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unit PCB thinks its powered up but nothing happens.

hello -

my GE microwave wont "start" up. the front panel seems to think its starting up, but the following are doing nothing:

1) oven light

2) back fan

3) turntable motor

4) magnetron

my initial thought was maybe (just MAYBE) there was some sort of fuse mounted on the PCB but i was not able to find anything.

a relay on the PCB is making a little clicking noise when the unit is trying to start up. i dont know if this clicking sound is normal or not since i have never listened that closely.

i tested RY-1 and the circuit is closing, but not so on RY-4.

does this mean a bad PCB? i have never replaced a relay before.

or does this mean another trip to the store?

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Hi,

Here is a link that may be of some help, if you can read wiring diagrams that is.

With the circuit you should be able to find out what RY-4 does and how it operates and holds.

Usually relays are easy to replace if they are through hole board mounted. More or less like any other component. Use a soldering iron, solder wick or solder sucker and remove the solder from all the relay connections on the underside and lift the relay out.

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thanks - i did find a schematic diagram and some troubleshooting instructions. the instructions said to TEMPORARILY hotwire the relays and see if that fixes it, which it did not.

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Hi,

Without a circuit (I mean me) I cannot advise much further except to start with one problem and find the reason for that. Simplest one perhaps is the oven light. Follow the circuit to see how it operates and then find out why it doesn't, Same with the fan. Hopefully they all come back to a common factor, which may be affecting the whole lot.

Apologies if you are aware of this.

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jayeff - your kind and patient suggestion lead me right to the "primary interlock switch" which appears to be broken. thank you very much! $6 replacement on ebay, including shipping.

well, maybe not "right to", this was after staring at it for an hour or two (or three)

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Hi Mark,

Glad that you found the problem.

Regardless of the time it took, it was still pretty quick if it was the first time with this circuit. First time repairs on any 'new' equipment (repairwise to you that is) always takes a bit longer, but hey, you found the problem.

Thanks for the feedback.

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thanks, but in retrospect, that should have been the FIRST place i checked.

however, the only reason i even saw this was because i accidentally turned the 'primary interlock switch' upside down and noticed the actual switch part dropping down a bit to be visible, but only when it was upside down. and there was absolutely no resistance pushing it back in. so its pretty obvious that over time, the spring-loaded latches hit those switches with some force and damaged it. NOTE TO ALL: DONT SLAM MICROWAVE DOORS.

you are right on the first-time repair. one of these days i may live long enough to enjoy a "second-time" repair, rather than accumulating a lifetime of first-time repair experiences!

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Mark Edwards will be eternally grateful.
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