QA

Quick Answer: How To Test A Ceramic Microwave Fuse

How do I know if my ceramic microwave fuse is blown?

To check a ceramic fuse, use an ohmmeter or continuity tester. With an ohmmeter or multimeter, you should see a reading close to zero ohms if the fuse is intact, or infinite if it’s blown. If a continuity tester indicates continuity when you touch its lead to the ends of the fuse, it’s good.

How do you test a ceramic fuse?

How to Test a Ceramic Fuse Turn off the power supply to the appliance or other electrical device if the device is hard-wired. Set an ohmmeter or multimeter dial to zero. Touch one end of the fuse terminal with the black test probe and the other end of the fuse terminal with the red test probe. Read the ohmmeter display.

Do you have to use a ceramic fuse in a microwave?

Generally with fuses as long as you replace it with a fuse having the same rating it is OK to do so. Although ceramic fuses do offer better thermal and arc protection than glass fuses which is why they’re used in microwave ovens and other high current appliances.

Where is the ceramic fuse in a microwave?

The ceramic fuse is located inside of the cabinet near the entry point of the power cord. Remember to unplug the cord before attempting any repairs. You can check the fuse for continuity with a multi-meter.

What happens when a fuse blows in a microwave?

Thermal fuses will blow to prevent the microwave from overheating and potentially causing a fire. A fuse will also blow if there is a surge in electricity, which can cause a short circuit.

How do you tell if a ceramic fuse is blown without a multimeter?

Testing without a muultimeter To test a fuse without multimeter, take a flashlight equipped with a flat battery. Unscrew the bulb and get the battery. Place the fuse of one of the battery “blades” and the base of the bulb on the other side of the fuse. Put the bulb pad in contact with the second “blade” of the battery.

How can you tell if a thermal fuse is bad?

Multimeter Test Remove the two wire leads from the thermal fuse and touch a multitester probe to each wire terminal on the fuse. If you get a reading of infinity, the fuse is fine. Any reading less than infinity indicates a triggered thermal fuse you will need to replace.

Can I use glass fuse instead of ceramic?

You can replace a glass fuse with ceramic, but not recommended to replace a ceramic with glass. Be sure they are the same voltage and amp rating, slo-blow, etc.

Do microwaves need special fuses?

Microwaves usually contain several types of fuses for safe operation. A main fuse or line fuse is a fuse that will cut the flow of electricity if too much current passes through it. Conversely, a thermal fuse will prevent electrical flow if the fuse is heated to a specific temperature.

What kind of fuse do I need for microwave?

Our countertop and over-the-range microwaves: Require a 120 volt individual, properly grounded branch circuit with a 3 prong grounding type receptacle, protected by a 15 or 20 amp circuit breaker or time-delay fuse.

Where is the ceramic fuse on a GE microwave?

The fuse is located under the plastic grill at the top of the microwave. It’s held on by two screws. Once you’ve removed the screws and taken off the plastic grill, you go to the right side of the microwave and remove another screw that holds a small metal grill in place.

What is a ceramic fuse?

Ceramic fuses protect against overcurrent in high-current circuits found in AC or DC electronics, appliances, and electrical equipment. They have higher interrupting ratings and withstand higher temperatures than glass fuses.

Will microwave turn on if fuse is blown?

In the most common scenario, your microwave will start up and run with no issue. This verifies that nothing that takes just 120 volts like your door switches and electronic control is causing the issue. WARNING: Do not attempt unless you have training in appliance repair.

What causes a microwave to suddenly stop working?

The most common cause for a microwave oven not working at all is a blown main fuse. The microwave main fuse will cut the flow of electricity if too much current passes through it. There can also be thermal fuses, cavity fuses, and thermoprotectors which will interrupt the electrical flow if the microwave overheats.

How do you check a fuse on a circuit board?

You will need to use the multimeter to check the ceramic fuse. At first, set the multimeter promptly in the continuity function. Then, touch the probes of the multimeter with the metal ends of the fuse. If the fuse is in ideal condition and continuity, the meter will beep.

How do you know if a white fuse is blown?

A homeowner can determine if a glass fuse is blown by performing a visual inspection and looking for a break in the thin wire and a brown color in the center of the fuse. There is no damage to the ceramic fuse. If the ceramic fuse has blown, it’s time to test it.

How do you tell if a glass fuse is blown without a multimeter?

Remove the fuse from its holder. In some cases you may need a small screwdriver to unscrew the fuse holder cap. Look at the fuse wire. If there is a visible gap in the wire or a dark or metallic smear inside the glass then the fuse is blown and needs to be replaced.

Can you bypass a thermal fuse?

Locate and Bypass the Fuse The thermal fuse will look like a thin strip of white plastic with a wire coming out of each end. In order to bypass the thermal fuse, use electrical tape to tape the two ends together. The thermal fuse will then be bypassed. Turn the dryer on to a heat cycle for no more than 90 seconds.

Will a thermal fuse keep a dryer from starting?

A blown thermal fuse often prevents an electric dryer from starting. You’ll find the thermal fuse on the blower housing. Unplug the dryer and check the thermal fuse for continuity. Replace the thermal fuse if the multimeter measures no continuity.

Is there a reset button on a microwave?

A soft reset is simply turning off the microwave oven to cancel or erase the program you’ve input in the microwave. To do this, you will just simply press on the Off/Clear button. Pressing Off/Clear button and holding it for about 3 seconds will also resolve the Control Locked feature of the microwave.