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From: bmt@we53.UUCP ( B. M. Thomas )
Newsgroups: net.cooks
Subject: Re: micro-wave oven question
Message-ID: <273@we53.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 27-Jan-85 19:44:09 EST
Article-I.D.: we53.273
Posted: Sun Jan 27 19:44:09 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 28-Jan-85 07:47:20 EST
References: <285@imsvax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Technologies - St. Louis Missouri
Lines: 12

Power reflection is the problem.  Conductors reflect electromagnetic waves
and can reflect it back to the magnetron, which will start to arc and/or
overheat  and/or draw large currents from its high-voltage supply.  The reason
that the rack can be in there is likely that it is (a) placed in such a location
or (b) is of such a construction as not to reflect a significant amount of power
back to the device.  I am sure that there are carefully worded instructions on
the use of this rack in the manual.  For the same reasons, they tell you not to
operate the oven empty.  With nothing in the cavity to absorb the output of the
magnetron, the waves will simply be reflected back by the metallic walls, with
damaging results.