foreword to moderator:
I previously opened a topic asking whether it’s possible for microwave door to be switchable, or open on the left.
Now, my topic is addressed
to MW engineers or those in the microwave business:
Is it feasible to engineer a microwave oven that can be used just as conveniently on a right corner counter, as on a left corner counter.
I’m asking whether it’s feasible to design same with a door that opens safely, such that no microwaves leak out; here’s a suggestion: perhaps with a door that opens in the same direction that a toaster oven door opens? Except that pressing a button releases a catch, then just pull down the door to rest on the counter.
IANAE*, but I can make a WAG. You’re talking about a door with a hinge on the bottom edge and a latch on top, right? Imagine putting such a microwave on a large kitchen counter, holding the handle at the top of the door and opening it. Wouldn’t your hand hit the counter surface? Even if not, the door itself will hit the counter surface, because they are much thicker than toaster oven doors. You can prevent this by mounting the door higher but that creates a dead volume under the, um, food compartment, and makes the unit larger. With toaster ovens, the door is much thinner, and there is a heater under the food so you need the door high up anyway.
IANAEBIUTPO* - There is no reason why a microwave oven could not be made with a bottom opening door, or a left-right switchable door. In either case the door could be built to provide the necessary sealing.
The main problem with a switchable door is symmetry. That is, present microwaves have all the controls on the right, as viewed from the front. A switchable door would need its controls either above or below the door, both of which present problems.
I suspect the only thing preventing a bottom opening microwave door is lack of demand.
*I am not an engineer, but I used to play one.
ok jally,
just what the hell are you trying to build anyway??? a house for midgets? you want a smaller fridge, smaller microwave, smaller oven… hmmmm. ya know, why does the front door have to swing open anyway? Why cant it slide open? That would save a lot of space right there…
also, do any of us get some of the money you will make off your new inovations??
This is a marketing question, not an engineering question. There is no problem making a door that is switchable, or simply a LH microwave. But if there is no market, it will not be built.
If you’d read my previous post about side-opening oven doors, you’d see that Kinsey’s personal experience is different than yours. Which is what had led me to ask this.
In any case, my question was about whether it’s possible to engineer such a MW conforming to safety standards.
Actually, this post wasn’t about switchable doors, rather about doors opening like a toaster oven (perhaps with rubber buffering such as are found on stackable washer dryers, so as not to damage the counter.
I asked this, because a previous post of mine got totally out of hand. At least one respondent had said that microwaves have to have right opening doors, because the radiation flows outward in a clockwise direction.
Now you say there’s no problem. Seems there’s a conflict
P.S. granted there may not be a market, and it’s not surprising. Still, I just wanted some straight answers for a change instead of the previous tangent.
My OP question was also about whether it’s possible to design a MW with a door opening in the direction of a toaster oven YET conform to safety.
This is separate and apart from the issue as to whether or not you (or Kinsey) do or don’t find right-opening MW’s convenient to use on right-corner counters. BTW, I’m not exactly sure whether Kinsey needed to use it on a right-corner counter, so much as that she said it would be more convenient for her to have a left opening MW. I’m also not sure whether it would be convenient for her to have a MW opening in the direction of a toaster oven.
I own a microwave with a door hinged at the bottom edge, handle at top, which pulls down like the toaster oven door. Amana Radarange Model RRL-10TD. But it’s over 17 years old and I have no idea whether it or a similar model is still available. Controls are on the right. Control panel gave out and was replaced at about the 8 year point, otherwise, no problems and still working fine. If you’d like a .jpg of it, send me your email address.
Wow, that’s so interesting, that there actually is (rather, WAS) something like that! seems to have become extinct, eh?
Addressing scr4’s question: Does your Amana’s door handle have rubberized padding to protect the counter when opening the door?
BTW, I hadn’t in mind for the controls to be on the right but rather more centered (above the door) so as to allow for righties,lefties, right-counters, left-counters. (imagine having to reach around the opening-door on a right corner counter)
Oh well, what the heck.
P.S. thanks so much for your offer re: jpg, but it’s ok, I won’t bother you.
No, there is no padding, and that **IS[/b} an issue where I have it currently (on a table top.) However, in a previous house, it occupied an open compartment above a chest-high conventional oven. In this configuration there was nothing for the door/handle to bump into in the lowered position, it simply hung there in a cantaleavered position. The construction of the door/hinge/brace is robust enough to serve as a sturdy shelf for heavy dishes when inserting and removing.
Thanks RedDawg. Actually, rubber padding is no problem; they have it in stackable washer/dryers too.
As for what you said about your previous positioning above a chest high oven, and using the door as a handy ledge, that brings me to add another two points:
(1) Often people keep microwaves higher than that. (I.E. level with upper-cabinets or above-the-range high). So if those people use the open door as a ledge, and they’re short, it wouldn’t avail them much because they wouldn’t be able to see the food. That’s why countertops can be preferable to above-the-range MWs.
(2) What you said is another point in favor of designers making microwaves like toaster oven doors. Because if people DO decide to position their microwave the way you previously did, then a ledge comes in handy.
