Microwave oven - reducing power

[Peter Rossiter]

I have my original micorwave oven from about 20 years ago and it
still works. To judge by the clicking sounds the lower settings
for defrost, simmer, etc seem to work by the meagnetron being
switched on and off every 15 seconds or so,

Do modern microwave ovens also use this switching method or do they
put our less microwave energy for the lower settings?

 

[Richard Tobin]

In article <94C19628AA648471AE@130.133.1.4>,
Peter Rossiter <not_me@mail.com> wrote:

Do modern microwave ovens also use this switching method

Yes. Often you can see the light get slightly dimmer when the magnetron
turns on.

-- Richard

 

In sci.physics Peter Rossiter <not_me@mail.com> wrote:

I have my original micorwave oven from about 20 years ago and it
still works. To judge by the clicking sounds the lower settings
for defrost, simmer, etc seem to work by the meagnetron being
switched on and off every 15 seconds or so,

Do modern microwave ovens also use this switching method or do they
put our less microwave energy for the lower settings?

Magnetrons have a rather narrow range of operating voltages and hence
are basically fixed power output devices, so yes, they still switch
them on and off to control the average power.


--
Jim Pennino

Remove -spam-sux to reply.

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Peter Rossiter" <not_me@mail.com> wrote in message
news:94C19628AA648471AE@130.133.1.4...

I have my original micorwave oven from about 20 years ago and it
still works. To judge by the clicking sounds the lower settings
for defrost, simmer, etc seem to work by the meagnetron being
switched on and off every 15 seconds or so,

Do modern microwave ovens also use this switching method or do they
put our less microwave energy for the lower settings?

A friend had a microwave that cycled like that; we could tell because
the kitchen lights dimmed and brightened as it cycled. ;-)

 

[Harry Conover]

jimp@specsol-spam-sux.com wrote in message news:<c4p9mp$1f2$1@mail.specsol.com>...

In sci.physics Peter Rossiter <not_me@mail.com> wrote:
I have my original micorwave oven from about 20 years ago and it
still works. To judge by the clicking sounds the lower settings
for defrost, simmer, etc seem to work by the meagnetron being
switched on and off every 15 seconds or so,

Do modern microwave ovens also use this switching method or do they
put our less microwave energy for the lower settings?

Magnetrons have a rather narrow range of operating voltages and hence
are basically fixed power output devices, so yes, they still switch
them on and off to control the average power.

Agree. The major difference between older microwave ovens and the
newer models is that the newer models control the magnetron duty cycle
at a power line frequency rate, much as a light dimmer. (Panasonic
calls its implementaton of this technology "Inverter Power Level
Control".)

Harry C.

 

[Peter Rossiter]

hhc314@yahoo.com (Harry Conover) wrote:

Magnetrons have a rather narrow range of operating voltages
and hence are basically fixed power output devices, so yes,
they still switch them on and off to control the average
power.

Agree. The major difference between older microwave ovens and
the newer models is that the newer models control the
magnetron duty cycle at a power line frequency rate, much as a
light dimmer. (Panasonic calls its implementaton of this
technology "Inverter Power Level Control".)

I am not quite clear on what you say.

Do you meant to say that the switching between on & off is done
much more frequently in modern microwave ovens? AT perhaps 50 or
60 Hertz?

My old oven switches on & off in approx 20 second intervals.