# Funky/dangerous microwave oven malfunction **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funky-dangerous-microwave-oven-malfunction/252391 "2004-06-27T07:54:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funky-dangerous-microwave-oven-malfunction/252391/1 "2004-06-27T07:54:01Z")
This was almost a MPSIMS thread but I’d like to fix the thing if possible. My Kenmore Quick Touch microwave went south a few days ago. When you open the door, it _turns on_. I had been drinking when it first happened, and I didn’t notice the carousel was spinning when I stuck my hand in there, resulting in a very slight burn. It turns on whether there’s time on the clock or not, and even if it’s been unplugged for a couple a days then plugged back in and immediately opened. So now we’re reduced to unplugging it every time we want to use it, before opening it up to insert or remove food. I know they’re cheap, but I am too. My wife wants to just get a new one, but any chance to drag out my tool box and open up an appliance is too tempting. Plus, if I do end up throwing it out, I’ll at least be sure to have destroyed it good so nobody will retrieve it from my trash and hurt themselves. Anybody heard of this happening before, or have an idea of what the problem may be? It seems like there should a fail safe of some kind to prevent this. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funky-dangerous-microwave-oven-malfunction/252391/2 "2004-06-27T09:52:50Z")
It seems like you broke the failsafe 😉 Other than that, I have no advice. But if you own a gerbil… don’t let it near the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funky-dangerous-microwave-oven-malfunction/252391/3 "2004-06-27T09:55:24Z")
Check this thread: [The Case of the Haunted Microwave](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=262713) There are actually 3 failsafe devices in the oven. But in your case it seems that all three of them have failed :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funky-dangerous-microwave-oven-malfunction/252391/4 "2004-06-27T12:42:25Z")
Wow, and that thread was only six days ago. _Three_ failsafe switches? Maybe I was mistaken about the “very slight burn” (I _had_ been drinking after all), but I could have sworn when I put my hand in there it got hot really quick causing me to jerk my hand out. Kind of like a steam scald or getting too close to a red-hot element. And it was only on the back right side of my right hand, which was closest to the magnetron. 😕 I’ll open it up and inspect the switches. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![ebandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b19c9b/32.png) [@ebandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ebandit)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funky-dangerous-microwave-oven-malfunction/252391/5 "2004-06-27T12:49:56Z")
I would remove the power cord before discarding it…for safety reasons. (Some teenager/kid might grab it and serisouly hurt themselves. You could be liable.) Just cut the cord with garden shears or something. [http://www.geneblack.com](http://www.geneblack.com) ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funky-dangerous-microwave-oven-malfunction/252391/6 "2004-06-27T12:59:35Z")
And with a bit of persuasion, you should be able to break the door off. Even the dumbest of scavengers wouldn’t use a doorless microwave oven. Then get a screwdriver and prise any dials off (throwing them away separately). Heck, it’s only a microwave. Hardly Fort Knox. You got a length of pipe or a sledgehammer? Go to town on the thing. You can probably neutralise the bugger with a couple minutes’ worth of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funky-dangerous-microwave-oven-malfunction/252391/7 "2004-06-27T15:24:27Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > _Three_ failsafe switches? Yep. Specifically, one is an NO (normally open) to disconnect the relay that switches the 120 VAC to the fan, turntable motor and HV transformer, one is an NO to directly disconnect the 120 VAC to the HV transformer, and the third is an NC (normally closed) to put a dead short across the 120 VAC, which makes the fuse blow if the oven turns on when the door is open (in the unlikely event that both NO switches have fused closed). So, two switches would have to fuse closed and one stuck open, in the right combination, for the oven to turn on with an open door.