Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!uwm.edu!dogie.macc.wisc.edu!vms.macc.wisc.edu
From: kleemann@vms.macc.wisc.edu (Brad Kleemann)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: microwave oven degradation
Message-ID: <2614@dogie.macc.wisc.edu>
Date: 26 Oct 89 18:06:06 GMT
Sender: news@dogie.macc.wisc.edu
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Wisconsin Academic Computing Center
Lines: 21

In article <238@flash.UUCP>, news@flash.UUCP (News System Admin.) writes...

>In a recent discussion, a friend mentioned that the klystrons in microwave
>ovens can degrade (somehow) over time, putting out less power. I went and
>measured the output of our oven (I'd suspected it's been low for some time)
>and found we were getting about 250 - 300 watts out, for an oven rated to
                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Interesting.  How did you measure the output?
>draw (under) 900 watts from the line.
> 
>Do klystrons in fact degrade? Is there anything else could cause this?
At my previous job, we had a microwave that cooked food more and
more unevenly, leaving some of it frozen at times.  I noticed
that the door latch was a little loose.  I took the thing to
the bench, took it apart, tightened the latch screws, and it
worked fine.  Check if this may be your problem.

Incidenty I never stand in front of a microwave when it is
cooking.  Now you know why.
> 
-- Brad Kleemann (WB9WHI)