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Laughing Jaguar
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Join Date: Jul 2008
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How to Test for Energy Loss in a Kitchen Microwave

06/28/2009 12:04 PM

This morning I was on my cordless phone when the conversation was interrupted by a substantial background noise. The signal was also garbled.

It was purely by accident that I noticed that the noise diminished as I left proximity to the kitchen microwave which was heating up some coffee.

When I approached the microwave, the interference stopped abruptly, at exactly the same time the microwave "pinged" that it was done and stopped running.

It's not conclusive by any means but there is some obvious correlation between the interference on the phone and the use of the MW. The obvious question is: what's causing the interference?

Is it merely RF from the solid state circuitry or is my phone picking up potentially harmful MW leakage from what is supposed to be a isolated environment.

The safety switches on the door function as they should.

Any way to test for MW leakage without buying expensive equipment?

It could be nothing or it could prove serious. Until I know for sure, I've ceased using the MW

Thanks

L.J.

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kudukdweller9
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Join Date: Jan 2009
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#1

Re: How to test for energy leaks in a kitchen microwave.

06/28/2009 1:53 PM

You cordless phone appears to be one of those that operates in the 2.4 gHz band.

Some cordless phone systems are more effected when operating between the base station and a phone than when used to make an outside call.

There are a number of devices that you may find around a home that operate in that band. Wireless Ethernet, Blutooth, etc

The phone equipment should not be located near a microwave or any of those other devices.

The microwave ovens operate at 2.45gHz and an analog cordless phone the receives in that band is succeptible to interference from any of those devices if brought near to them.

Get a passive microwave detector (check your big Hardware Stores or appliance dealers) and put a cup of water in the oven and turn it on for a minute and move the detector around suspect areas like the door seals.

Slamming the microwave door, food or crumbs in the seal and stuff stuck to the interior can cause or add to leakage.
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Laughing Jaguar
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#2
In reply to #1

Re: How to test for energy leaks in a kitchen microwave.

06/28/2009 3:39 PM

I picked up a leak detector "card" and did as you suggested.

We're safe!

Thanks

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kudukdweller9
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: How to test for energy leaks in a kitchen microwave.

06/28/2009 4:43 PM

What about the RF interference?
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chrisg288
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Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - Technical Services Manager Canada - Member - Army brat Popular Science - Cosmology - What is Time and what is Energy? Technical Fields - Architecture - Draftsperson Hobbies - RC Aircraft - New Member

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#4

Re: How to test for energy leaks in a kitchen microwave.

06/29/2009 3:57 AM

There are some excellent microwave leakage detectors on the market, and affordable... they also are called cordless phones! If you find your wife or daughter tanning in the kitchen, maybe its time for a new microwave.

Chris
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WoodwardDL
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Location: Anthem, AZ
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#5

Re: How to test for energy leaks in a kitchen microwave.

06/29/2009 10:08 AM

While assisting a Guitar manufacturer with 2.4 GHz remote microphone study, I picked up a transient signal with a Tektronix RSA3308A Real-time SpecAn. I knew it was a microwave oven, but he said there was none within 50 yards! Well, that was the one; we could capture that microwave signal with a simple RF antenna at 50 yards away anytime we wanted to. Microwave ovens are powerful (although they have a low duty ratio burst pattern), leaky, and cause all kinds of interference with cell phones, portable phones, blue tooth head sets, etc.
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edignan
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#6

Re: How to Test for Energy Loss in a Kitchen Microwave

06/29/2009 10:49 PM

OT warning - Recently I noticed interference on my radio and on the TV when muted just before a call came in on my cell phone.

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chrisg288
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Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - Technical Services Manager Canada - Member - Army brat Popular Science - Cosmology - What is Time and what is Energy? Technical Fields - Architecture - Draftsperson Hobbies - RC Aircraft - New Member

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#7
In reply to #6

Re: How to Test for Energy Loss in a Kitchen Microwave

06/29/2009 11:38 PM

That ain't so bad. In my house, when the phone rings, I know that my partner will be unavailable for an hour, and if I need to talk, then I am the Interference.. and get waved off..

Chris
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Anonymous Poster
#8

Re: How to Test for Energy Loss in a Kitchen Microwave

07/01/2009 8:43 AM

If the flourescent lights in your house become spontaneously energized while the microwave is in use, but the light switch is off, you may have a significant leakage problem.

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Electron Oasis
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United States - Member - Les Etats Unis

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Sacramento, California
Posts: 61
#9

Re: How to Test for Energy Loss in a Kitchen Microwave

07/01/2009 7:58 PM

Yes the guest has a good answer regarding florescent light bulb. Run the microwave and put a florescent bulb near and around the microwave if it starts to glow a bit or a lot;microwave energy is escaping.

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