Microwave Door Opener

[ptonsparky]

Brother's wife told him every time she ran the microwave the garage door would open and close. "Yea, right." he says. Couple hours later he warms something up and the door goes nuts. Up down, up down, up down. He changed the code setting on the door, but he had to eat his words. Pretty hard going down.

 

[frizbeedog]

Too bad the reverse didn't happen.

You could start dinner while parking the car.

 

[Buck Parrish]

I saw a commercial sort of like that.

 

[480sparky]

I saw a commercial sort of like that.

Nationwide is on your side.

 

[Buck Parrish]

Yeah, that's it. See how the switch box is surface mounted. It's an RF switch. So that could actually happen.

 

[broadgage]

I would replace the microwave oven (if it is a cheap one ) or have it overhauled (if it is an expensive one)

Microwave ovens and some remote controls use similar frequencies, but despite this ovens dont normally interfere with remote controls.
The fact that interference is occuring in this case suggests that the oven may be faulty and allowing leakage of microwaves, with possible health risks.

 

[charlie b]

I would be more inclined to suspect a failure in the garage door controls. They are supposed to react to a coded signal, and to ignore all other signals. If you can change the code without the symptom disappearing, then the door controller is reacting to a signal that it should be ignoring.

 

[480sparky]

I would replace the microwave oven (if it is a cheap one ) or have it overhauled (if it is an expensive one)

Microwave ovens and some remote controls use similar frequencies, but despite this ovens dont normally interfere with remote controls.
The fact that interference is occuring in this case suggests that the oven may be faulty and allowing leakage of microwaves, with possible health risks.

I would be more inclined to suspect a failure in the garage door controls. They are supposed to react to a coded signal, and to ignore all other signals. If you can change the code without the symptom disappearing, then the door controller is reacting to a signal that it should be ignoring.

I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that both the micro and the operator have a label on them that state "This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules: 1. This device may not cause harmful interference. 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation."

 

[LLSolutions]

asking the obvious.... how close to one another are these two devices?....how old is the opener and the microwave?

 

[ptonsparky]

I am guessing they are within 15' of each other. Small home built in the early 60s.

Thinking of taking my miliguass meter over there but have no idea what a good vs bad reading would be & at what distance. I am sure the microwave is doomed for replacement but my brother & I are both curious. I will compare a reading at home & then try one at his house. Just for the S&Gs.

 

[LLSolutions]

drive down the street with an inverter and see how many garages you can open