Is it dangerous to use a rusting microwave?
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@fastfinge oh that's so interesting, thank you!
Also might potentially explain some of the WiFi issues we're having?
@alexisbushnell It would only explain wifi issues that happen while someone is using the microwave. If the issues start when the microwave starts, and go away as soon as the microwave stops, then it's the cause. -
@alexisbushnell It would only explain wifi issues that happen while someone is using the microwave. If the issues start when the microwave starts, and go away as soon as the microwave stops, then it's the cause.
@fastfinge hmmm maybe not then. Maybe that remains a mystery!
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@Maker_of_Things yeah I would accept it but then we will have 2 microwaves taking up a tonne of space and it will cause issues with housemate.
Appreciate the input. My friend was shocked at how housemate responded when she offered it (for free!) cos she was so against it.
@alexisbushnell
Can you just tuck it away in your bedroom for your own personal use?I think that would be my option.
Housemate is being unreasonable.
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@alexisbushnell Okay, I don't have links to hand, but I'm a licensed ham radio opperator, and this is the kind of theory we learn. The danger from a microwave comes if it is failing to keep the actual waves inside. Microwaves are designed with an enclosure that blocks most of the energy from them. However, you might notice that when you run your microwave, your wifi and cell signal degrades. This is because your wifi/cell and a microwave use similar frequencies. But your wifi just uses a millionth or billionth of the power. So when those waves start leaking out of your microwave, they can drown out the wifi completely. The danger comes from just how much energy is leaking. You can stick a wifi antenna directly in your mouth for hours while it transmits, and nothing bad will happen to you. But if it was putting out the same power of a microwave, you would be cooked. In general, the test I use is this: place your cell phone inside the microwave, and close the door. DO NOT! TURN ON THE MICROWAVE OBVIOUSLY! Now, with the door completely closed, try to call your cell phone from another phone. If it rings while inside the microwave, I'd worry a bit. If it doesn't, I wouldn't. This works because your cell tower is transmitting at low power, and is far away from you. So if your phone can talk to the tower from inside the microwave, it means it's probably leaking more energy than you would really like.@fastfinge @alexisbushnell do they actually interfere with things outside the ~2.4ghz range? I've only heard of it affecting that before but who knows!- (well I'm sure the engineers who make these know ...)
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@fastfinge @alexisbushnell do they actually interfere with things outside the ~2.4ghz range? I've only heard of it affecting that before but who knows!- (well I'm sure the engineers who make these know ...)@feld @alexisbushnell They can. Depends on if you're using 5G or CDMA or what though, I guess. mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/simple-microwave-oven-leakage-test-using-wifi.1176492/
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@alexisbushnell
Can you just tuck it away in your bedroom for your own personal use?I think that would be my option.
Housemate is being unreasonable.
@Maker_of_Things I agree on unreasonable but sadly no room in my bedroom.
Friend was over to help me rearrange and organise my room to fit everything better cos basically everything I own is in my room. -
Is it dangerous to use a rusting microwave?
Ours is rusting (and has been for some time), a friend offered us her spare one. Housemate says no because ours still works & rust isn't a problem.
Any evidence or info anyone can provide?
@alexisbushnell
if there are no holes in it no -
@wcbdata it is inside the microwave, corners and sides peeling and rusting.
@alexisbushnell yeah, it's probably time for a new microwave
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undefined oblomov@sociale.network shared this topic on
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Is it dangerous to use a rusting microwave?
Ours is rusting (and has been for some time), a friend offered us her spare one. Housemate says no because ours still works & rust isn't a problem.
Any evidence or info anyone can provide?
@alexisbushnell Rust ingested in small amounts is said to be non-harmful, however, large amountes can lead to digestive upset, skin and eye irritation, and probably other things that aren't indicated on every health site on the topic. Iron oxide is not the same as iron in the blood. Strongly suggest replacing that microwave, as well as your source of information from wive's tails to evidence-based, scientific health information sources. The $100-300 extra expense is worth more than the health issues you are knowingly exposing yourself to. And if someone offered a free microwave as a replacement, its simply pure stupidity to refuse it, given it is evaluated to function and not cause other health issues through malfunction or defect.
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Is it dangerous to use a rusting microwave?
Ours is rusting (and has been for some time), a friend offered us her spare one. Housemate says no because ours still works & rust isn't a problem.
Any evidence or info anyone can provide?
@alexisbushnell mine is rusting badly and still works fine.
If it's bad enough that there are holes then I would worry about microwave energy escaping and doing bad things, but that's my personal judgement. Experts may disagree.
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@Maker_of_Things I agree on unreasonable but sadly no room in my bedroom.
Friend was over to help me rearrange and organise my room to fit everything better cos basically everything I own is in my room.@alexisbushnell
Damn.
I hope the friend will keep the offer open for as long as possible to see if housemate can be persuaded. -
@alexisbushnell mine is rusting badly and still works fine.
If it's bad enough that there are holes then I would worry about microwave energy escaping and doing bad things, but that's my personal judgement. Experts may disagree.
@uastronomer ours still works and that's her argument basically. We don't need a new one despite the health risks (which appears to be the main risk with it rusting) even if we're being offered a new one for free.
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@uastronomer ours still works and that's her argument basically. We don't need a new one despite the health risks (which appears to be the main risk with it rusting) even if we're being offered a new one for free.
@alexisbushnell On the other hand, a free microwave that's easier to clean because it doesn't have rust? I'd still take it 😬
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@alexisbushnell On the other hand, a free microwave that's easier to clean because it doesn't have rust? I'd still take it 😬
@uastronomer well yeah, if seems beyond ridiculous to refuse a free microwave that is a kind gift from a friend when ours is on its last legs!
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Is it dangerous to use a rusting microwave?
Ours is rusting (and has been for some time), a friend offered us her spare one. Housemate says no because ours still works & rust isn't a problem.
Any evidence or info anyone can provide?
@alexisbushnell If I had one at work (a school setting) I'd bin it and buy a new one, given the cost v safety ratio. At home, at my own risk, it would depend on where the rust was, how much etc.
Main risk is losing the Earth connection to the casing, the internal transformer works at lethally high voltages (a few kV) with easily enough current to kill. The Earth connection will blow the fuse if a fault makes the casing live. Rust on the outside may also mean rust on the inside. -
@alexisbushnell If I had one at work (a school setting) I'd bin it and buy a new one, given the cost v safety ratio. At home, at my own risk, it would depend on where the rust was, how much etc.
Main risk is losing the Earth connection to the casing, the internal transformer works at lethally high voltages (a few kV) with easily enough current to kill. The Earth connection will blow the fuse if a fault makes the casing live. Rust on the outside may also mean rust on the inside.@_thegeoff the rust is on the inside; corners, and roof are peeling if that helps?
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@_thegeoff the rust is on the inside; corners, and roof are peeling if that helps?
@alexisbushnell That'll provide surfaces for bacterial growth to an extent. I wouldn't worry too much about microwave leakage, you'd need an obvious hole in the casing for that. But it does make me twitchy in terms of electrical safety. Given that you can get a new one for £40 I'd recommend that.
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@alexisbushnell That'll provide surfaces for bacterial growth to an extent. I wouldn't worry too much about microwave leakage, you'd need an obvious hole in the casing for that. But it does make me twitchy in terms of electrical safety. Given that you can get a new one for £40 I'd recommend that.
@_thegeoff thanks. Yeah I'd have just taken the free new microwave our friend offered but housemate says no
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@_thegeoff thanks. Yeah I'd have just taken the free new microwave our friend offered but housemate says no
@alexisbushnell I'm all for repair, reuse, maximise usage etc, and take great pride in fixing a lot of broken electricals/electronics. But the very specific hazard of the kilovolts transformer in microwaves over-rides that for me, worst case scenario is a corroded connection breaks and makes the casing live. Not 240V, but 3,000V. At that point touching the microwave while it's running has a good chance of killing you.
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@alexisbushnell I'm all for repair, reuse, maximise usage etc, and take great pride in fixing a lot of broken electricals/electronics. But the very specific hazard of the kilovolts transformer in microwaves over-rides that for me, worst case scenario is a corroded connection breaks and makes the casing live. Not 240V, but 3,000V. At that point touching the microwave while it's running has a good chance of killing you.
@_thegeoff thanks. Now if only she'd listen to people who know more than she does about it...
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