# Why do digital microwaves always beep? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220 "2008-07-03T18:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scrambledeggs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@scrambledeggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scrambledeggs)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/1 "2008-07-03T18:50:48Z")
I’ve long noticed that every time you press a button on a microwave oven, or most of the watches I’ve had, there is that generic “BEEP”. It’s quite annoying and unnecessary, and you can’t turn it off. Why do they put the BEEP in a microwave? I’m not just referring to the alarm when the timer is done, but for pressing buttons to set the time. It seems unnecessary. Is there some kind of FCC regulation that makes them put in the BEEP? ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/2 "2008-07-03T19:05:30Z")
It gives feedback. Without the beep, you don’t know for sure that the button has been pressed properly. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/3 "2008-07-03T19:17:42Z")
The microwaves in our office have a button to silence them. No beep when you push buttons, no beep when your food is done. So, the feature is available for those who want it. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/4 "2008-07-03T19:52:07Z")
I second the feedback notion. It’s especially important on devices with buttons that don’t give a good mechanical “click” like microwaves, whose touch panels are usually more flat/flush with the rest of the panel. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/5 "2008-07-03T20:25:50Z")
The GE ovens at our office can be muted. FWIW, there’s really not much reason button presses couldn’t be noted with a soft tick instead of beeps. Just something so you know that you’ve actually pressed a button. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/6 "2008-07-03T20:32:25Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] The GE ovens at our office can be muted. FWIW, there’s really not much reason button presses couldn’t be noted with a soft tick instead of beeps. Just something so you know that you’ve actually pressed a button. [/QUOTE] But that might require a different sound emitter. The cheap piezo beepers that microwaves use do just that - beep. To make it create a “tick” might require a different driver, or be impossible without using a whole new transducer. ---
**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:** [July 3, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/7 "2008-07-03T20:35:51Z")
[QUOTE=beowulff] But that might require a different sound emitter. The cheap piezo beepers that microwaves use do just that - beep. To make it create a “tick” might require a different driver, or be impossible without using a whole new transducer. [/QUOTE] Not at all. Want to make a piezo buzzer tick? Only turn it on for a cycle or two. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/8 "2008-07-03T21:24:28Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Not at all. Want to make a piezo buzzer tick? Only turn it on for a cycle or two. [/QUOTE] We have ways to make you tock. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/9 "2008-07-03T22:30:01Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Not at all. Want to make a piezo buzzer tick? Only turn it on for a cycle or two. [/QUOTE] That’s not always easy, especially for ones with built-in oscillators. The start-up times vary from unit-to-unit, which would mean that the “ticks” would vary between different ovens. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/10 "2008-07-03T22:36:41Z")
A kitchen can be kind of noisy. If you have something sizzling on the stove and the range hood fan running a little “tick” might not be audible. ---
**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:** [July 3, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/11 "2008-07-03T22:45:28Z")
[QUOTE=beowulff] That’s not always easy, especially for ones with built-in oscillators. The start-up times vary from unit-to-unit, which would mean that the “ticks” would vary between different ovens. [/QUOTE] That’s what trimpots are for. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/12 "2008-07-03T23:00:25Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] That’s what trimpots are for. [/QUOTE] I guess you missed the DFM memo… ---
**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:** [July 3, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/13 "2008-07-03T23:11:07Z")
You’re not making any sense. If we’re talking about a manufactured product as opposed to a hack for an existing product, who cares what kind of noisemaker a given oven uses \*now[/]? The redesign will already include an appropriate transducer and driver. Everything else is firmware. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/14 "2008-07-04T01:24:09Z")
My Jenn-Aire microwave has a menu to turn off the beeping. I wish it had a repeating beep when food is done, though. Say, every minute until I open the door. I tend to lose track of time if I’m doing something else when it finishes. My old GE worked that way. ---
**Author:** ![J\_Cubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@J\_Cubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_Cubed)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/15 "2008-07-04T04:57:17Z")
That’s cool; I’ve never known a 'wave to have quiet mode. I’m taking a look at work on Monday. Mine at home is supposed to BEEP, but sometimes everything comes as a BhEep, like a chirp-groan. Then a few days later, it’s back to BEEP. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/16 "2008-07-04T05:50:39Z")
The problem I’ve found with microwave “mute” modes is that EVERYTHING is muted, including the “end of cycle” beep. For someone as absent minded as me, that beep lets me know that oh yeah, a “thing” is done getting heated! I have yet to see a 'wave that will mute the button presses, but keep the “end of cycle” beep. I’m not saying they don’t exist, but odds are it only exists on the $200 premium models, not the $50 cheapo model, even though the firmware probably has the option, they just didn’t flick one little internal switch to activate it. Flipping the switch costs you $150. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/17 "2008-07-06T23:24:09Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] I’m not saying they don’t exist, but odds are it only exists on the $200 premium models, not the $50 cheapo model[.] [/QUOTE] Glad I’m not running for President. I’d be called “out of touch” or something. I had no idea one could procure a microwave for such a pittance! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/18 "2008-07-07T00:33:05Z")
duplicate post - feel free to delete. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-digital-microwaves-always-beep/455220/19 "2008-07-07T00:32:56Z")
They beep because they’ve reached the end of the song they’re humming.