When people think of microwave ovens, they think of how ubiquitous they are.
A microwave oven is a device that uses microwaves generated by an electrical vacuum tube called a magnetron to cook or reheat food.
The magnetron transforms electrical current into electromagnetic radiation (microwaves), composed of magnetic and electric energy waves.
As soon as the magnetron produces them, microwaves go via a waveguide, a metal container, to a stirrer fan, which disperses them into the cooking chamber.
The food within the cooking area absorbs the microwaves, which cook or reheat it in minutes or seconds.
Even though there are several kinds of microwaves and numerous applications for microwave ovens, they all essentially perform the same function.
Panasonic Burning smell is one of the most frequent problems with microwave ovens and may occur for several reasons.
The main reasons are the burning of electrical equipment’s like magnetron, antenna, and high voltage diode and sometimes due to overheating and overcooking of food.
Strong chemicals have been used to clean the oven.
If the electric oven isn’t working, it must be switched off and checked out immediately.
With a faulty link, the wire will get heated and burn.
Verify the locations of the heating elements and other connections, then tighten each one individually.
However, significant factors involve technical reasons behind burning electrical components, magnetron and antenna failure, etc.
Causes of Panasonic Microwave Burning Smell
If your Panasonic microwave emits a burning smell, you should immediately turn it off and unplug it.
Several factors contribute to burning smells, some of which are listed below:
Electrical Components Failure
When your microwave is in operation, burning smells like melting plastic, or burnt wires indicate that its electrical components are deteriorating.
Various electrical parts are installed in the Panasonic microwave ovens and could be harmed due to electrical disturbances.
Extra care is required resolve the issue of burning Smell.
Although numerous electrical reasons are there which cause the failure of components, the details of major ones are given below.
However, avoid attempting to fix or diagnose electrical problems with your microwave, particularly if you smell burnt wire or plastic.
Blockage of Cavity sidewalls
The blockage of the cavity is caused by food that has been attached to or splattered on the cavity’s sidewalls, the wave guiding and the grill area.
This could be fatal for the life-span of your microwave oven.
It could be avoided by proper cleaning of ovens after every use.
If you take good care of cleaning, this factor may be improved.
Burning of Antenna
The magnetron is an essential component of microwave ovens, and an antenna is associated with it.
An external magnet creates a longitudinal magnetic field.
It can function as an oscillator if connected to a resonant line.
Extremely high frequencies and brief bursts of extremely high power may both be produced by magnetrons.
They are a crucial source of energy for microwave ovens and radar systems.
Sometimes, magnetron burnt the antenna, and it causes a burning smell.
This could be a very dangerous and a major factor in the burning Smell of Panasonic microwave ovens and must be avoided.
A proper understanding of magnetron and antenna is required to deal with this problem very quickly.
You can read a little bit about these components.
The microwave frequency is generated and amplified by a magnetron.
The magnetron’s output is connected to the free atmosphere’s impedance via a “horn” antenna.
A magnetron within your microwave oven distributes microwaves more or less straight into the oven.
We hope this subhead will help you cater to the reason for burning Panasonic microwave ovens.
Burning of High Voltage Diode
The diode converts the transformer’s A/C power output to D/C, increasing the voltage to about 5,000 volts.
This high voltage powers the magnetron that heats the meal.
The magnetron won’t get enough voltage to function if the diode burns out, which will stop the microwave from heating.
The diode often seems to be burnt out when it fails.
Check the diode and replace it if it is burnt out.
If testing the diode visually is ineffective, connect a 9-volt battery in series with the diode or test the diode using a multimeter that runs on this voltage.
The diode should only have continuity in one direction when the leads are switched.
Even after being disconnected, the microwave oven’s high voltage capacitor may hold a fatally high quantity of power.
It is exceedingly risky to replace the electrical components in a microwave due to the high operating voltage and the possibility of electric shock.
Certified technicians should only do diode replacement.
Fixes of Panasonic Microwave Burning Smell
The burning Smell of Panasonic microwave is mainly due to the reasons that had been already discussed in the above section of problems, and main reasons are the burning of electrical equipment’s like magnetron, antenna, and high voltage diode and sometimes due to overheating and overcooking of food.
It could be elementary and cause problems; make sure the Smell is not related to burning meals and food.
If the Smell is not related to meal burning, then read the problem thoroughly stated above for rectification of the issue.
A solution guide is also elaborated for the reader, and we suggest you to have a deep read of this section.
It will help you to cater the abovementioned problems related to a burning smell.
Checking and Replacement of Electrical Components
A trained professional electrician is required to check and replace electrical components.
A digital multimeter is needed to check the continuity of major electrical components.
If your electrician found faulty parts, buy them from Amazon, and then it is effortless to replace them with the help of an expert/professional.
Most of the time, small electrical sensors and wirings burned due to severe disturbance in the voltage.
We hope this fix will help you to remove and solve the problem at the earliest step of fixation.
Cleaning of Cavity Sidewalls
Cleaning of cavity sidewalls may be processed regularly to avoid the blockage of cavity sidewalls.
If your cavity sidewalls are blocked, it will stop the path of radiation, and the temperature will automatically rise due to increased internal heat.
When the internal heat or temperature increases, some of the sensitive electrical components would get burnt and the Smell may be sensed.
Replace Magnetron Tube
Magnetron uses high voltage and may get burnt for various reasons and can cause a burning smell.
It is not repairable but only replaced Magnetron tube, and you need to hire an expert for this task.
Replace High Voltage Diode
The diode often seems to be burnt out when it fails.
Check and replace Diode if it is burnt out.
If looking at the diode doesn’t provide any results, test it using a multimeter that runs on a tiny battery or connects the battery to the diode in series.
How To Get Burning Smell Out Of Microwave?
If your microwave get burning smell, then you can get rid of burning smell by following three easy methods:
Vinegar Method
To get rid of burning odors, vinegar steaming method is a great way to remove them.
You just need to adjust the amount of vinegar used in this steaming method based on the harshness of the odors left behind.
Things You’ll Need:
Glass Measuring Cup
3Tsp white vinegar
Water
tb1234
Process:
1.Fill the water in measuring cup halfway.
2. Add vinegar to the water and stir lightly.
3. Keep the solution inside the microwave and heat until it begins to boil (about 90 seconds). Inside the microwave the steam should form.
4. Leave the microwave door closed for three minutes, and let the steam to coat the inside of the microwave.
5. The steam from the vinegar solution will loosen debris inside the microwave.
6. Take out the measuring cup from the microwave.
7. Wipe down entire of microwave using a damp cloth or a paper towel.
Baking Soda Method
You can use below method using baking soda to get rid of burning smell from microwave.
Things you’ll need:
Baking Soda
Water
Microwave safe bowl
Soap
Cloth rag
Process:
1.To remove that burnt smell from microwave, mix five teaspoons of baking soda and about a ½ cup of water inside a small and microwave-safe bowl.
2. Heat the solution on high for six minutes in microwave. Leave the solution inside the microwave for up to one hour.
3. Wipe down the inside of the microwave using soap and water.
4. Use a cloth dipped in the baking soda and water solution to get rid of any unwanted smells and stains.
Lemon Steaming Method
You can use water, lemon juice, and lemon slices to get rid of smell in microwaves.
Here you can also use Lemon essential oil instead of lemons. You just need to use four drops of oil in place of the lemon juice.
Things You’ll Need:
Lemon
Glass bowl
½ cup water
Process:
1. Add water into the dish. Cut the lemon halfway and squeeze the juice directly into the bowl of water.
2. Stir the solution and place lemon halves inside the container.
3. Heat the solution inside the microwave for 90 to 120 seconds. Heat up the solution till to create enough steam.
4. Leave the glass bowl inside the microwave for at least five minutes which allow the steam to loosen debris.
5. Take out everything from the microwave and wipe inside with a damp cloth. Once the water gets cooled, use this solution to clean the outside of the microwave.
Related Questions
What does it mean if your microwave smells like burning plastic?
Sometimes you may experience that your microwave smells like burning plastic. Overheating a plastic food container in the microwave could lead to melted plastic and its burning smell.
The lids on some plastic containers also even start melting before the food beneath them gets hot.
It causes a stinky microwave and a potentially ruined meal.
To get rid of a burnt plastic smell out of a microwave, air it out, then clean the microwave with odor-busting natural cleaners, such as vinegar as aforementioned-mentioned process.
Is it safe to use microwave after burning plastic?
If the microwave has been used properly, the smell of burnt plastic in the house isn’t dangerous.
It’s likely to microwave plastic items to melt them.
If you want to remove the plastic smell in the house, open the windows and turn on the ceiling fans.
Microwaving food in a plastic container or bag is not advisable, as it can easily melt with temperature rises.
There are various microwave-safe containers, bowls, and cups that you can use to heat or cook your food in the microwave without any harm.
Final Thoughts
The burning Smell of a Panasonic microwave may be avoided using simple solution tricks mentioned in this article.
Check and replace faulty electrical components in the main control board, which is responsible for the burning Smell in the microwave oven.
Cleaning of cavity sidewalls is must in this case.
You may need to change the magnetron tube and high voltage diode to remove the burning Smell in your Panasonic microwave.
You require a Hard wash with chemicals after maintenance activity to remove the feel-able Smell from the cooking/baking cabinet of the Panasonic Microwave.
References:
https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/464833/
https://www.fixya.com/tags/panasonic_microwave_burning_smell
https://support-uk.panasonic.eu/app/answers/detail/a_id/8076/related/1
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