My new Radarange!

[ovrphil]

Cory: Amana was all over the place! It sounded like a free-spirited place to work, with the variations in designs and oddities in model number id'ing.

Once I looked at these Radaranges as clunksters, but I have a renewed appreciation these days. I would really like to see some old brochures of some of the Radaranges; can't hope for an "Amana's All the World's Radaranges" book soon. :^P Anyone have luck finding some Radarange brochures? That one museum page of Amana's product is hardly just. I can't imagine someone who worked as an engineer or in sales or who knows what department, who wouldn't still have some photos or brochures tucked away at home, that avoided the Whirlypool's dumpsters.

When you or anyone acquires one of these old beauties, do you typically have a manual? I 'm guessing not, but if you do, why not scan the pages and pass along in a library for online access?

I can see the challenges you faced with trying to document and add support for these Amana's - NOT EASY! ...brings a renewed sense of appreciation, thanks!

 

[ovrphil]

petek: ah, well..the consumer demand eventually forced a change, didn't they, upon Amana's feature list?

Most people that I knew who had the money to own and use (they did use them, too) a microwave, LOVED the rotating turntable. Because, otherwise, I watched the others, without that feature, stop the microwave, and TURN the container to achieve a more even cooking. They claimed it helped. We've come a long way since then, so maybe the dispersion field wasn't as good at cooking certain foods(boiling water is hardly an example!)...

I loved watching the plate go around. Something comforting knowing that something was working for me, that I didn't have to stop the microwave and turn the food. Some nuk-clars worked that way..not sure about the Radaranges.

 

[combo52]

Radarange RR-2

I have an RR-2 serial # S18353111, this one does not have the end of cooking buzzer. Would this one also be a 1969?, mine still works fine but is a little rough in some ways. These early models came with just a flat piece of tempered glass for the cooking tray, mine still has the original glass.

 

If anyone ever wants to sell a better condition RR-2 I would be interested, Thanks John.

 

[philr]

Hi John,

I know you don't post pics often but I'd really like to see the tray in your oven!

I just got one for mine but it's for the newer models...

Phil

 

[ovrphil]

TRAYS

It's not pretty or has alot of features, but I'm looking at buying this Touchmatic... but it has no tray:

http://desmoines.craigslist.org/app/3216494973.html

I found another one that looks identical -surprised to see some waffle looking plastic thing..did some Amana's have non-glass trays like this?

I can find trays on eBay, but wondered if Cory has any in his arsenal of Amana parts? (guessing, "no").

Thanks.



[this post was last edited: 10/11/2012-06:23]

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sfbay.craigslist.org

 

[combo52]

Amana MW Oven

Phil the model you posted has a sealed in tray, so it did not come with a removable glass tray. The good news is these newer style Pyroceram trays or floors were much more resistant to uneven heating and therefor did not break when someone places a bag of MW popcorn on it to pop.

 

So a word of warning for all of us that are using these older MW ovens that just have Pyrex floors or removable trays, don't pop popcorn directly on them, if I want to do this I always take a flat piece of Corning ware and sit the item on top. The advent of MW popcorn broke thousands of these nice heavy glass trays in older MW ovens.

 

[super32]

Combo 52

When I entered the appliance field, I was amazed at all the problems MW popcorn has caused in micros. One usually thinks because its "microwave popcorn" it should be ok but I still continue to chase down and repair new/newer units that popcorn has destroyed.

 

[ovrphil]

Popcorn, innocent old popcorn - breaking glass trays. I can't imagine the consumer responses! Wow.

I'm checking out a Touchmatic today; trying to learn if a tray would be standard or if missing, ask to knock off a couple bucks. Should I expect to see a tray in there(which sounds like it would be a Pyrocerm)?

Good information, thanks John.

 

[ovrphil]

Hitachi microwave

PhilR: Do you have more than one Hitachi microwave in your collection?

So, looking around for a Frigidaire microwave is like looking for a needle in a hay stack. Hitachi's must be as rare...

You mentioned exploding eggs and settings on a Hitachi; got me looking around for one, and they're rare, as well.

As we were talking about Touch-N-Cook, this looks like their idea for it, but notice..they didn't give it a name.

I liked this ad.

 

[philr]

Just one... I don't think they're rare. I have seen one identical to mine that was rebadged (I can't remember the brand) not so long ago. Unfortunately, I can't remember where either!

 

[philr]

I replaced the power cord on the RR-2 a few days ago and I took a few pictures from inside.

 

[philr]

And about the power of the newer ones, the ad I posted above for the Frigidaire RCM-10 said 675W but the sticker on the back of mine says this so I guess it's 750 Watts for the newer ones like the Amana Touchmatic:



Also, I replaced capacitors on my two RCM-10 ovens and I noticed a few differences between them. The capacitors on the older oven were different and one didn't have the same voltage rating. The wiring also differed a bit between both.

One was made in Oct. 1978 and the other just one month later in Nov. 1978...

Here's a pic from the Nov. 1978 RCM-10 oven.



And those from the Oct. 1978 RCM-10 oven.

 

[ovrphil]

Capacitors are blue? Were you replacing because they stopped heating or working optimally? I have some electronics experience, but would have to refresh to get the basics again...assembled my first Heathkit at age 13 - my great claim to fame as a wirehead. :-[)

So, in your photos, where is the before and after replacement of the power cord(s) or..more aptly for me...where IS the power cord? Is it comprised of those two white wires?

Thanks!

 

[philr]

Phil, the pictures show the 3 microwave ovens. The first pictures with the red "high voltage" sticker show the RR-2 which had a damaged power cord. The pictures show it before the replacement, I haven't taken pics with the new cord... The white wires are those from the power cord. The hot goes to the timer, the neutral to a connector just under the yellow wire and the ground to the chassis.

The capacitors that I replaced were those on the two Frigidaire RCM-10 circuit boards. I just did what Cory suggested on his website for the very similar Amana RR-9T (see the link below).

I was surprised to see many minor differences between two microwaves of the same model that were manufactured with just one month interval. The problem I had with both was that something was affected with humidity (after cleaning the touch pad or when cooking something in the oven for a few minutes). The display on both ovens started to display a series of "4444" and even after resetting, it would display a series "4"s even in the power level display for a minute or two after being used (the program already entered still worked though so the MW oven would stop at the desired time or cook at the desired temperature even if it displayed a series of "4"s. One of the ovens got it's problem worse to the point that it wasn't even possible to enter the cooking information before starting, even in a dry environment...

The replacement of 3 capacitors on both ovens corrected all this. As for the RR-2, it has mechanical timers so no need to do that!

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www.radar58.com

 

[ovrphil]

PhilR: You answered all and more of my questions I had - thanks. I am driving 2hrs+ today to pick up a different microwave than I posted earlier - but it's not in Cory's website photos. Anyway, good info.

Just wondering, do you replace anything, even if all is working ok? I know you didn't here, but wonder, since capacitors and resistors etc, have improved since these were built, does it matter to replace the old ones, as a measure of maintaining them, just like some of the washers and dryers, since time and use ravages all?

 

[philr]

Well, I guess if you're buying a Touchmatic from the seventies, it's possible that you might get the same issues.

Some people replace the capacitors in old electronic equipment to prevent future problems. I don't but that doesn't mean I'm right! I guess I'm just a bit lazy. I also replaced capacitors in my mw ovens because they had problems...

 

[cadman]

Generally Speaking....

Electrolytic capacitors tend to dry out with age, and as they do, their performance in filtering voltage transients drops too. In an old radio you might hear a 60-cycle hum. With digital you'll begin to see erratic operation (or completely inop). Since digital electronics are more sensitive to this sort of thing, it's possible for the unit to be irreparably damaged, too. Eventually, a failing electrolytic may short, in which case damage WILL result. In 'modern' electronics (~1970 and up) you don't have to worry too much about the non-electrolytics. Sometimes replacing them will actually create a problem, especially in tuned circuits.

The Touchmatics that I've brought home in the last year have been right on the borderline of needing their caps replaced and I do it as a matter of preventative maintenance now. Once the new building is finished and I can get these machines out of storage, I plan on offering a Touchmatic Panel R&R service. -Cory