someone who wanted to replace a horizontal output transformer or CRT, both of which operate at high voltage.
Assuming you have the mechanical and electrical aptitude to open the oven up and swap the magnetron without zapping yourself (IIRC, there’s a capacitor in there somewhere) it can be done.
BUT… Is it worth doing? What’s the cost of a magnetron vs a new oven? I’m guessing the difference isn’t much. I paid $30 for my current microwave - just to illustrate how cheap the things have gotten.
Nothing to add, cause the previous posters make good points, but for some reason I read the thread title as “Can I replace a magnatron with myself”. I was wondering what the hell you wanted to do.
I can just see mom trying to warm up dinner by running around in circles over the food really fast with a big magnet.
See the Repair FAQ pages on microwave repair first and foremost.
Note that it describes microwaves as one of the most dangerous appliances to work on. Discharging the cap right is a must. If you screw something up, you might expose yourself to dangerous levels of microwaves.
You should also double check your diagnosis. A bad cap is also quite common. A bad magnetron on a newish microwave might be caused by contamination. (I.e., stuff boiling off.) Other parts in the magnetron powering circuit can also cause the same general symptoms.
You need to check with proper equipment. Testing with the cover off can be a Bad Thing.
Drat.
I hate to a) spend more money than a new microwave is worth to fix it, but on the other hand, I hate the thought that b) a perfectly good microwave is going to be sitting in a landfill.
What are the chances, you think, if I donate it that it can be repaired by a volunteer repair man and resold? Or, does anyone have any recommendations for a reputable repair place in Chicago?