Do you have a Panasonic microwave tripping the circuit breaker every time you turn it on?
If your Panasonic microwave tripping breaker is the problem, don’t worry!
Every problem has a fix, and so does this one.
What makes a microwave breaker trip?
Several things, actually.
The common reasons are electric supply problems, overloading, faulty parts (like the capacitor or the door latches), or even an electronic leak.
What is causing your grievance? Here is how you can know that and how to fix them.
Panasonic Microwave Tripping Breaker?: Causes That Can Trigger It
The first step is knowing your microwave is acting up because of the tripping breaker.
The second step is knowing what is causing it.
A Panasonic microwave tripping breaker can be triggered for three primary reasons.
It can be an electric supply problem, external elements (like water or moisture) inside the microwave, or it can be because of a faulty part.
Let’s take a better look at and figure out why the Panasonic microwave tripping breaker keeps happening.
Electric Supply Problem
If your microwave is facing issues with the power source or processing the power it is getting, it can trip the circuit breaker.
The issue can be a faulty source, or it can be your microwave overloading the breaker capacity.
Faulty Electric Source
Your Panasonic microwave may not actually get the power coming from the power source.
It can be because of a faulty plug or an outlet.
If the plug is faulty, it won’t connect the microwave to the power outlet properly, so the amperage on the outlet can surge and drop way too quickly.
That can trigger the breaker, and it can trip.
Another reason can be the outlet supply.
If you see any burn marks around the plug or if it looks distorted, it is probably because of the electric supply issue.
Sometimes the socket can melt and merge with the outlet, so be careful when checking for the issue.
Making sure to call an expert is necessary.
Power Overload
This is probably the most common reason for a Panasonic microwave tripping breaker.
Your circuits have a specific amount of electricity they can pull.
Most microwaves pull around 12 amps of electricity, and they need a dedicated 20 amp capacity circuit.
If your microwave is connected to other appliances, it can draw more electricity than the circuit can hold.
This burns the fuse of the circuit and trips the circuit breaker.
Water or Moisture in the microwave
Water is pretty much the biggest enemy of any electrical appliance.
It doesn’t just damage the parts. This can also cause a short.
It can trip the breaker if your microwave has water or moisture in any parts (especially the turntable motor).
The turntable motor is the small part that rotates the microwave dish to make the food heat up evenly.
Suppose you’re using your microwave to heat up something with liquid.
In that case, the liquid can sometimes spill and seep into the turntable motor.
This damages the motor, and the damage can trip the circuit breaker.
This is why cleaning your microwave with a dry kitchen towel after every use is recommended.
Faulty Parts
Faulty parts can be anything.
The capacitor, door latches, the timer, magnetron– if any of these are faulty or are short-circuiting, the microwave will trip the breaker.
Capacitor Defect
Another common reason why the whole Panasonic microwave tripping breaker happens.
A capacitor is a small electronic part that stores electricity in it.
It amplifies the power (or sometimes tones it down) and releases it when your microwave operates.
If the capacitor has a defect, the microwave can blow a fuse and trip the circuit breaker.
Another reason can be electricity leak from the capacitor.
If the capacitor has an electrical leak, it will release its stored energy which can cause a sudden surge in the fuse.
The fuse can blow and trip the breaker.
Mechanism malfunction
Microwaves come with multiple safety latches attached to the door.
These latches lock and hold the door in place when your Panasonic microwave is heating up food.
So, your food doesn’t spill, and you don’t have to get electrocuted (literally) when you’re handling the door.
There are multiple switches in the door latch mechanism.
The latching mechanism will deactivate if one (or more) switches to malfunction.
Your oven will stop operating properly.
The oven may not operate, but it will draw electricity from the source.
This will cause a surge in power and blow a fuse.
If the fuse is blown, the microwave will trip the breaker.
Jammed Timer
Microwaves use either mechanical or electronic timers.
It depends on which model you’re using, really.
If it is an electronic timer and the inside contents are jammed, your microwave can blow a fuse immediately.
Blown fuse or not, a jammed timer can cause your Panasonic microwave to trip.
Leaky Magnetron
A magnetron is the main mechanism that makes your microwave work.
This small part sits inside the outer casing of the microwave and is powered by the electricity the appliance draws.
When it is powered, it emits electromagnetic waves.
The waves heat up the microwave and let you do your work.
If your magnetron has a leak, your microwave will (understandably) stop working.
Since the leak is a danger to your whole electric layout, this can trip the breaker when you try to use the microwave.
Panasonic Microwave Tripping Breaker?: How to Fix Them
If your breaker keeps tripping, you’ll have to call an expert to get things fixed unless you have good electronics knowledge.
Even then, fixing the problem can be tough because there’s a decent chance, you’ll have to replace the entire faulty part.
If you’re going in for the mission by yourself, the first thing you’ll need is a multimeter.
This will help you detect the exact problem causing the breaker tripping.
Make sure you’re wearing proper caution before working your way through.
Fix Electronic Supply Problem
How to detect
1.Electronic supply problems are pretty easy to detect.
If the problem is a faulty electric source, you’ll see burn marks on the connecting plug of your microwave.
The plug can be melted or distorted if the problem is too severe.
2. You’ll have to check your circuit board if the problem is an overload.
Look for a breaker labeled “microwave.”
If you can find it, your microwave has a dedicated source, and the problem is elsewhere.
If you don’t see a separate breaker or only have something labeled “kitchen,” you don’t have a dedicated source.
The solution
Disconnect the plug and other power sources.
If it is a source issue, you’ll have to fix the outlet you’re connecting your microwave to.
You’ll have to fix the plug, if it is distorted.
If the problem is overload, you’ll have to find a source that has a higher capacity.
If you don’t have a source like that, you’ll have to rewire your electric layout and make one.
Eliminate Water or Moisture in the Microwave
How to Detect
Get your multimeter to the Ohm setting.
Disconnect the microwave and discharge the capacitor.
The turntable motor will be under the microwave.
Find it and disconnect the connectors.
Place your multimeter probes on the motor terminals.
The motor is fine if you get a reading between 6 and 11-kilo ohms.
The solution
Unfortunately, the only solution for this is replacing the turntable motor.
Unless you have experience, calling an expert for replacement is the best solution.
Replace Faulty Parts
How to Detect
1.Take out the outer casing of your microwave.
Set your multimeter to Ohm mode and find the door latching switches.
Disconnect the connectors and place the multimeter probes on both ends of the microswitches.
If you get a value in one of the two positions for each switch, then it is all good.
2. Move on to the magnetron terminals.
Place your multimeter probes on both ends with the connectors disconnected.
If you get a null reading, it is working.
3. For the capacitor, place one probe on the capacitor terminal and the other probe on the metal casing.
If you get a null reading, the capacitor is okay.
The Solution
If your problem is a faulty part, you’ll have to replace them.
And it is better to call in an expert since high voltage electricity is involved.
Conclusion
And here you have the reasons for your Panasonic microwave tripping breaker.
Whatever you’re trying to do, detect or fix the problem, make sure you take proper safety measures, or even better, call in a mechanic to get things fixed.
Sources:
https://applianceanalysts.com/microwave-tripping-circuit-breaker/
https://homeappliancehero.com/small-home-appliances/microwaves/microwave-keeps-tripping-breaker/
https://eng-au.faq.panasonic.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57926
https://www.fixya.com/support/t12525582-panasonic_mw_model_nn_t945sfx_trips
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