Dull Men's Club

There's a way to rewire that with either a toggle switch, or using the door switches themselves (3 switches, by law).

https://repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_micfaq.html

We recently had to replace a $500 Electrolux microwave that was only 11 years old. We mistakenly thought that brand was supposed to be higher quality :(

My mom had a microwave that lasted for decades. I left home in '81, so it was bought prior to that. She was still using it when she passed in '16. That thing was huge. I remember that before my dad would sit down to the table to eat, he would open the door on it to just the right angle so he could continue watching the TV in it's reflection. The only thing wrong with it was the top and bottom rows of red LED lights had quit shining which made it a little tricky to tell how much time was left on it, but that never bothered my mom. Also, they didn't have turntables in them back then, so you had to frequently turn the food. Mom bought a wind-up platform that you'd sit the food on and you could hear it in there ticking away while it slowly turned your food. She had to give up about 2.5 inches of height for it, but that oven was so big it didn't matter...

My ex-wife threw away an Amana Radarange, which had a rotating reflector on the ceiling instead of a rotating plate, which I had bought in the 80's, before I "got" her. When I came home, I went to the recycling center, and was able to retrieve it. I installed it in my home office to reheat stuff, but mainly for sentimental issues.

She had a habit of throwing stuff out because she decided I didn't need it.

Good riddance (her, I mean).

(I was wondering how it looks like.)

Also:

HEY!!! 42!!! I was born in Sept '83. Don't you go piling on extra bonus years!!! My hair is grey enough as it is!

For that microwave to last that long is the testament to its durability. Actually, up until the 90s most appliances were built like tanks and so why some people hold onto them, partly they were IMHO easier to repair than supposedly "smart" appliances.

I also remember how Sony TVs during the 80s that were sold included detailed electronic schematic diagrams helpful to technicians.

This old thing was an absolute champ. Between myself, my ex, and two kids who are now adults, it heated up a lot of stuff for us over the years. I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to outlive it or end up buried with it. I guess I know the answer to that now...

You can often fix membrane switches using conductive paint. Link to example. $11.

The PCB will have a pattern of traces under each button that are interlocked kind of like fingers that don't touch or two large pads near each other. The button of the membrane has a conductive patch that completes the circuit between those traces when pressed.

Usually the conductive patch is what fails due to wearing off. So you just paint on new patches on the memnrane. If the traces are worn, they can also be repaired with copper foil, solder, and careful work with an exacto knife. I've even seen aluminum foil and super glue used as a temporary fix on the membrane.

I would probably make this a an Old Man and the Sea project if it were mine. It's just so old, it needs to keep going.

He served his time!!

My 40 year old heat pump died last week too

If I don't find this story dull, what does it say about me?

I was born that month, it's 42...

I didn't notice it was in French at first and was like "That doesnt say July... It says Julliet. Is Romeo the father?"

My toaster oven just died. It was so old all the numbers rubbed off and we just ran it off vibes. Guests were like, how long to make toast? And I just told them turn it till it feels right. I'm going to miss that toaster oven, it was the best.

F

o7

From the peak period of Japanese high quality electronics production I guess.

お疲れ様でした!

I've just replaced a 34 year old microwave. I hate all the new models, I just want something simple that will last practically forever.

It started making an electrical ticking/buzzing noise. I tried contacting 2 microwave repair companies and both said they won't touch it.

I'm keeping it in storage just in case it magically fixes itself when the new one fails.

I had an LG microwave I had for ~5 years die.

Looked into the warranty info.

Only the ...... Magnatron or whatever was under warranty for 10 years.

But the hoops to jump through to get service led me to just buying a new one at the store instead.

Don't make em like they used to.

Least the new ones popcorn button works.

They don't make 'em like they used to.

42

I am barely older than this microwave and am now worried.

Rebuild the keypad with a custom PCB and some tactile buttons

There's probably a ribbon cable from the membrane. You could try buzzing out the keys and making one or adapting an ordered standard part

that's like, 10 confederacies. you should put up a statue dedicated to your microwave

Did you try slapping it on the side?

Well, fix it.

I also have a microwave from the 80s, got it from my dad and he bought it when he was young.

I hope it never dies. I love the Star Trek-like touchpad and the beautiful CCFL display. 😍

It's a Panasonic as well, I even have the ridiculous microwave cookbook somewhere, which contains a lot of really bad meal photos.

I have a NN-7506

Still going strong.

Not sure it the production date is 87, production run 5. Or (7)8, run 7005.

Either way it is old and still good