Microwaves

When ever I scrap a microwave I save the little micro switches that are on the door latch. These are the interlock switches and they can go bad just from opening the door before the timer stops.
Tuesday I picked up 2 in the trash
1) a nice SS GE Profile mod.#JE2160SF03
2) an older Tappan in good shape mod.#TMS134T1G1
A quick check for continuity with the meter and I changed 1 switch in each microwave from a stash of switches I have from other microwaves that where scrapped.
A craigslist add or flea market/garage sale.
the GE I'll ask $50.00 & take $40.00
the Tappan I'll ask $35.00 & take $25.00.

It only takes 10-20 min to check and change these switches. Most of the microwaves I've checked one of these interlock switches are bad.
They can blow the internal fuse as soon as power is applied to it or the microwave timer will count down but not heat up.

Hope this helps someone make a little more than scrap value.

I save these switches as well in case I ever want to make a booby trap, alarm system, weird invention, etc.

Weird, I mentioned this a short while ago, is that where you found the info? (I'm just interested if people actually understand what I'm saying when I say things)

I have hundreds of those switches & the only use I can think of is a sort of 'Persistance Of View' light display (POV) using LED's I get off washing machine displays.
Think, two discs 12inches dia. The discs are in front of each other with a row of LEDs on the front disc, the front disc is also on a shaft & bearings, so it can spin around.
Behind the front disc there is a row of switches connected to the LED's.
On the front of the rear disc I plug in drawing pins/nails/screws/whatever to operate the switches. Or drill a hole or router a groove in the rear disc.

To get a design, I screw in the screws so each one operates a switch, turning it either off or on, lighting up its own LED for, say 350 degrees.
When the front disc is spinning it will, with the POV effect, make a almost full circle of light.

The result will look like this>
Thos opening & closing switches are gonna make a huge electrial interference though......

I'm old school, I'm still on dialup so I can't see your video.
I save the switches,turn table motor,lamp,HV cap, & the 3 little sensors just for repairs.
I've never tried to make anything out of them.
I also save the smaller switches and stuff from washers,driers & fridge if they're the same make I have at home.
Call me cheap but, I hate to pay a repairman $60.00 for a service call then charged $150.00 to replace a $5.00 part.
I like taking things apart, so if I can fix it myself I will.

I recalled this thread, glad I was able to find it. Was wondering how you tested those switches, seems it's just a continuity check, cool! Was also wondering what else you saved off of them. You're right on about the costs, get a nickel for a switch that costs $5, or a service charge of 100

Wish I'd read this thread when it was posted! Repairman charged us 69$ to diagnose ours.
He spent about 5 min.max and said the board was out. 200$ for the part and 100$ to install
for a total 370$. Wasn't convinced so went to the Internet,after a hour or so found it was the micro switch.
Service company still demanded the 69$. I told them I could have hired the paper boy to take
a wild guess like there serviceman did!

haha, cool kbob, then you'll well understand why I felt it worth "bumping"

never read this one but thanks I get a lot of working microwaves and sell them but now I can save these switches and sell them on ebay as another thing to make some money off of and do some home work to know how to tests this myself and turn some more into working ones.

Here is one way to fix it and get more than scrap value






Here is the link =
Microwave Oven Repair Guide - Replace your microwave's fuse

Also..save the glass trays on the junk donors if they still have them.

I will usually write the make model oven they came out of on a piece of masking tape and stick it on them for reference later. They can resale for around $20 and up on ebay depending on what they came out of/size and how hard it is to get replacement parts.

I just sold one I picked up last week for $20 today. I gave the money to McDonalds after VBS.