Every year people are killed by taking apart a microwave oven. See why..
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- čas přidán 15. 12. 2016
- richmond.com/news/man-dies-wh...
King William man has died from an accidental electrocution while trying to repair a microwave oven.
Sheriff's Capt. James Nester said today that Charles N. Martin, 28, a farmer, died Monday while working at a farm in the 500 block of Etna Mill Road in the western end of the county, near Hanover Court House.
Nester said Martin was fatally injured while removing the back cover of a microwave oven. The oven had electrical power but apparently was not generating heat, Nester said.
"Even an unplugged microwave can kill you," said Hudson Mulford with Lakeside Appliance in North Side.
PS: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that four people are electrocuted each year trying to repair their microwave ovens.
Thanks for saving my life. For real.
Thank for watching .. before I start a project I now ask my self HOW MANY WAYS CAN THIS GO WRONG?
@@ktoutdoor Hi! I just watched this video and now I am asking myself how to discharge this capacitor properly. I don't think a resistor is the way to go since it would probably make a huge spark. Any idea how to do this? Need the stuff from in there to make a Tesla coil!
@@jangruber42 Sorry I wish I new myself,, ask yourself how many ways can this go wrong?? then ask your self is it worth it ? If you could download a repair manual for the exact model you are working on would be a starting point. But be careful so your future grand kids can thank you.
J G When I took a microwave apart I used a pair of insulated screwdrivers, although it had been sat in the garage for years... no spark at all.
Oh, and it turns out that the capacitor had an inbuilt 10MΩ bleeder resistor, so a more reasonable resistor should be just fine.
@@Bellezzasolo Thank you for contributing
Thank you for sharing! I've known that the capacitor in a microwave oven is very powerful, and stores electricity.
I've taken apart a microwave or two, and I sometimes don't realize how dangerous it can be. Its important to stress that fact, and appreciate the video. Hopefully people unawares will come across this before doing it the way I did.
Thank you for watching and contributing. before i go to fix something I try to ask my self "HOW MANY WAYS CAN THIS GO WRONG?" then I stop and think about what I'm about to do.
@@ktoutdoor you spent 5 seconds on the part that can kill me. Thanks a lot!
I took a microwave apart today and i was messing with the capacitor without realizing it was a capacitor and realized i could have died right then and there
So happy you were able to live to tell the tale.
@@ktoutdoor 😂😂😂😂
Be careful I don't know why they put High voltage capacitors they should have put the round black ones like 220v 4500mf Capacitor
@@antresia.9723 they use it for a voltage doubler
Multiple claims here are FALSE. Show me one report of anyone killed by the capacitor. It has an internal 10 megohm resistor to bleed off any residual voltage for safety.
The rating on the capacitors is shown on the side of them, 2100 volts, not 3 to 5 thousand.
What he claims is a resistor is instead a high voltage diode and part of the tank circuit. Find videos that describe how it works. Almost magic.
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My credentials: I invented coin shrinking, 50,000 volt capacitor bank producing a .75 million amp pulse for 4 microseconds and worked with a 3 million volt Tesla coil also, for example and was tutored by the man who invented the world's first automated heart defib unit, so many patents he stopped counting. Fun fact: His favorite TV show back then was Mr Rogers Neighborhood. Can't say as I blame him, those factory tours. :) Still alive but a tooth brush bristle lodged in his throat causes pain and MRI doesn't help in case anyone can think of a genius solution to locate it precisely.
Jesus I can't believe I almost screwed up in a BAD way, I decided to look up a few videos just because I had a funny feeling about what I don't know but, I'm grateful to you and so is my dog, I live alone and she would have been alone for some time. Thank you so very very much.
When it comes to working on live current, you should work with only one hand when possible, because when working with two hands, a path for the current exists from one hand to the other.
Placing one hand in a pocket to prevent contact with grounded work surfaces while performing energized electrical work is done to prevent electrical current from flowing through the heart.
Thank you for contributing.
A very sensible comment. This is not emphasised enough in many fields of training and employment. An electrician told me this when I was an apprentice. Best keep one hand in your pocket! The left one preferably. The strange fact is that this same guy never used a mains tester when working on the 240V supply; he just used to tap the wires with his finger to find the live one. I noticed that he always wore boots with thick rubber soles though. No kidding, this is a true story.
You could earth out equipment you are working on, a lead from your house earth to earth of unit you are working on
@@geoffroy9383 The large capacitors ?
@@markae0 discharge capacitor first
I like taking things apart just to see what's inside. Glad I seen this b4 I did
Ther should be warnings all over the panel so people know tf
There are signs in the back of every microwave oven warning about the risks.
lol it’s not even that dangerous all you need to do is connect each side of the capacitor with metal if it sparks u saved ur self if it didn’t there was no more electricity in it
They are warning all over the place
That isn't a bleed off resistor ( most micro waves don't have them at all) , that is a high voltage diode. So the capacitor can hold voltage indefinitely. I work on them for a living and have got shocked with one. I'm very lucky to be alive.
Thanks for the update I got my info from another video online so always TRUST BUT VERIFY ...
Please read my comment above and consider how unlucky you are to be alive.
Maybe 10 megohms as a discharge resistor, much lower and the dissipation would be too high and cook the resistor. The electronic/electrical crowd use a capital
M followed by an upper case Greek letter omega (Ω) for megohms... 10MΩ. 0.2 milliamps flow during the peak of the cycle, 2,000 volts at 0.4 watts. Don't open the capacitor... they are oil filled, not toxic, just very messy. The waveform is a mess, huge ripple with a peak voltage up around 2,000 volts, down to less than 1,000 volts at 60 hertz in USA and 50 hertz over here in NZ. Our capacitors are 1.2 to 1.5µF for 50Hz. The reason that diodes blow here is because the mains voltage is 230 volts and we don't need such a grunty diode to rectify the high voltage.
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Our primary has approx 1 turn per volt and about 1,600 turns in the secondary. Yours would be 110 or so turns in the primary with twice the cross sectional area of copper and 1,6oo turns in the secondary. A lot lower impedance ergo, a higher current available. If you reuse a microwave transformer, don't forget to remove the magnetic shunts before you rewind it. Those shunts are just "I" laminations to compensate for the weird waveform being put out onto the grid because of the half wave DC rectifier.
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I use a rewound transformer for my "hot knife". A heated 304 stainless steel blade for cutting plastic ropes and sealing at the same time... carving plastic foam, etc. 3 turns of 4AWG cable to the element mounted on a bit of heavy duty industrial Formica, heat controlled by a "variac". I also have the mandatory spot welder using 2 identical transformers, primaries and secondaries in parallel for higher duty cycle or welding power. Secondaries are 2 turns of 0AWG and controlled by a timer and heavy duty relay from a foot switch.
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I also have an unmodified transformer that I use as a break finder in cables. This is mounted in a toolbox and has 2 push button switches that must be pushed at the same time but are further apart than your fingers can reach... a safety feature. The high voltage comes out to 2 crocodile clips on the end of some 15 kilovolt rated flex from a neon sign. The clips go to either end of the broken wire in the lead which is spread out on the concrete floor of the workshop. Plug in the box... put on the clips, push both buttons and wait for Mount Vesuvius to erupt. Takes about 5 seconds and a hot flame forms where the break is and this burns through the insulation. Don't do it inside your house... it stinks and burns wooden floors and carpets.
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Have fun BUT be careful. Further thoughts... Maybe that cap with a 10Ω resistor is a "snubber", a device that reduces sparks across contacts. The resistor limits the inrush current and the capacitor slows the voltage rise rate. Value of the capacitor could be 1µF but not a big metal job, more likely a plastic box type.
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My apologies Kevin for taking over your post.
I have fixed 2 microwaves Samsung and IFB and tried to short the capacitors with a plier before touching them but they never pop or crackle like it's being discharged already right when just plugged out. Also a voltage line tester shows no voltage as soon as it's plugged off. Seems they have resistors here.
Newer microwaves have bleed resistors
I have three microwave capacitors that have yet to be properly discharged laying around my house; I left the bleeder resistor on all of them while removing. I have been careful not to touch both terminals at the same time for fear that they can store a charge, but didn't realize that an accidental discharge could mean sudden death. I will be discharging them pretty soon here for fear that they will represent a danger to me and my family.
Thank you for contributing.. and be careful
I remember taking apart countless appliances for scrap as a kid. I had no idea I was dodging bullets, I thought if it was unplugged you're good to go. Haha smh
It’s a 2100 volt capacitor. It will never hold 3000 to 5000 volts. It can still cook you, but it’s not going to disintegrate you. 😆
It will still kill you
Thanks for saving this from the landfill! I'm not touching the inside of a microwave.
Very important information... thank you ... truly a good deed on your part.
Thank you for the kind words Mike.
Not the slow agonizing kind, just sudden.
Thanks for this comfort, I feel much better now
Very quick If wanted to suicide I think but don't know anyone thankfully who has committed suicide at all 🙂
I'm sorry but it doesn't really look like you know what you're talking about. You pointed at the diode, part of the voltage doubler circuit the microwave uses. The bleed resistor is contained internally in the cap, and the cap itself is only rated for half of the
I agree I don't know much about these I just wanted to make a video of the dangers after a local Scraper Died after taking one apart that was unplugged just to get the copper out of it.
@@ktoutdoor thank you for admitting it, lots of people wouldn't. You're totally right though, it's one of those hidden dangers most live without knowing about, although it's better to know and be safe for sure...
A friend of mine wanted to use a microwave capacitor in a wood burning set up.
I tried to explain how dangerous it is. And she wouldn’t listen. Thanks for a video to show her.
Does she have any experience or is she just an “artist”?
@@jakub3851 random artist , saw a tictok and is determined to get started. Lol
@@masterluxu1 can you link the tiktok?
@@masterluxu1 definitely not recommend then
And if she is using the transformer, and doesn't know what she is doing she can still get a lethal dose of electricity. Those transformers in microwaves produce 2000 volts.
I bought the exact same microwave as a scratch and dent at Sears. The damage was pretty much the same as well. Once installed you don't even see the dents/scratches as it's next to a cabinet.
My house is equiped with an actual vent outside for the fume hood so that was a challenge to get the pipes lined up so it actually blew outside.
A year or so after use the relay that turns the Megatron on would not engage. A swift tap to the section under the bottons will unstick it every time and it cooks perfect. If I have to take it down to fix the relay I'm tossing it in the garbage. Hanging it was definitely the hardest part of the install.
Obviously Frigidaire didn't package these well..
Yes they are very heavy do deal with.
Great information and life saving no doubt! How long ago did they start fitting the bleeder resistor and does it take long for them to drain the capacitor once you fully disconnect from the mains? I'd not like to depend on the resistor and will keep my hands well away from it. Just wanted to leave it long enough before opening the case. Appreciate your advice,, many thanks!
Honestly I don't know for sure
.. if you can get a factory service manual of your exact model it should tell you how to safely proceed but with out a manual your flying blind.. and that's how bad things happen.
Ok thanks for the advice,, it's a pity they don't put the bulbs somewhere easy to change :)
Thanks for the information
thanks for the tips i was planning on taking the transformer out of my old microwave oven and i would have totally ended up necking myself if i didnt know about the capacitor
thanks for the warning!
I'm a refrigeration mechanic and got zapped by capacitors plenty of time and some pretty large ones but it don't kill you just get a shock...
I understand its rare but people still die every year just google "man dies while fixing microwave" you will pull up many different stories. I would like to understand exactly what they did wrong its very sad most times its someone trying to take one apart for the scrap.
@@ktoutdoor ...maybe I have low iron content in my blood not sure, but you are right some people have serious side effects to electricity...
@@noproblem2big337 Thank you for contributing have a blessed day.
Might depend how strong your heart is !!
New fear unlocked
the capacitors in Playstation power supplies are dangerous lol.
I know I'm not the first to realize that the capacitor in a microwave oven is very dangerous, like those n old tube type television sets.
They can ruin dzy.
Older tube televisions will give you a hell of shock too. don't ask how I know I just know 😳
Will all pay a little tax stupid tax along the way..lol
That's a diode btw, NOT a resistor.
The resistor is built into the cap and they've always had them for safety.
Thanks for clarifying
I found one that was for free on the side of the road, still brand new and in perfect condition and it worked like new.
True - capacitors on some appliances can be sitting there holding a lot of voltage. You should have taken the next step and showed people how to discharge the capacitor. Not too difficult and you can buy or make a discharge tool for very little money. Don't just warn someone about a danger, it's better to teach someone about a danger and show them how to defeat it!
I would if I new for curtain the correct way,,, I could have given some general advice but may not apply to all Microwaves out there unless you have a copy of the service manual and know for sure what your doing its best to leave it be and live to tell about it...
@@ktoutdoor, that's a good reply. No doubt different microwaves will look very different inside, so you're 100% correct in that the user must be careful because there are high voltage capacitors in there!
I have a buddy who's a retired appliance repairman. His shop was in a garage next to his house. He always had a gaggle of kids around the place. His best method of discharging the Caps was to ask the unwary kids to reach in and pull the capacitor out. Saw a lot of shocks and moderate zaps, but no one ever died.
I took the one we had in our old 2002 class c. It had a recall on it . Took it apart. Junked it
That thing you called a bleeder resistor is a high voltage diode that the microwave use to rectify and step up the voltage from the transformer, the bleeder resistor actually sits inside the capacitor
Just so I can learn .. the part i was pointing to was kinda dark and hard to see but i remember it connecting on one of the 2 terminals on the capacitor and the other end connected to the frame of the oven. and it looked like a resistor in the middle. so it made sense to me that it would bleed off the voltage .. are we talking about the same part ?
Yes at 2:14 that is a high voltage diode that you are pointing at, its good to know because otherwise you might think its a bleeder resistor in another microwave and maybe the capacitor dont have an bleeder resistor so you might get a shock
Here is a link that explains the voltage doubler. www.microtechfactoryservice.com/doubler.html
Thank for the update and the link.
What voltage doubler? They use a half wave rectifier... you need two capacitors for a voltage doubler.
C A P A C I T O R : Keeper of deadly electrical charge that wants to be grounded, don’t be that ground.
As a young foolish man, I once discharged three large in-line capacitors tucked under a 26 inch tv tube, the discharge threw me clear across the room, I was thrown to the corner like rag doll , no burns but a hell of a jolt. I was lucky and to this day, wear rubber boots, heavy rubber gloves with long insulated tools when even contemplating working with Capacitors. Always discharge the capacitor using approved procedures and isolating equipment before even getting close to one.
Thank you for contributing your story and your experience
Thank you for contributing your story and your experience
Thank you for contributing your story and experience
@@ktoutdoor I love how you said the same thing 3 times lmao
You'd think there would be a sticker on the capacitor deadly even when unplugged
Thanks, how much time would I have to wait to disassemble my microwave? I felt wire burning smell coming from the microwave, the transformer was very loud suddenly! Please tell me is it safe or should I just throw it away because I want the transformer for some low safe voltage experiments.
Look at it like this... risk versus benefit.. Benefit FREE transformer, RISK possibility of death.
I sometimes ask my self how many ways can this go wrong? Then I talk my self out of doing something stupid after I think about it for a while.
@@ktoutdoor yeah imma just call the service guy and ask him to open it and see what's wrong then I'll ask him to leave it open cos I don't wanna get it fixed easy work
@2:03 It reminded me of an episode of Rick and Morty.
Rick: It’s called a deterrent.
Thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks for watching
Thanks for the info I have never taken one apart I am glad I haven't because I did not know that
I’m 11 years old and today I took apart a microwave strait after I unplugged it and what I always do is I get a isolated pair of pliers and short the capacitor then remove it and keep it shorted and then after I’ve done that I can begin to disassemble the rest of the microwave.
pretty sure the FBI is older than 11 years old. nice try buddy.
I was born on June 9 2009
this is only for you to read, your Exposing the FBI, we are trying to catch creeps.
I'm only 13 but I've already taken apart around 16 microwaves and then extracted the copper from transformer and I can discharged the capacitor
You sound like a smart young man but be very careful and respect the power of electricity.
Yesterday I discarded one microwave I didnt know this can happen. It was few years after we stopped using it.
I want to turn an old microwave into a turn table. If I disconnect the magnerton and the fan, will that work? (worried about the capacitor. Should I leave that connected?)
I'm not sure sounds feasible but just ask yourself how many ways can this go wrong. Proceed with extreme caution ⚠️.
@@ktoutdoor Thanks for the reply. Found some microwave motors are 240V (the first one I found was 30V) so a 240V works fine straight of the mains.
Remember to discharge the capacitor, folks.
Would it be safe to discharge it with needle nose pliers? I didn’t die, and I’m assuming it worked and it is safe
Perhaps you should run a emp tester all around your great deal to see if your famliy are safe.
😂😂😂😂
Just use the warranty
Is it safe to change the wave guide cover by cutting electricity at the source? It wouldn't be necessary to discharge the capacitor for doing this, would it??
I would think so but know way to be sure I would look for a service manual for your model and see what is says. and be careful
watch this czcams.com/video/ATXjqMhv568/video.html
Just took one apart 😅. It was unplugged for 3 months.
Question if a microwave is setting and not plugged in for a year is it safe to mess with capacitator?
I am not for sure I found this video about the subject you just need to ask your self is it worth the chance if something goes wrong? Is you life worth a microwave ? czcams.com/video/VzQm59tVjPg/video.html
Just discharge it instead of asking hypothetical questions. Always discharge it. Also depends on the capacitor and whether there is a bleeder resistor
Best way to repair a microwave oven is NOT TO REPAIR IT! Not worth the risk. They are cheap enough to buy new.
Thanks for contributing
Speak for yourself. I guess you don’t get under a properly jacked up car either? I repaired my microwave several times. Mostly 2$ micro switches. Yeh let throw out the whole microwave and buy a new one for a simple $2 part. I’d rather learn the dangers and take appropriate precautions. Thanks
Thxs
Video starts at 3:29
LOL
That capacitor will hold enough to kill
Is there any chance that when people are opening a microwave outer body, they get a DEADLY Shock, if there is some wire touching to the body from capacitor, or like that....without even touching the capacitor?
Please reply
I think that would be unlikely... I'm sure there is a proper way to take apart and repair but every model is different and locating a service manual may not be so easy. Remember what curiosity did to the cat? So do your research and be careful
@@ktoutdoor Thanks, Actually my microwave was not heating (while it was running) so I did a little research and found that three components are mainly responsible for that, The DIODE, CAPACITOR and THE MAGNETRON.
In my case it was the CAPACITOR, I discharged it before opening it from the microwave body, and replaced with a new one. And now the microwave it heating fine.
@@randomguy5922 That's great news
@@ktoutdoor thank you :)
The numners on the display didn't work.. i have to open and clean it
Idk why i was thinking of opening a microwave for the scrap
How do you deal with that capacitor?
To tell you the truth I don't know I do know you need to be careful I just remember watching the news a while back and a local man was killed taking one of these apart so he could sale the scrap from it.
@@ktoutdoor it's easy - any capacitor can be discharged by shorting its leads. Just take a screwdriver with a good handle on it (handles are insulators) and place it across both leads..
Shit man.. thank you thanks a lot.. I already fixed my microwave once’s few months ago was the resistor, and literally destroyed te whole unit and out back on and not it’s working. and now I have and other but has no power AT ALL I was thinking either the fuse or capacitor but after this video I have no more intention to fix it anymore.. thanks a lot..! 👏👏🙌🙌
Literally the same microwave I just took apart
my father cut the bleeder resistor because our microwave was not working. Despite myself not knowing a thing about microwaves, I told him not to because that just sounds like trouble waiting to happen. He knows a bit more than me about tinkering with things, but I still don't like it one bit. He claims since he changes A/C capacitors all the time, its no different. He also tells me if i'm so concerned i should just not use it. For someone who knows a bit more about microwaves, is he going to cause a fire or sudden death in the family? forgive me, i'm truly clueless.
Not likely
But I'm not an electrical, so.......
How much of the microwave do you need to take out if you are just wanting to make a portable device for micro-torture on bike theives?
I was aboutta take one apart today, god thanks man.
Better safe than sorry. it can be done but you need to know what your doing and know what not to touch and how to safely discharge.
@@ktoutdoor Yeah, I gotta be more careful, thank you so much man.
@@goodppl9401 Keep learning just be careful.. have a great day
@@ktoutdoor Thanks, you too!
how long can you wait before it is just safe to gut the thing without any threat of being shocked? It can't hold a charge forever if it has been unplugged
The high voltage capacitor can give you a lethal shock even after the microwave has been unplugged for months. Read more here www.makeuseof.com/tag/safely-take-apart-microwave/
Save a life. Share this video!
Be safe out there folks. That red wire shocked the shit out of me
Thanks for contributing.. yes be carefull
We have capacitors in A/C systems and Washing Machine motors. It's not enough electric to kill a person, but enough to hurt. In an A/C a capacitor is anywhere from 370 - 440VAC and it can vary between 5/45 - 5/80 uF.
Omfg Im glad I didnt disassemble my microwave all the way. I had no idea its this dangerous..i think im gonna dispose of this
Amperage kills not voltage
Thanks for contributing
Oh wow thanks I’ve actually done this before but didn’t know thsj
First I read about taking apart a microwave oven I saw info on that capacitor. I just let the microwave sit for about two months before taking apart. I was more worried about Beryllium Oxide poisoning from the magnetron (that's even how I got here). But I'm still alive so it seems I didn't do anything wrong.
A 1 microfarad capacitor with a 10 megohm internal resistor fitted will be safely discharged within 10 seconds or less. A screwdriver or similar shorting device will do it in less than 1 microsecond. Two months?
@@wateryblaze I had it in a garage for about two months. Partially because I didn't have time to disassemble it.
Fair enough.
Holy crap. My microwave shocking me just by touching the chassis.
Welp tore down the microwave and touched the cap and scratched the beryllium because I didn’t know what it was scrapping seems less and less worth it lol
So it's beware of the antique microwaves.
A friend of mine put a fork in a toaster. All the fuses popped
not true, most houses have breakers instead of fuses, and even if the house was wired with fuses for individual circuits, that should have only blown 1 fuse.
Cool story bro
I have taken apart a lot of microwaves and i never realized how dangerous those capacitors are. So next time i'll be extre carefull so thanks for the vid
Not just the capacitors are dangerous. There are a couple of ceramic looking rings (might be white or pink) found on the magnetron which might be made with a beryllium compound. Those little rings are safe as long as they're intact. If they get broken, it's all bad - the dust released from being fractured will contain a volatile carcinogen. If you breathe any of this dust, you will get cancer, and you will die.
Try to be careful..
Often not as dangerous as this video makes them seem. Even a high value bleeder resistor will discharge the capacitor quite quickly. Even if there is no bleeder, as long as the oven is unplugged, the capacitor isn't ground referenced, so touching it with one finger wouldn't hurt you. You would have to touch both sides of the capacitor simultaneously to get a shock. If you did this with one finger, for example, then the current would only flow through the finger...unlikely to be fatal.
Thank you for contributing
everything in this world can be deadly when used wrong.
how many death,s by knife,s a year ? or walking outside ? or standing a ladder ? etc, etc..
my point, a knife is not making people death, people who use them wrong are, and also is a capacitor not killing people, people are going to die because they dont know how to discharge the capacitor.
if you are really wont people to be safe, just tell them how to discharge te capacitor.
Actually, not entirely correct. The output of the capacitor-diode circuit is at 5000 dc, but only while its running. The actual voltage of the capacitor is 2 100 square root 2, which is roughly 3000 volts. Also, that is a zener diode, not a resistor, and sometimes, the capacitors have a pre-installed, internal capacitor, rated at the mega ohm region. So even if you take apart the microwave immediately after using it, the voltage of the capacitor would have dramatically dropped
Thank you fro contributing.
My co worker got shocked one time it threw backwards up against the wall of our shop scared the deal out of me. Lucky he was only stunning but not seriously hurt.
Holy shit...if you cant tell a diode from a resistor!!!!
As i recall that would bleed off an over charge..
However if seams likely that if you run the microwave and then kill power at the source..the Cap should discharge into the load ...
Anyone here actually know..
And fir Fuchs sake...bring it to a recycling center... its not worth it..and if it works... lots of charities to choose from...
I have mine opened up right now. I am about to
The big dangers of capacitors is that it stores huge amounts of current. Low voltage (under 100v) with large current can also kill.
Good warning.
I was going to take tansformer off for bug zapper but only you really know what you are doing.......... eave well alone.
I'm quite happy that my electronic stays at 12 volt max level. I make mistakes so im not going there.
Better safe than sorry. Thanks for watching
You're much better off using a neon sign transformer because a microwave oven transformer uses a tremendous amount of power compared to a neon sign transformer which makes it very expensive to operate because it draws as much as 1600 watts , A neon sign transformer draws around 100 to 150 watts
why microwave transformer, it's just too powerful...
I've been scrapping over 20years(in England )and have taken apart thousands of microwaves and never knew this to be true can Somone explain why I would get a shock?
I think the newer Microwaves have something called a bleed off resister that is supposed to drain the capacitor but I would not trust them. Watch this video I found to see the power of a microwave oven. czcams.com/video/21aR8RezdQ8/video.html Do you research and be careful...
Well a capacitor stores potential difference(voltage) much like a battery except with minimal current. Because it doesnt store current also it can be fully charged within a few seconds and some can store extremely huge amounts of potential difference. There is a different potential between the two studs, (the amount thats stored) and bridging the studs with each other via a conductor or a finger causes the two studs to want to have the same potential as each other, hence it discharges everything quickly to get the studs balanced and that discharge shocks you.
@@e_wa.n5036 a battery doesn't "store current" either. The only component that can store current is an inductor. The reason capacitors are viewed as more dangerous is because power supplies (batteries) have resistance, and so when they are shorted the short circuit voltage is significantly lower than the rated voltage. Capacitors do not have this problem - your body will see the full voltage, and the energy put into your body is proportional to the square of the voltage. These ovens have a pretty damn high voltage.
@@Chadwickyboy well a battery is just a chemical reaction either way. Wether its charging or discharging.
For explination sake i like using the word 'store' because using correct terminology can make it more complicated.
For instance...the more correct thing to say is that a capacitor builds up negative charge in the form of electrons on one of the terminals, although it doesnt store them, or for instance an inductor creates current flow in the form of collapsing magnetic flux and also doesnt store current officially.
A battery also doesnt store either voltage or current, instead; like in the case of lead acid batteries; the electrolyte and positive and negative terminal plates would have different chemical compositions in its charged and discharged states and the reaction between them would cause a potential difference causing current flow...nothing really stores anything but its easier explaining it that way.
The difference between batteries and capacitors are the amount of potential difference the negative can push to the positive terminal. The external resistance across the conductor also plays a huge role. The resistance in the human body is around 1mega ohm and because of this the 12 to 24 volt across a lead acid battery is not strong enough to push much current between the terminals...whereas the voltage across capacitor terminals range in the several thousands of volts, sufficient enough to push what little current it pushes through your body much more easily.
You do bring up a great point about the internal resistance though but i would think thats more of a definition of the difference between the two components,? But im just another person learning so yeah i might be wrong
I literally just took one apart
Just be careful
This is the stuff that urban myths are made of. I could be a smart arse and ask you to name them, but I won't and this is why... Most people just throw the stuffed microwave in the rubbish, drive down to their local big box store and buy a new one.
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Those who pull the old ones apart for the bits in them have watched these sorts of videos and are aware of the "dangers" that lurk inside and short out the high voltage capacitor without killing themselves. They don't see a spark when they short it out as there are discharge resistors fitted inside the capacitor. If you are silly enough to power up a microwave and grab the high tension leads from the transformer... tough. Instant Darwin award.
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If however the discharge resistor has failed and you get across the terminals, you will get a belt equivalent to that from an electric fence. The energy stored is around 1 joule. The terminals are small and reasonably well shielded and unless you are determined to put one finger of each hand on a terminal, all you'll get is a belt across one hand. Doctors apply about 300 joules when using a defibrillator.
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If you are stupid enough to pull the magnetron apart and grind up the beryllia insulation and inhale the dust, you may cause chronic beryllium disease which could kill you... many years down the track.
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Throwing the transformer at someone may kill them if you hit them in a vital spot. Maybe that is how people are killed by taking them apart.
Yeah. Good luck with that. Hopefully you never get a reality check next time you tare apart a microwave.. the only thing that discharges the capacitor on most microwaves is the mag. If it happens to be an open circuit then the capacitor can still be charged and it's will hurt you if don't know what your doing. I know someone personally that died because of this.
As a retired electronic tech, the main failure in NZ is that the magnetron fails, takes out the diode... goes short, blows the fuse and all is safe. I've only come across one incident when there was any charge left in the cap and that was just a few volts from the pathetic little spark. Yeah, I short them out too. All our current batch from good ol' China must have a built in discharge resistor. Maybe your first lot didn't or maybe they were faulty back in 2008. Ever worked on a microwave tempering (thawing) tunnel? They are great fun... 10 or more magnetrons all operating together. You take precautions so that you don't get fried, either way.
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I feel sorry for your farmer but it wasn't from the high voltage in the cap... he didn't unplug the thing before working on it. It plainly states... he was fatally injured while removing the back cover of a microwave oven. The same thing can happen if you take the back off any appliance still plugged in and turned on. I have even come across power cables in the wall that have melted the plastic coating due to continuous overloading and had the phase welded to the earth and the earth wire blown off between the switchboard and the plug. Phase on the earth and the phase wires. Luckily no one was killed. It was in the wash house or laundry. Over here we have 230 volts at 50 Hz. There are very few people who get electrocuted over here. Maybe we don't do so much DIY... don't you believe it, we are a nation of DIYers but we do it carefully.
@@wateryblaze i'm glad to hear you retired...
@@wateryblaze I've never seen a shorted diode cause a fuse to blow , just makes the microwave growl . A shorted capacitor will blow a fuse.
I started out as a domestic repair tech and finished up as a industrial electronic tech. Worked on and in some scary situations... X-ray transformer servicing - 64kV a few inches from your hands, under oil that eats rubber gloves and makes them slippery as hell. Lepel treater that etched the surface of a polyethylene film with high voltage and frequency to make the plastic take ink and adhesive... a form of Tesla coil generator. Ward Leonard motor speed control of DC motors up to 200 HP and 300 volts DC. Plastic injection molders with 80 tons clamping force with faulty controllers scared the hell out of me but I'm still in one piece. Worked on the electronic controls in 11 kV sub-stations. Ever seen one of them hit by a surge? I have after the fact. It makes a hell of a mess. I'm glad to be retired.
PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BEFORE REPLYING. Ok your understanding is off btw, First of all after the microwave is unplugged the capacitor quickly discharges so by the time you open it up and touch it, it would be discharged and even if it wasn't fully discharged you would literally have to touch both terminals one in each hand to "POSSIBLY" Harm You, but if you just touched it once with one hand it would just buzz you a little but would not kill you or harm you it might sting a little but that's it. Second of all that's not a resistor that's called a "Diode" the microwave transformer puts out between 2000 and 2800 volts AC and it runs through the capacitor and diode and doubles in voltage because the diode and capacitor make what's called a "Voltage Doubler" and that feeds the magnatron with 4000 to 5600 volts DC it gets half wave rectified so it's actually half DC but point is your really incorrect about what you are saying I've taken apart like over a hundred microwaves and other electronics and I mess with them constantly and those transformers are really good high voltage power supplies but please DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH MICROWAVES IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING IF IT IS PLUGGED IN DO NOT OPEN IT USE YOUR COMMON SENSE AFTER IT'S UNPLUGED THEN YOU CAN OPEN IT and unless you want a good buzz just use some pliers and open them and shove each end into a separate terminal and you might see or hear a discharge but all of my days of fiddling with microwaves I've never saw or heard a discharge off of the capacitors even right after unplugging and running them and if you didn't actually cook with the microwave then you don't even have to discharge it cause no power would have even gone to the capacitor just use common sense please and stop spreading false information and research before making a video for the sake of people like me having to type all of this thank you and please don't take this as offense im just teaching you :).
Thank you for the information... Yes you need to know what your doing and I will tell you I don't know much about microwave ovens so I try to respect them and just want other people to respect them also or better yet don't mess with them at all.... Its stories below that made me make this video. richmond.com/news/man-dies-while-fixing-microwave/article_ee48c2ac-0128-5530-b7c3-4c7a1c3ff15a.html
PS: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that four people are electrocuted each year trying to repair their microwave ovens.
Sudden death lol 😂
I don't know why they put High voltage capacitor on Microwaves.when I take the microwave apart I'm just going to take out the fan and the display pad and that's it.
I'm not quite sure but i think a diode and a capacitor increases the voltage
I'm pretty sure it's to deliver a sufficient charge to initiate the magnetron..
A magnetron (like every other vacuum tube) need high voltage to operate and emit microwaves. (if course high voltage DC)
If you want to see what the cap looks like when you discharge one check out this video and skip to 4: 27 czcams.com/video/t8IdWa5ee3A/video.html
Wow thats some scary stuff.
Thanks for contributing.
Yeah thank Jesus for CZcams n people like you who don’t like to see others die lol! I was about to do the same.
Before I do anything I ask myself how many ways can this go wrong..lol
Haha
Please get a camera tripod!
Thanks for showing me how to make a booby trap for the next thief who wants to steal from my shed , can i just conect the wires to the door knob and zippity zap ? Man it will be like a big bug zapper . I lost over 2 grand in tools last year and the cops just say make a claim to my insurance but that just will raise my rates so now i win not the thiefs , both kinds insurance company's and the scum bags who take what ive worked hard for ..........
I bet tongue 😝 on capacitor be funnn