Magnetron question

[technowb]

Hi, I have to replace (in a micorwave oven) a Panasonic magnetron 2M236-M62 which is no longer in production and it's difficult to find in my country.
Some spare parts websites list Panasonic 2M236-M42 as an alternative model, but I am unable to find the datasheets to compare values.

Any advice on where to find those datasheets, or a minimum warranty that they are compatible?

Thank you

 

[Look165]

See
https://www.directrepair.fr/magnetron-2m236-m62-480120100525-whirlpool.html


technowb a Êcrit le 12/02/2019 à 22:41 :

Hi, I have to replace (in a micorwave oven) a Panasonic magnetron 2M236-M62 which is no longer in production and it's difficult to find in my country.
Some spare parts websites list Panasonic 2M236-M42 as an alternative model, but I am unable to find the datasheets to compare values.

Any advice on where to find those datasheets, or a minimum warranty that they are compatible?

Thank you

 

Well, you didn't mention WHAT country so...

I can tell you this. There are only a few types of magnetrons used in uWave ovens. If the mounting fits, 80%+ chance it works. The actual power is determined by the value of the cap and somewhat by the secondary of the transformer.

They can use a higher rated magnetron in a lower powered oven and they still save money by buying more of the same part. They save money on the transformer or the cap.

The mount has to REALLY match. Close is not good enough.

 

Semi-related: Will a microwave last longer if lower
power levels are used instead of full power all the
time?

IE: Instead of heating something for the typical one
minute at full power, heating it for two minutes at
half power(or even medium high or 60% if such
setting available)? That way the magnetron cycles
on and off instead of running constantly, and also
the food is more evenly heated.

 

[John-Del]

On Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at 6:21:46 PM UTC-5, thekma...@gmail.com wrote:

Semi-related: Will a microwave last longer if lower
power levels are used instead of full power all the
time?

IE: Instead of heating something for the typical one
minute at full power, heating it for two minutes at
half power(or even medium high or 60% if such
setting available)? That way the magnetron cycles
on and off instead of running constantly, and also
the food is more evenly heated.

In total hours, I get much more time on fluorescent tubes when they're on all the time. I have some that burn all the time for security reasons, and others that get turned off when my shop is closed. I get about the same amount of time before failure out of both.

I suspect magnetrons are the same way. For the less time they're actually accumulating during "low power" settings, they're also getting cycled. My guess is it will ultimately make little difference.

 

On Tuesday, 12 February 2019 23:05:14 UTC, jurb...@gmail.com wrote:

Well, you didn't mention WHAT country so...

I can tell you this. There are only a few types of magnetrons used in uWave ovens. If the mounting fits, 80%+ chance it works. The actual power is determined by the value of the cap and somewhat by the secondary of the transformer.

They can use a higher rated magnetron in a lower powered oven and they still save money by buying more of the same part. They save money on the transformer or the cap.

The mount has to REALLY match. Close is not good enough.

+1, in principle you can pretty much pick random ones & if they fit perfectly they are likely to work. However I've no idea what the legal requirements are in your unknown country.


NT

 

On Tuesday, 12 February 2019 23:57:22 UTC, John-Del wrote:

On Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at 6:21:46 PM UTC-5, thekma...@gmail.com wrote:

Semi-related: Will a microwave last longer if lower
power levels are used instead of full power all the
time?

IE: Instead of heating something for the typical one
minute at full power, heating it for two minutes at
half power(or even medium high or 60% if such
setting available)? That way the magnetron cycles
on and off instead of running constantly, and also
the food is more evenly heated.


In total hours, I get much more time on fluorescent tubes when they're on all the time. I have some that burn all the time for security reasons, and others that get turned off when my shop is closed. I get about the same amount of time before failure out of both.

I suspect magnetrons are the same way. For the less time they're actually accumulating during "low power" settings, they're also getting cycled. My guess is it will ultimately make little difference.

Magnetrons generally fail from loss of emission. Fluoro tubes fail from that and from filament breakage, burnout, sputtering & loss of phosphor efficacy. And less common modes like loss of mercury vapour.


NT

 

[Mike]

On 2/12/2019 3:21 PM, thekmanrocks@gmail.com wrote:

Semi-related: Will a microwave last longer if lower
power levels are used instead of full power all the
time?

IE: Instead of heating something for the typical one
minute at full power, heating it for two minutes at
half power(or even medium high or 60% if such
setting available)? That way the magnetron cycles
on and off instead of running constantly, and also
the food is more evenly heated.

It depends.
On older microwave ovens, the filament runs off the transformer
and cycles on and off with the high voltage.
The thermal cycling can't be good for it.

Newer microwaves with the "inverter" technology switch the
HV on and off much more rapidly leaving the filament hot.
That's gotta be better for the magnetron, but has a lot more
high voltage parts to fail.

Would be interesting to know how the cost of a new magnetron
and the time to replace it compares to the cost of a new
microwave oven.

It goes without assuming that you're sure the magnetron is at fault?

 

[Fox's Mercantile]

On 2/12/19 11:01 PM, Mike wrote:

Would be interesting to know how the cost of a new magnetron
and the time to replace it compares to the cost of a new
microwave oven.

A new magnetron can vary from $40 (on sale) to $150.

I buy used microwaves at the Good Will and other thrift
stores or garage sales.
I have paid between $10 and $30 for a working one.
I've never bought a new one.

The one I brought with me when I moved was a membrane
control panel and it got stupid. The one upstairs was
the classic "Turn the knob" type, the timer fell apart.

Both were replaced for under $40 total.


--
"I am a river to my people."
Jeff-1.0
WA6FWi
http:foxsmercantile.com

 

[Look165]

In old Âľwave, the weak point was the capacitor (High voltage one).
The filament is too much large for dying.though is uses a large current
(some A).
A point to be checked is the cooling fan.

technowb a Êcrit le 12/02/2019 à 22:41 :

Hi, I have to replace (in a micorwave oven) a Panasonic magnetron 2M236-M62 which is no longer in production and it's difficult to find in my country.
Some spare parts websites list Panasonic 2M236-M42 as an alternative model, but I am unable to find the datasheets to compare values.

Any advice on where to find those datasheets, or a minimum warranty that they are compatible?

Thank you

 

On Wednesday, 13 February 2019 09:49:55 UTC, Look165 wrote:

technowb a Êcrit le 12/02/2019 à 22:41 :
Hi, I have to replace (in a micorwave oven) a Panasonic magnetron 2M236-M62 which is no longer in production and it's difficult to find in my country.
Some spare parts websites list Panasonic 2M236-M42 as an alternative model, but I am unable to find the datasheets to compare values.

Any advice on where to find those datasheets, or a minimum warranty that they are compatible?

Thank you

In old Âľwave, the weak point was the capacitor (High voltage one).
The filament is too much large for dying.though is uses a large current
(some A).

around 13A, so far more robust than a fluoro tube.


NT

 

[Ralph Mowery]

In article <q408b6$hmg$1@dont-email.me>, ham789@netscape.net says...

Would be interesting to know how the cost of a new magnetron
and the time to replace it compares to the cost of a new
microwave oven.

It goes without assuming that you're sure the magnetron is at fault?

Could be different in other countries, but at the cost of the microwave
ovens in the US, the cost of a new megatron tube and shipping is
probably as much if not more than a replacement oven.

A long time ago I decided that it is just not worth it to do most
repairs (if you have to buy parts) on items costing under $ 500. If you
have to get someone else to repair an item, just replace it.

 

[Look165]

I totally agree.
Sometimes, it is cost effective to change the oven instead of fixing it.
Fixing it needs to get a new magnetron with the exact footprint if not
it will not be OK.

The only to check is the filament ; if it is OK, the problem is
somewhere else (I think the HV capacitor or the diode).
It can happen that the mains transformer is out, but rare.

Ralph Mowery a Êcrit le 13/02/2019 à 15:53 :

In article <q408b6$hmg$1@dont-email.me>, ham789@netscape.net says...
Would be interesting to know how the cost of a new magnetron
and the time to replace it compares to the cost of a new
microwave oven.

It goes without assuming that you're sure the magnetron is at fault?


Could be different in other countries, but at the cost of the microwave
ovens in the US, the cost of a new megatron tube and shipping is
probably as much if not more than a replacement oven.

A long time ago I decided that it is just not worth it to do most
repairs (if you have to buy parts) on items costing under $ 500. If you
have to get someone else to repair an item, just replace it.

 

[technowb]

Thank you guys, in this case it should be worth to repair it since the oven is 5 years old and in pretty good conditions: the only issue is with microwaves features, but it still works as an oven with grill. 

It's a built-in big "luxury" model that still costs around 700€ new: it broke too early in my opinion because it was always been used following the rules (I am sure of that, It's my oven.. )

The official tech support said that I would need to buy a new one because they can't find the magnetron, but I cannot afford another expense of that kind  - in particular for a product that can't be repaired after too little time..


I think that unless I find the same exact magnetron I will go for the suggested alternative, at least It's worth a try. 

Do you know what would happen if the alternative is a wrong option? 

Would I risk frying inverter module or something else? 

Given the price of the spare parts I could also think of selling those to buy a new one "with some discount".


Thank you again

 

[Fox's Mercantile]

On 2/13/19 10:36 AM, technowb wrote:

Do you know what would happen if the alternative is a wrong option?

Would I risk frying inverter module or something else?

The primary issue would be how the microwaves get from the magnetron
to the oven chamber. That's THE critical item. Physical match.

A more obscure and unlikely problem would be the heater voltage to
run the tube with.

Then there's the little details. Does the HV supply exceed the tube
ratings.
Does the tube draw more current than than the HV supply can supply?



--
"I am a river to my people."
Jeff-1.0
WA6FWi
http:foxsmercantile.com

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

Much as I am not happy with needless landfill, nor with the tissue-paper economy that builds irreparable crap these days, there comes a time when it is best to simply dump the item rather than attempt to salvage it.

Microwaves are one of those things. Given the very real safety issues raised by after-sales work on these devices, there is no particular reason to make such repairs unless the unit is otherwise special (perhaps a vintage Amana or similar, or an early built-in) or hideously expensive to replace.

And, as Jeff suggests, a visit to any thrift-store will yield any number of options.

That being written, our incumbent microwave is 10 years old, the one on our third floor followed us back from Saudi in 2005, and the one at our summer house is now seven (but gets little use).

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[technowb]

Mr. Wieck don't you think this one falls into "hideously expensive to replace"?
Given that a luxury microwave oven costs around 300€ and this one costs more than 700, I'd say it does.. there are almost no more expensive combi ovens in the market: other cheaper ovens I owned lasted 15 years and such.

I would be happy to buy another one and avoid complications, but I cannot afford it, and I am trying to understand the implications of the choice to self-repair it.
I know that there may be serious injuries ahead, that's why I am gathering informations here and there before taking any further step..
Thank you

 

[John-Del]

On Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 1:43:38 PM UTC-5, technowb wrote:

Mr. Wieck don't you think this one falls into "hideously expensive to replace"?
Given that a luxury microwave oven costs around 300€ and this one costs more than 700, I'd say it does.. there are almost no more expensive combi ovens in the market: other cheaper ovens I owned lasted 15 years and such.

I would be happy to buy another one and avoid complications, but I cannot afford it, and I am trying to understand the implications of the choice to self-repair it.
I know that there may be serious injuries ahead, that's why I am gathering informations here and there before taking any further step..
Thank you

Apparently (or should I say supposedly), this magnetron replaces the one in your unit:

https://www.directrepair.eu/microwave-oven-2m236m42-00268142-panasonic.html

About 100E with freight. Are you sure the magnetron is bad? A lot of things can prevent it from being powered up: door interlock switch, control board problem, burned relay (or connection - not uncommon on Whirlpools), HV diode or HV capacitor.

 

[Ralph Mowery]

In article <55fd66b1-d704-4427-843a-61a330c19522@googlegroups.com>,
pietrarca@gmail.com says...

It's a built-in big "luxury" model that still costs around 700¤ new: it broke too early in my opinion because it was always been used following the rules (I am sure of that, It's my oven.. )

The official tech support said that I would need to buy a new one because they can't find the magnetron, but I cannot afford another expense of that kind  - in particular for a product that can't be repaired after too little time..


I think that unless I find the same exact magnetron I will go for the suggested alternative, at least It's worth a try. 

As that is an expensive microwave, you may be able to look around and
find another inexpensive modle that uses the same tube. Maybe even in a
recycle or thrift store for a used one.

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

On Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 1:43:38 PM UTC-5, technowb wrote:
> Mr. Wieck don't you think this one falls into "hideously expensive to replace"?

OK - not knowing where you are, other than somewhere in Europe:

https://www.europart.nl/whirlpool-magnetron-480120100525-mwf210w-amw834ix-oven-magnetron-92716700

Not so expensive, either.

This part was used in a number of brands, from Jenn-Aire to Panasonic to Whirlpool, and others. So, attach the PN to other brands, it may pop up.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA