Microwave and Possible Leaking Radiation

[Jeff7]

If the microwave is 2-3 months old, I'd see about returning/warrantying it.

It probably has a 90 day warranty. Possibly longer if it's higher-end brand (i.e. not Walmart)

FWIW I've never had issues with WiFi and my microwave. Do you guys have the thing in the same room as your router or something?

- If I'm using a wireless headset, I get distortion when I'm within about 10ft of my microwave.

- At the campus apartment, I'd sometimes sit in the livingroom with my laptop and watch recorded TV shows (MPEG-2 files) over my wireless network connection to my PC in the bedroom. The microwave was over in the kitchen, maybe 25ft away, through a wall. When the microwave was running, the wireless' effective speed was reduced by retries due to distortion, which was below the speed required for realtime playback of the MPEG-2 files.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Panasonic microwave by chance?

I've had two 1750-watt Panasonics (only ones that fit in my built-in cabinet space) and both interfered with wifi from day one. Not a total loss of interconnection, but drove my gamer son nuts.

 

[Wyndru]

Panasonic microwave by chance?

I've had two 1750-watt Panasonics (only ones that fit in my built-in cabinet space) and both interfered with wifi from day one. Not a total loss of interconnection, but drove my gamer son nuts.

Haha, yup, Panasonic 1300 watt

 

[TurtleCrusher]

I've owned 4 different microwaves in the past two years due to moving (Navy, obviously) and none of them interfered wifi at any time. My barracks had over 100 (seemingly random branded) microwaves in them and never was there wifi issues.

 

[PsiStar]

At OP, as a few others have said at least test and/or replace the microwave.

Young parents to be do not need any unknown amount of RF radiation near themselves or the yet to be born. I am an EE and have been down this road professionally. This is nothing to screw with at this stage in life and it is not normal for microwave ovens to interfere with wifi. I have had several microwave oven & a several wireless devices in operation for years and have never experience what you describe.

So go with your gut feel and is clearly why you posted in the first place as you at least sensed that this is not right. Fam 1st, the rest be damned ... not to be overly technical.

 

[artikk]

You can try switching the wireless internet transmission frequency to a higher band - 5 GHz, I believe. Microwaves operate at a lower freq of 2.5 GHz usually.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

You can try switching the wireless internet transmission frequency to a higher band - 5 GHz, I believe. Microwaves operate at a lower freq of 2.5 GHz usually.

But that's not really the issue. The microwave is leaking RF.

As an electronic technician, my training, first, second and third hand knowledge and experiences are that leaked RF can cause numerous side effects are are typically non-curable. To be specific, male infertility from RF waves. Burning causing tissue damage, which doesn't have to be on the surface, mind you. And this is just being near a surface radar while it is energized.

Although microwaves have a much lower power output, over time the effects can be tangible.

 

[Iron Woode]

First, microwave ovens produce non-ionizing radiation so no cancer risks.

Second, one is worried that a leak from the microwave might be an issue but sees no issue with holding a similar radiation emitting device with similar frequency range next to one's head?

Now you did it! you brought facts into this thread.

Place your smoke detector in front of your microwave. The neutrons from the Americium will knock out the gamma rays coming off the plutonium source rendering the microwave safe.

This!

Oh, ok. I thought the electromagnetic radiation produced by microwaves was something that needed to be worried about. I thought it was emitting much higher levels than a standard communication device using radio frequencies.

So basically the "sheilding" that microwaves have built into them is more for protection from the heat and not the radiation?

I don't care about the wifi going out, I was just concerned after seeing a lot of sites saying that it could be dangerous.

Oh, nvm I just found the FDA page regarding this. Looks harmless.
http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-Emitti...rYouRadiationEmittingProducts/ucm252762.htm#2

Yes, you finally figured out what every non-paranoid person knows as a fact.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

You guys trust the FDA?

I have oceanfront property in Wyoming with both of your names on it.

 

[Sonikku]

Don't stare directly into the microwave or your eyes will melt.

 

[Wyndru]

Yes, you finally figured out what every non-paranoid person knows as a fact.

I didn't think I was coming off as paranoid, but I guess I'll go put my tin-foil hat back on.

 

[BladeVenom]

Maybe the power draw of the microwave is causing a problem for the router? Is your router connected to a UPS?

 

[Iron Woode]

I didn't think I was coming off as paranoid, but I guess I'll go put my tin-foil hat back on.

that will stop the evil rays from aliens.

 

[TwiceOver]

I've installed several APs, this is pretty common.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Thou can test leakage by placing your phone inside of your microwave and ping it from another wireless device. If you get ANY response back, the microwave is severely harmful to your health.

 

[OverVolt]

Thou can test leakage by placing your phone inside of your microwave and ping it from another wireless device. If you get ANY response back, the microwave is severely harmful to your health.

Lol I can't believe in 2013 that they sell unshielded microwaves.

 

[Red Squirrel]

First, microwave ovens produce non-ionizing radiation so no cancer risks.

Second, one is worried that a leak from the microwave might be an issue but sees no issue with holding a similar radiation emitting device with similar frequency range next to one's head?

What would be worse, a BB gun that can shoot 100 plastic BBs per minute, or a 50 caliber gun that can shoot 100 bullets per minute?

They're both at the same rate, but one hits much less hard.

I've tried the phone test before and oddly it does not work, but you'd think it would. My microwave does not disrupt my wifi either. I would definitely test with another microwave. Also try the current one in another power outlet just for fun. It's a long shot but maybe it's some kind of electrical issue.

Edit: For fun I decided to try it again, I'm at work and there's lot of APs around this area. Test equipment, etc. It's a telco CO. We also have a HSPA tower next to the building. I put my phone in the microwave, it blocked some of the nearby wifi signals, but the Sonicwall stayed accessible. The HSPA signal was also not affected. This is in the basement so I'm surrounded by reinforced concrete all around so that alone was probably helping a lot too. The concrete itself is not really the issue, it's the steel plating and rebar.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

HSPA and other cell frequencies aren't that close to the frequency of the local oscillator in the microwave (~2450Mhz), so I wouldn't be worried if that passed on through.

Best way to check is wifi-only or a 2.4ghz cordless home telephone.

 

[Wyndru]

Thou can test leakage by placing your phone inside of your microwave and ping it from another wireless device. If you get ANY response back, the microwave is severely harmful to your health.

In the OP I mentioned that I did this test, I can both ping and call the phone. Most responses after my OP didn't think it was harmful though, so I'm not really sure what to believe now. Just like when I was searching around on the web, some people don't think leaking RF from a microwave can ever harm you, others say it's very dangerous.

Just to be safe, I'll see if I can get a new power supply and get my old microwave working again.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

People will try to ease your fears, but I'm not wearing a tin-foil hat. RF energy is RF energy. Radar or microwave, it has the same health effects. Another test just to be sure is to hang a set of keys or tinfoil right in front of the microwave window, and see if you get some sparks. It is slightly dangerous, so have a wooden spoon (or anything that wont conduct) to hold it. The fact that the microwave didn't stop 2.4Ghz signals is terrifying IMO...

RF in RADAR, even though the close range ones have very little power behind them, we still have to shut them off a couple miles from port to ensure the people around don't get baked without their consent!

 

[Red Squirrel]

Considering what microwaves do to food, I would not go as far as saying the radiation is safe. While a leak may not expose you to the full extent, long term effects are probably not all that good for the health.

Also I lol at people who think just because a router's radiation is safe a microwave's is. The microwave is outputting close to 1000 times more radiation than the router. The router is rated in mw, the microwave is rated in kw. Think of it like lasers. A 1mw laser wont do much to you. A 1w laser will probably sting. They may be the same type of laser but one is 1000 times more powerful.

The only solution here is to wrap your microwave in bacon, and defrost a turkey inside. Look for any bacon that is cooked after, and eat it. Consider taping up that part of the microwave with foil. Cook the rest of the bacon in the oven and eat it too. Then redo the test with more bacon.

 

[Rubycon]

There's quite a bit of misinformation in this thread. Rather than point out where it is if you want to learn more about testing - leakage specifically - I'd suggest starting here:

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/micfaq.htm#micmicleak

If you want to go to the top of the entire FAQ - www.repairfaq.http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/micfaq.htm#micmicleakorg/sam/micfaq.htm

Nowhere on the 'net will you find a more summarized source of "everything you wanted to know (and forgot to ask)' about radarranges.

A good place to start is interference. Not from microwave energy leaking from the cavity itself but power line interference. It was previously mentioned. Also Panasonic "inverter" ovens tend to be hash factories that can cause harmonic interference that can disrupt wireless devices. Most consumer UPS' have poor common mode rejection and as a matter of fact the best thing in this case would be complete (galvanic) isolation only offered in expensive conditioners. Try moving your WAP to a different branch circuit. Since 120VAC in the 'States is derived from L1 to N or L2 to N there's a good possibility that switching to another branch circuit will help especially if it's "pulling off the other leg" of the power system. Most kitchens are wired with a dedicated 20A for the microwave but if it's on the same leg as the branch circuit your router/WAP is connected to you could still suffer from this RFI without a conditioner.

 

[Wyndru]

Also Panasonic "inverter" ovens tend to be hash factories that can cause harmonic interference that can disrupt wireless devices.

That is what I have, it has the inverter icon right on the front of it.

Thanks for the link, I'll read up when I get home.

Regarding the power circuitry, I have 2 access points on 2 different circuits and 2 different channels (upstairs and downstairs, channel 1 and 11), and it disables both of them. Is that possible if it's a power issue?

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, I wonder if it's because the Panasonic is an inverter type microwave and not a standard one? The interference may not be from the magnetron, but from the inverter circuitry?

The inverter type actually gives you the power level you set.

The older types just reduce the duty cycle at 100% power.

 

[Rubycon]

Yeah, I wonder if it's because the Panasonic is an inverter type microwave and not a standard one? The interference may not be from the magnetron, but from the inverter circuitry?

The inverter type actually gives you the power level you set.

The older types just reduce the duty cycle at 100% power.

Yes and bad wiring can act as an antenna and really wreak havoc with a lot of devices.

Inverter microwaves are a good idea from a cooking/heating standpoint. Turning a 1.3kW source on and off duty cycle style still puts a lot of heat when running. Running the magnetron so it puts out a steady 450W for defrosting, for example provides a more even heat and less overheating of edges, for example.