Why Does the Microwave Trip Breaker When the Door Opens?

Do you feel your microwave is playing a cruel joke on you because it frequently trips your circuit breaker?

Because microwaves require a significant amount of electricity, they can trip the circuit breaker in your home because they cause an overload on the circuit, the microwave is malfunctioning, or there’s an electrical issue, the breaker may trip.

The good news is that it is relatively simple to figure out what component of your microwave triggers the circuit breaker when it is turned on. Continue reading if you want to find out what these are and how to stop them if you’re ready!

Is it the microwave or the circuit breaker? How to Recognize the Issue

Discovering where the issue originated is the first step you should take in this process. Do you use your microwave for it? Or with the circuit you have? Try plugging some other appliances into that specific circuit that requires the same power as the microwave.

• If it trips even when you’re using a different device, then there’s a good chance that the circuit has a problem. This raises the likelihood that you’ll need to replace it. Possibly, the breaker tripped due to an overload, which indicates that it did not have sufficient capacity to supply the necessary amperes.
• After completing the previous test, you should inspect your microwave to see if the circuit breaker did not trip.

You will need to connect the microwave to a different circuit with the same maximum power output to accomplish this. If the circuit breaker trips, the microwave may be the source of the issue.

In most cases, tripped breakers result from one of two common problems with microwaves. There is either a blown fuse or a problem with one of the switches.

• Checking the microwave’s fuse is the simplest and first step in diagnosing and fixing any issues. It is necessary to replace it if it has been burned, if it has broken glass, or if it has broken wires. If this is not the case, you should proceed to inspect the switches.
• A microwave typically has three switches: one for the door, one for monitoring its systems, and one for the primary switch. Any one of these things could also be the cause of the circuit breakers in your home tripping.

Why Does Your Circuit Breaker Trip When the Microwave Door Opens?

If you open your microwave door and the circuit breaker trips, the problem is probably caused by the door interlock switch. When the door interlock switch is activated, a fault can develop if the switch is damaged. The circuit then detects this fault, which immediately trips the breaker in response.

The latches or hooks are connected to the door interlock switch. Before even considering replacing the interlock switch, it is essential to check the other components first. This interlock latches and switch are installed on the cabinet’s interior, where your timer and monitor are.

You will need to have a multimeter on hand for door interlock switch testing. But remember that you should constantly think about keeping yourself safe. Make sure that your device is unplugged before attempting to do anything to it to avoid any accidents.

Cords are connected to terminals on the door switch using the cords. Establish a connection between the multimeter’s two probes and each terminal.

Examine it to ensure that it is consistent with open and closed doors. If the door is open, there should be no continuity in the conversation. In addition, you need to ensure you get a continuity reading even if the door is closed. If any of these tests produce the opposite result, the interlock switch has been compromised.

The clicking sound that an interlock switch makes can also be used as a second method for determining whether or not the switch is damaged. That is to say, the switch might not be broken if it makes a satisfying click sound, but if it makes a very quiet click sound or if it doesn’t make a click sound at all, you should assume that the item is broken.

However, the results of using this method might not be reliable. You should use this only if you don’t have access to a multimeter. Examining the resistance reading is still the most effective method for determining the problem with your appliance.

Why Your Microwave May Be Tripping the Breaker

It is typically because of an internal safety switch designed to prevent the microwave from suffering further harm. So, even though it is inconvenient, it indicates that at least a portion of the microwave is functional. Remember that your specific problem might not be included here, so if it persists, read our guide on how to test a microwave.

Circuit overload

The most straightforward explanation for why your microwave is tripping the circuit breaker is that the breaker itself is overloaded with electrical current. There are many different things that could cause this to occur, such as a microwave that isn’t working properly or having an excessive amount of electrical appliances plugged into the same circuit. This second option prevails the majority of the time.

You need to determine whether or not your microwave is connected to a separate circuit. Go to the breaker box and check if any circuits have the word “Microwave” written on them. If that’s the case, that’s fantastic! Suppose this is not the case, and you find a circuit that is labeled “Kitchen” or something similar. In that case, it indicates that the microwave does not have a dedicated circuit but shares one with several other kitchen appliances.

Circuits are typically rated for a maximum current of 20 amps, whereas microwaves consume anywhere from 12 to 15 amps of power. Therefore, when multiple appliances are running simultaneously on the same circuit, it causes the rating of that circuit is exceeded, which triggers the breaker to turn off.

The circuit breaker will wear out prematurely if repeatedly tripped, which could cause the appliance to become damaged. In addition, overloaded circuit breakers can result in the wiring in your home overheating, which increases the likelihood of an electrical fire occurring in your home.

Consequently, if your microwave does not already have its dedicated circuit, you should install one as soon as possible. Your problem with the circuit breaker tripping should no longer occur due to doing this.

Your Microwave Is Faulty

You may be dealing with a faulty microwave if the microwave is connected to a separate circuit from the other appliances in the kitchen. To ascertain whether or not this is the case, you can do so by testing it in some different ways.

To begin, you will want to connect your microwave to a circuit with a higher amp capacity, such as an outlet in the garage or a circuit that you are sure is solely for the use of your microwave. If this circuit breaker trips, there is a strong possibility that the microwave itself is defective. If the circuit breaker does not get tripped as a result, then you probably just need a circuit dedicated to the microwave.

If you find that the microwave is broken, many different parts could be at fault. These include a broken door switch, a wet turntable motor, a broken capacitor, a problem with the electrical supply, and so on. Continue reading if you want more information on some of these listed below.

The safety latch on your door is not working correctly

The mechanism that controls the safety latch contains more than one switch. The microwave will not function correctly if any of the door latch hooks are broken or if any of the switches are faulty. This could lead to the fuse blowing or the circuit breaker tripping.

You can use a multimeter set to the ohm mode to investigate whether or not the door latch is to blame for the problem. You should test the device with the door open and then again with the door closed.

First, the outer casing of the microwave needs to be removed so that the microswitches of the door latch can be located. After disconnecting the electrical connectors, position the probes of the multimeter tool so that they are in contact with the terminals of the microswitches. You must take a reading for each switch regardless of whether the door is open or closed. If you do not receive a continuity reading, the faulty component must be replaced.

The Capacitor Is Defective

The capacitor is built to store energy until it can release it in an amplified form. Once it does so, the capacitor discharges; if this component is broken, the microwave will produce a loud noise whenever it is turned on and running. When that happens, it will either cause a fuse to blow or possibly trip a circuit breaker.

Unplug the appliance from the electrical supply and discharge it using an electrically insulated device to test the capacitor and determine whether or not this component is the source of the problem. Should you fail to do so, there is a significant possibility that you will be electrocuted.

After that, remove any connectors attached to the capacitor itself and then position the ends of the probes attached to the multimeter tool so that they touch the terminals of the capacitor. If you cannot obtain a reading of the value, this indicates that the capacitor is broken and needs to be replaced.

Conclusion

Having a fundamental understanding of how to troubleshoot appliances like microwaves and circuit breakers can help save both time and money. Any device can be affected by some of these issues, such as when the circuit becomes overloaded.

If you open the microwave door, does this article provide a better explanation of why the breaker trips? If you have any additional questions or concerns, please leave them in the comments section below.

For more details on how to protect your microwaves or other electrical components, consider breakers made from ICRFQ. They manufacture the best electrical components in China.

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