It was fun while it lasted - Panasonic "Genuis" MW Oven

[launderess]

Back in 2010 picked up a used (from CL) Panasonic 1300w "Genius" microwave with Inverter technology to replace a Sharp unit. Things went well for six years and one used this little oven at least several times per day (porridge, defrosting, heating milk for coffee, reheating, cooking veggies, etc...), and it performed without a hitch. However it seems all good things must come to an end....

Went to reheat something yesterday and the unit is making a sort of beeping noise, then shuts off after about three seconds. Have read several things online on what might be the problem, but am not one to mess about with microwave ovens, so guess this one is a goner.

Happily have an older Sharp "Carousel" microwave (timer dial, two setting dial; full and defrost power), that can use for most things until sort out next move.

New "To Us" Recently. Microwave, Soap & Turntable

Well move over girls, your favourite hoarder is back in action. Yes, I texted my therapist but he's in Vermont assisting with the post Irene clean-up. What now? Vintage Sharp microwave oven. Late model Denon turn table. Case of Lux Flakes. Microwave first:

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[gansky1]

R.I.P. Genius .

Always wanted one of those when they first came out, the first time I used one I couldn't believe how accurate it was at the simplest of tasks.

You could keep the Panasonic to store electronic devices in to protect them from an EMP or solar flare, then you could still look at it.

 

[panthera]

Yes, all three inverter boards have their

weaknesses.

While the inverter system doesn't do the least bit better job of evenly heating food, I love the quality, simplicity and power of these microwaves.

Bought my parents the 1350s regularly.

And I do mean regularly - six years from one (used at that) is a new record.

 

 

[kb0nes]

I really like those Panasonic Inverter ovens. I have done Inverter repairs on two of them now. Here is a thread from a few years back that chronicles the fix.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?43694

That oven has seen several hours of use each week, I am actually amazed that it has held up as well as it has. The woman loves to cook a couple pounds of bacon at a time in batches. The oven runs pretty continuously for about a hour when she does.

The earlier models had smaller heatsinks for the inverter switching transistors so they would run hot. The repair kits Panasonic sent out came with an uprated fan to move a bit more air. I never changed the fan in the unit I repaired, amazing it hasn't burnt up.

Did yours do anything dramatic, or did it just start to beep and no longer function? As seen in this pic, Annette's mom's machine made a healthy cloud of semiconductor smoke when it stopped working...

 

[launderess]

Actually read your wonderful Panasonic repair thread

Not long after the oven went off the rails.

Wonderful, just wonderful.

According to what one has read of the Panasonic microwave repair manual issues such as what our oven is showing fall under "3/37" troubleshooting. That is how long the oven will operate before shutting off.

Since mine is on the "3", it does not usually point to an inverter or magnetron issue, but door latch, relay and a few other things.

There are a couple of known issues with these inverter microwaves, but again am not too sure about poking around inside.

 

[sudsmaster]

Yup, my Genius oven died at about six years from brand new.

 

Its best feature was the defrost function. Also the keep warm, which many other MW's lack.

 

For regular cooking it has the habit of heating the bottom of foods first. So I got used to stirring things up half way through. When it died, it would just flick the light on and then off, without cooking.

 

I replaced the dead Genius with a cheaper non-Genius Panasonic MW (the Genius line was no longer available at Costco). That was in June of this year. By October it had to be replaced as well. It didn't work quite right from the get go. Little things like the interior light not lighting when door opened. The clincher was regularly having to slam the door shut before it would start cookiing. But Costco took it back without question. Bought a second one same day and it works much better. At $99, it's still a bargain. It has the inverter defrost and a usable popcorn function. But no sensor cooking, which actually isn't a big deal. I've yet to find a MW that does sensor cooking reliably.

 

[panthera]

As long as one

Remembers the dangerous high voltage, there's no reason not to take one apart and fix it. There's so much to like about the genius range of ovens.

 

 

[launderess]

Swapped out the Panasonic with older Sharp

Last night.

According to metal tag on back the Panasonic was made in 2000. Not sure when the previous owner purchased, but we've had it since 2012. All things considered sixteen years of use seems to be pretty good for these units.

Not sure what will do next. Don't think it is a simple thing like door latches as the unit seems only to fail once the magnetron starts. This could be the DCP or inverter according to service manual. Panasonic inverter microwaves have a built in diagnostic system which generates codes if the magnetron or inverter have or are failing. Mine hasn't done any of that so far.

Quite honestly one can find a used microwave (including vintage) oven here in NYC area for < $50, sometimes even just "please take it away". So not sure about how much time and or funds want to put into repairing a nearly 20 year old MW. Been there and done that with the Sharp this unit replaced. Got about a year more out of that oven before it died again.

Also am not really sure how much one really needs a microwave beyond what the basic (made in Japan) Sharp oven does. Really don't like now meats and most other foods taste (or look) when cooked in microwave. Mostly use the thing to reheat, warm, soften butter, heat milk for coffee, and defrosting. Sensors make those tasks easier, but still.

Have two convection and one toaster oven that barely see use. Not to mention the vintage West Bend "Ovenette" and Sunbeam rotisserie. These all could be put into use and give better results for many things over a microwave.

 

[petek]

Like you said, used one can be had for so little at places like the Restore. (and you're helping a cause)  .  So many times I'm putzing thru ours and see another MW I'd love to take home.. 

 

The best one we ever had was the full size 80's GE with the probe, auto cook, auto roast, and auto defrost. No turntable, didn't need one.  The sensors on that thing worked beautifully and you honestly could count on it to cook as programmed.  Sad day when it finally died.  My vintage Amana was having some problems so I had to put it down the basement. Unfortunately the previous owner of this house when they re did the kitchen only put a microwave shelf that holds a compact oven so I've got my sisters cheapo walmart RCA in there now.. but heck it's worked well for the last 8 or 9 years.  I've also got a very tiny Samsung Junior, cute as a button , you can just fit a Michelina's in it if you're careful  LOL  

 

[dartman]

My 800 watt big Emerson stopped heating and it turned out to be a bad solder joint on the circuit board. Redid it and it has been working fine ever since and I garage sell'd it years ago.
Wouldn't hurt to poke around carefully and see if it's something stupid and easy like that on yours.

 

[sudsmaster]

Well, after reading the material on Panasonic MW door latch issues, and after the door issues with the replacement for the Genius Prestige, I am wondering if perhaps the fail of the Genius was due to a door latch problem as well.

 

Unfortunately it's too late for me to check that out since it went into the trash a few weeks ago. If it was still here I'd probably tear it down and check out the latch and associated sensors. Oh well. The (second) replacement is working fine and fits my needs just fine.

 

I didn't attempt any repair while I had it, due to a frustrating attempt to fix an even older Amana brand (made by Hitachi) microwave that died shortly after I moved in here in 1997. I even replaced the blown fuse but it blew as soon as I tried to power it up again. So my conclusion was that most microwaves have a limited lifespan.

 

However, if any of my remaining MW's stop with symptoms similar to door issues, I'll be sure to (carefully) take a peek inside to see what's up.

 

Currently have the newish Panasonic 1200 watt inverter, an 18 year old Kenmore Elite (not used as much as the Panasonics), and a small-ish 950 watt Magic Chef that is barely used. I got it for a job site about 10 years ago but it's been decorating a counter top in the enclosed patio kitchen for about 9 years. It's actually supposed to be sensor equipped unit but I can't recall ever testing that feature on it. At the time I got it I understood it's made by GE. Somewhere in Asia. Anyway, got lots of backups in the MW department. I wouldn't say they foster fine cooking but they sure are handy.

 

 

 

[launderess]

Thanks for the suggestions/advice guys

May decide to open up the Panasonic and take a peek. But again given can pick-up another MW (often in near new condition) on FleaPay or CL locally for $20 or less, it is more and more looking like this unit will be given the push.

Just do not have the space to "store" it until can dive in, and am quite pushed busy-wise at the moment. Last thing one needs or wants is yet something else around here haunting one. Have only just started on the Simplex ironer from several months ago, and then there is the Maytag wringer.

 

[panthera]

I hear you, Laundress

We've reached the point at which nothing which isn't vintage gets repaired. Preferably, not even bought.

Same with electronics - unless it's clearly better to buy new than what came before, it gets fixed. I'm in the process of putting Puppy Linux on an eleven year old laptop. Nothing wrong with the laptop and I'll be damned if I'm going to throw it out just because it doesn't have the muscles to run Windoof X.

 

Still, those Panasonics work well when they work. The inverter function doesn't cook better than the pulsed system, that's just marketing, but there is a difference between 1200/1300/1350 watts and 900 and it's not marginal.

 

 

[henene4]

Old PCs

That's a whole different story.

It might run Linux, but even then, its Linux first of all. I just can't see anyone use Linux efficently as long as you're not a developer or tech support, but even then..
Further, what is it capable of running afterwards? I doubt it will handle an up to date version of either Chrome or Firefox, maybe Opera, but haven't used that for a long time.
Either Open Office or Microsoft Office will be a pain in the ass as well.
And anything beyond that seems mostly impossible.

I bought a new Surface Pro 4 about 3 months ago and love it. Expensive as hell, but runs everything smoothly, even AutoCAD or Creo, and literally weighs less then any of my books.

The point I'm trying to get to: If buying new gives you and advantage, it's certanly the better option.
I see 3 possible advantages:
1. Better performance. In PC terms, more then 4 times overall system operating power; in terms of appliances it's efficency, features and performance.
2. Price: If I have to pay 150€ to get a mw repaired (I won't tinker with kV systems for my life), and can get a new one with 3 years of warranty for 70€, nobody in their right mind would repair the old one except
3. Collection value.

With microwaves, not a lot has changed since the inverter units came up. So I can't see why one wouldn't repair unless its a certanly cheaper option to buy something else.

Well, nothing new except those Bosch Series 8 ovens they launched a while back here in Germany. Full-size oven, with full-size (800W) inverter microwave build in, sensor backing, temperature probe, self-cleaning and even with a pull-out runner. I still want to use one of those...

 

[panthera]

Henrik,

I don't even know if they make something as small as 800watts in the US. German microwaves have been undersized from the beginning, partially to calm the fears of the idiots who can't tell the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Between causal and stochastic events.

As to Linux, I've got a degree in IT, I've stayed fresh in my profession (hint: I taught at a technical university in Munich for nearly 30 years) and I have to say, your assumptions, while they may have been true in the '80s and '90s are out-of-date. The ancient laptop (I finished it after that last post) runs the newest Chromium (the Linux version of Chrome) just fine. No stuttering on youtube. Just did a mail merge and printout of over 13,000 labels for a friend here. Only delay was when we had a laser printer jam on a page of labels.

Now, to be sure, I grew up in the UNIX world and used OS/2 to the bitter end. I've never liked Windoof and I resist the Cult of Steve (and guess what their system is based on, hint: It rhymes with Penguin).

We have over 20 computers in regular use between our offices, homes and the cars. Thanks to dear Austin (may he roast in Hell), my paranoia and use of honeytraps was confirmed. There's nothing on any PC I ever use to log-in here which would be of value to the mother-fucking asswipes like Austin who tried so hard to attack my family and me. At this point, sadly, it's (still) operating systems and user interfaces which lag behind the processing power and RAM. By a long shot.

You, dear boy, need to take more courses in 21st century hardware. You'd be surprised what's around the corner, you'd be disappointed at how much from ten years ago is still quite adequate to simple, everyday browsing.

 

[lordkenmore]

I use Linux, and find that it works just fine for my needs. But my primary needs are pretty simple--the Internet, and word processing. Both of which are easily handled by Linux.

I'm currently using Linux Mint with XFCE on a computer about 10 years old. It's not a speed demon--but it gets the job done.

 

[lordkenmore]

I don't even know if they make something as small as 800

I don't know, either, but I don't spend a lot of time browsing microwaves, either.

One thing I do know--the last two microwaves I've bought have been low powered. I'm not sure exactly how low powered, but I do know I've studied the electrical ratings, and aimed for something with low amperage. My kitchen has ONE circuit for all outlets, and it's nice to run the MW and the refrigerator at once without tripping the breaker or burning the place down. I've bought both microwaves used, and in both cases, they were fairly hard to come by. Meanwhile, big microwaves aren't at all uncommon.

 

[launderess]

You guys need to get out and shop more often. *LOL*

There are plenty of microwave ovens out there with wattage ratings from 700 to under 1000. They tend to be countertop models but a few middle size (IIRC) as well.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/microwaves/compact-microwaves/abcat0903002.c?id=abcat0903002

Repairing the Panasonic microwave...

First off discovered last night one does not have the proper Torx screwdriver to remove the "anti-tampering" screws on that MW. Am *NOT* going out and purchase one or a set. Have been there and done that before, result being a vast toolbox/kit area full of various Johnny One Note tools.

Unless it is a case of simply being *loose* inside even the cheapest replacement parts for the Panasonic (door latches, switches, etc...) run between $5 to $20 or more USD. Once you add shipping and or taxes even for a grand sum of just $15, can find another used MWO on CL locally for same or less. Indeed CL is infested with microwave ovens it seems, often at give away prices. Ironically lots of Panasonics.....

Recall from a post several years ago one did pay very good money to have an older Sharp MWO repaired. Got barely one year more use out of the thing before it died again. Could have taken that money and purchased a new oven and likely would have come out ahead. http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?20542

Leaving aside individual success stories, the general consensus is microwave ovens just aren't worth repairing, especially the more modern units and especially it seems those from Panasonic.

 

[panthera]

Ha - that is a surprise

I thought the days of under 1000 Watts were gone. Shows what I (don't) know.