"Schism" > wrote in message
...
> Can anyone tell me if microwaves retain electricity even if they're
> unplugged like televisions do? I plan on gutting a microwave and modding
it
> into a custom computer case I'm building.
>
>

They don't. If you want to be double-sure, let it sit overnight after
unpluggung. This works for TVs too.


--
Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.

(Peter Aitken) wrote in
om:
> "Schism" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Can anyone tell me if microwaves retain electricity even if
>> they're unplugged like televisions do? I plan on gutting a
>> microwave and modding it into a custom computer case I'm building.
>
> They don't. If you want to be double-sure, let it sit overnight
> after unpluggung. This works for TVs too.

No guarantee with that procedure in either case.

Capacitors in the power supplies can retain a lethal charge for days.

If you don't know how to discharge them so they may be worked with
safely, find someone who does, or make other plans.

And to the original poster: Do I understand that you want to build a
microwave oven into a computer case? Along with the rest of a
computer, I assume?

--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN |

You're wrong. Microwaves contain high voltage power supplies very similar to
those inside TVs. The power supplies have large capacitors that retain the
ability to shock for many days.


"Peter Aitken" > wrote in message
om...
> "Schism" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Can anyone tell me if microwaves retain electricity even if they're
> > unplugged like televisions do? I plan on gutting a microwave and modding
> it
> > into a custom computer case I'm building.
> >
> >
>
> They don't. If you want to be double-sure, let it sit overnight after
> unpluggung. This works for TVs too.
>
>
> --
> Peter Aitken
>
> Remove the crap from my email address before using.
>
>

"Bert Hyman" > wrote in message
...
> (Peter Aitken) wrote in
> om:
> > "Schism" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Can anyone tell me if microwaves retain electricity even if
> >> they're unplugged like televisions do? I plan on gutting a
> >> microwave and modding it into a custom computer case I'm building.
> >
> > They don't. If you want to be double-sure, let it sit overnight
> > after unpluggung. This works for TVs too.
>
> No guarantee with that procedure in either case.
>
> Capacitors in the power supplies can retain a lethal charge for days.
>
> If you don't know how to discharge them so they may be worked with
> safely, find someone who does, or make other plans.
>

Are you sure about that? It's a rare capacitor that can hold a charge for
that long, and AFAIK it is common practice to put a high resistance bleed
resistor across any high-voltage caps. In any case, be safe and wait a week.


--
Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.

Yeah, I plan to gut it and build a custom PC (of course I intend on buying
PC parts seperately and putting them in).
It's a microwave my parents threw out because it kept blowing fuses...

> And to the original poster: Do I understand that you want to build a
> microwave oven into a computer case? Along with the rest of a
> computer, I assume?

It's been unplugged for around 10 days now, how long do you suggest?

> You're wrong. Microwaves contain high voltage power supplies very similar
to
> those inside TVs. The power supplies have large capacitors that retain
the
> ability to shock for many days.

Schism wrote:

> Can anyone tell me if microwaves retain electricity even if they're
> unplugged like televisions do?


Yes, microwave ovens can be quite dangerous. See
<http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/micfaq.htm#micsaf> for information on safe
procedures for working on them.


--
--
Steve

It's not the power-supply capacitors that comprise the main shock hazard in
tube-type TV's, but the TV tube itself that acts like a very high grade
capacitor with 20kv of charge on it! But don't wait--just discharge
everything you see. Get a hunk of wire, ground one end to the chassis of
the microwave, and use something like plastic (not metal) salad tongs to
touch the other end of the wire to the various leads of the big caps in the
power supply and anywhere else you see them. If you're really paranoid wear
goggles and use jumper cables from your car. The worst spark you'll get
will hardly make more commotion than a mousetrap going off. Odds are you
won't get even a hint of a spark after a day or two. Suck it up and get to
work!

. . . science is our friend!

--Ray


"Schism" > wrote in message
...
> It's been unplugged for around 10 days now, how long do you suggest?
>
> > You're wrong. Microwaves contain high voltage power supplies very
similar
> to
> > those inside TVs. The power supplies have large capacitors that retain
> the
> > ability to shock for many days.
>
>

: >> Can anyone tell me if microwaves retain electricity even if
: >> they're unplugged like televisions do? I plan on gutting a
: >> microwave and modding it into a custom computer case I'm building.

anticdotally, i once disassembled a television which had held a charge for
20 years sitting in a basement.

--
kyle cassidy | /"\ ASCII RIBBON
www.kylecassidy.com + \ / CAMPAIGN
| X AGAINST HTML MAIL
| / \ AND POSTINGS

"Kyle Cassidy" > wrote in message
news
> : >> Can anyone tell me if microwaves retain electricity even if
> : >> they're unplugged like televisions do? I plan on gutting a
> : >> microwave and modding it into a custom computer case I'm building.
>
> anticdotally, i once disassembled a television which had held a charge for
> 20 years sitting in a basement.

http://www.everist.org/special/mw_oven/
"High Voltage. There are voltages of up to four thousand (4000) volts DC
present in the wiring around the magnetron. These are definitely lethal
voltages. Always ensure power is securely disconnected, and the main
capacitor has had a minute or two to discharge fully, before going anywhere
near this wiring. Also, some microwave oven capacitors don't have an
internal discharge resistor, and so can store a lethal charge for lengthy
periods."

"Kyle Cassidy" > wrote in message
news
> : >> Can anyone tell me if microwaves retain electricity even if
> : >> they're unplugged like televisions do? I plan on gutting a
> : >> microwave and modding it into a custom computer case I'm building.
>
> anticdotally, i once disassembled a television which had held a charge for
> 20 years sitting in a basement.
>
> --
> kyle cassidy | /"\ ASCII RIBBON
> www.kylecassidy.com + \ / CAMPAIGN
> | X AGAINST HTML MAIL
> | / \ AND POSTINGS

yes Microwaves have a high voltage capacitor that needs to be discharged.
As for the 20 year tv, I don't believe it.

del cecchi

"Kyle Cassidy" > wrote in message
news
> : >> Can anyone tell me if microwaves retain electricity even if
> : >> they're unplugged like televisions do? I plan on gutting a
> : >> microwave and modding it into a custom computer case I'm building.
>
> anticdotally, i once disassembled a television which had held a charge for
> 20 years sitting in a basement.
>
> --
> kyle cassidy | /"\ ASCII RIBBON
> www.kylecassidy.com + \ / CAMPAIGN
> | X AGAINST HTML MAIL
> | / \ AND POSTINGS

yes Microwaves have a high voltage capacitor that needs to be discharged.
As for the 20 year tv, I don't believe it.

del cecchi