Is this a countertop model?

I got whatever they had at Costco at the time I needed my last one. Panasonic. You need 1000 watts of power, and I'd consider the rotating bottom tray to be a necessity. Otherwise, they're pretty much the same, I'd guess.

Yep counter top....was hoping someone could recommend a brand to avoid or something....last micro was going great after about 22 years....this one died in 4....
Guess they are cheap enough now to just go buy one....

We have a built in Sharp, that works well, but lasted only about 6-7 yrs and we had to replace with the identical one. The trim kit (what a rip-off) was already in place, so it made sense to buy the same.

More recently we bought a Panasonic cheapo at Costco for another area of the house, but in reality it was never used except when the main one broke. When DD was in need we gave it to her. It seems to be working well and is given quite a workout!

Consider yourself lucky to get 4 years... my GE Profile died in 2. I replaced with an over-the-range Samsung and it seems to be fine (and wasn't nearly as pricey).

Alexa

I've had my Sylvania for 8 years and it's going great!!!

It was around $100 which is all I want to pay. It's large enough for my casseroles, is easy to operate and has the quick buttons for potato, popcorn, etc (which I've never used).

Mine is one of the early Amanna's, bought in '78, doesn't have anything fancy, like popcorn cycle. It's large and we had it built-in when we redid our kitchen in '89 (Lord how time flies). Had some repair over the years and were advised to keep it as long as we could because it's not all plastic. LOL We use it mostly to reheat, defrost, not so much to cook, but occasionally bake potatoes etc.

jude

Jude, I had one of those old microwaves, bought it in 1982. It worked like a charm, until the day it exploded. Yeah.....I loved that microwave, though, my ex MIL called it my "$100 baby bottle warmer". she thought it was a stupid purchase, so that just made me like it better. (grin)

Rght now I have a cheap $45 microwave I bought at the local Walmart. It works fine except that I dropped the glass plate in the bottom and broke it exactly in half. Now all the paint on the inside is flaking off, but it still works. I'll check the brand when I go home for lunch.

Annie

LindaC,

We have a counter top Sharp, Model# R-520L purchased at Lowes for around a hundred bucks maybe less. We love it.

It came with a bunch of extra features I thought would never be used but have found to be quite handy actually. Nice to have the "keep warm" feature when cooking for large groups and the oven is full, automatic and sensor reheat, etc.

It will be a sad day when we have to replace this baby.

I have heard that most are made by Sharp and rebranded. Although I have a Kitchenaid with trim kit which works well in your case I would buy a Costco special

Costco, Sam's Best Buys Lowes....here I come!!
Thanks!

Just remember the wattage and the rotating plate on the bottom!

Here is a link that might be useful: Consumer Reports

Other than size and price, I look for microwave with the following features:

1. The interior light bulb can be replaced without having to take the entire unit apart.

2. The drive belt for the turntable can be replaced without having to disasemmble the entire unit.

3. The port (window) where the magnetron microwave energy exits is not made of mica. Mica can get dirty with splattered grease, which can get carbonized and become combustable by microwave.

4. Microwave is not very electrically efficent. Only about 60% of the enrgy is used in cooking. Check out the efficincy.

dcarch

Annie, I bought mine in 1978, don't remember the cost but I'm positive it was quite a bit more than $100, closer to $300, I think. I do remember I paid for it myself with "crafts" money. Money wasn't that plentiful with 4 kids so I was glad to be able to do that.

jude

Well..well..well. I remember when I posted 2 years ago my Mr. Micro kicked the bucket and I asked for recommendations and you said 'just go and pick one up' or something to that effect. How the chickens have come home to roost :-)

Okay, on a more serious note I bought a Kenmore that has a pizza oven built in as a bottom drawer and we use that probably more than the micro part. Great for small things....re-heating pizza, french fries, taco shells etc. without turning on the big stove oven.

Good luck with your decision!

Duane

Well duker, the advice given me here has been just that.....so I will go pick one up.
I wondered if there were any lemons out there....
Yep...power...1200 watts. Never thought of the light bulb....the last one I had before this lived for 22 years without changing the bulb...and I don't think you can buy them without a turntable.
So it's going to come down to "fits the space" and to "power" and to the bottom line....price.

Measure the current one..and take those measurements with you..

Inside and outside!!...learned that the hard way!

We had a Sharp Carousel for about 16 years...1000W and big enough for my yellow tupperware bowl...loved it! It up and died earlier this year. We have a used smaller Sharp now. I doubt it will last as long, but here's hoping...

Check the fuse!!! could be as simple as replacing a fuse.

Posted by countryham "Check the fuse!!! could be as simple as replacing a fuse. "

Not a bad idea. However:

Check the power plug with an Ohm meter first. If you get "0" reading, possibly it's a blown fuse. If you get any kind of reading, then it's not the fuse.

The reason being that it is a lot of trouble to check the fuse. You need to completely dis-assemble the unit to get to the fuse.

dcarch

I don't have an OHM meter.....and don't know where the fuse is....but the light works, you turn it on and it makes noise, but no heating goes on and the clock works. So I am assuming it's the magnetron or whatever the device is that emits the radiation.

Then it is not the fuse.

The fuse in on the circuit board, a 1/4" by 3/4" glass tube.

The noise is probably The fan in the back, and/or the turn table motor.

If the clock work, could mean the control board is good.

The magnetron is not likely to go, and the transformer that drives the magnetron if burned you will smell something.

Most likely it is the High frenquency converter that converts 60 hz to gega hz that is not functioning.

Buy a new one.

dcarch

BTW, everyone should get an Ohm meter from Radioshack. A few dollars only.

When you have 4 batteries in a gedget, most of the time you only need to replace one of them if you check the batteries with the meter. Batteries are expensive.

dcarch

Linda, mine is a GE, has buttons for popcorn and beverages, buttons for defrosting and power levels. I use the "on" and the "off". (shrug)

It works fine but if I run it more than five minutes it blows the breaker and all the paint is peeling off the inside, and it's only a few years old.

Annie

I like the simplest possible controls and no complicated programs. That tends to mean very low end, or very small, models, but lately I see some nicer micros with simpler controls (I guess it's called '' retro '' now).

You might look at the commercial models. They have simple controls, I do not know if they are built better than the $50 consumer models, but in general I think commercial stuff is longer lasting.

John,

Most microwave ovens have only two power settings in reality; Power is either full on or off. There is no half-power setting.

When you set the cooking to low power, basically the control system's timer turns the duration of the full power to cycle on less.

All the fancy settings are no more than pre-programmed timer settings.

dcarch

When our Sharp died, as in 'one day it worked fine, the next day it didn't come on', DH(who knows his electronics and has all the meters and gadgets)changed out a switch he thought it might be due to them wearing out often, but no go. He thought it may have been the magnetron or transformer. With the one we have now, it was being tossed because it wouldn't come on(it otherwise looked little used). DH checked it out, changed a switch and it worked.
Just an added thought...if we were to get a new one, a feature we'd look for is an actual door handle...I know that has nothing to do with the way it runs, but I've always hated the door 'button', and often they wear out or start sticking.
Hope you find one you like. We were without for about a month or so and I was very sad. Didn't think I would miss it that much.

Unplug it for 5 mins, then plug back in and see if that resets everything and it works again.

noinwi, good thing that your DH knows electronics.

For those of you who knows just a little and want to tinker a little, make sure you read the following:

The high voltage supply to the magnetron generator has a transformer and a high voltage capacity which stores a high voltage charge, just like the "fly-back" high voltage for a TV monitor. Good circuit design provides a bleeder resistor to bleed away this charge after the uinit is turned off. But you can't be sure if this feature is in your unit.

So if you are smart and unplug the unit and thinking that all is well, you may be in for a big shock and find yourself bounced to the other side of the room.

dcarch

My Spellcheck changed "Capacitor" to "capacity" without my permission.

dcarch

This link makes me want a commercial microwave - of course, it is at least partly marketing talk.

Here is a link that might be useful: Commercial Micro

John, I don't think you want one of those.

1. When was radiation a problem for home microwaves?

2. Are you going to install a 220VAC system?

3. 1,900 watts is the cooking wattage, 3,200 watts is the operating wattage!

4. No turntable is useless. Turntable has nothing to do with plate size.

dcarch

Arjay:
I have the same micro,- Sharp, Model R-520 L .

Inside measurements, 16 1/2 wide X 16 1/2 deep X 9 1/2 High
The glass turntable is 16 inches.
Bought it at Lowes. Works great same as my Sharp TV.
LOU

Don't buy Viking! There's your lemon!! Moved into this house one year ago; the house was 3 years old when purchased. The micro died within 6 months of being here. Got online, figured out how to replace the fuse...it worked...once. As soon as you open the door and the light comes on, the fuse blows. Repairmen wanted the cost of a new micro just to come look at it. Wouldn't hear of me taking it to them. Bought a GE, fit in the space...works fine.

So now I have a dead viking in my garage...

That's funny, Lou. We have matching microwaves and waffle bakers! Both of which have given great service, a delight to have in the kitchen.

I'm anxious to hear what LindaC selects to bring home.

Now go find me a micro for a lefty, ie. with door hinged on the right side.

dcarch

DC:
Just stand with your back to the Micro, when you open the door.
LOU

And now The Pig in the Sink is leaking.....headed out to shop today. The Pig is easy...in sink erator....but I'll have to co-ordinate with the plumber..... But I'll have to shop for the micro...

Regarding that commercial microwave and radiation, I have two friends whose doctors have told them to move the microwave into another room and to not be in the room while it's in use. For me, and the little bit I have read on the subject, there's enough ambiguity to consider safety a priority in a microwave.

"Now go find me a micro for a lefty, ie. with door hinged on the right side."

In a perfect world...sigh. Why can't they open like an oven(toaster ovens do!)? They're ovens, right?

Sorry...lefty whining...

"Posted by Bumblebeez (My Page) on Fri, Aug 26, 11 at 15:06

Regarding that commercial microwave and radiation, I have two friends whose doctors have told them to move the microwave into another room and to not be in the room while it's in use. For me, and the little bit I have read on the subject, there's enough ambiguity to consider safety a priority in a microwave. "

Too many times people are confusing the two:
Radiation (magnetic) from microve ovens has nothing to do with radioactivity, as in atomic bombs.

dcarch

Perhaps those who were warned were using pace makers.

Bought another GE....swore I wouldn't ever have another GE....but it fit the spot and I know how to work the controls.....and it was cheap!!

No pacemakers, one had breast cancer though.

Ok, Linda, when this one dies, we'll remind you not to get another GE. Disposable electronics! ;-)