OT anybody know the 'light bulb' in this microwave?

Got a 900W microwave from Oster, purchased at Walmart.

Model OGG1E903R SN G1R1026E00697 built Sept 2012

The light bulb went out. Once it was out, couldn't even find where it is mounted in there. I couldn't find any way to easily get in to look for it, nor find any reference to what bulb to use.

Over weekend, customer service number was closed, so while at Walmart, asked them. They opened up a unit and couldn't figure it out either. Today called customer service number, very frustrating experience of getting hung up on by automated systems and a myriad of stupid questions and answers of how to diagnose problems yourself, like make sure it is plugged in, or try another outlet, etc!

Finally, reached a person actual US citizen! who said that light bulb is not for installation by non-approved repair personnel. Further they don't even supply it as a part. Translates to no idea what the bulb is either. Therefore, the WHOLE unit must be returned for service just to replace the bulb!!! What is that $20+ in shipping to send back a $60 unit or so???

Ok, people, what is this bulb? Where can I get this bulb? and what are the steps to change it myself?

PS: can't use video's ...am on sloooow dial up. Exact URL's work well, most searches and general manufacturer websites not so good, either.

Welcome to the world where you can buy a microwave for $60 including all taxes, and shipping, from China.

If you want some kind of guarantee of spares and service being available, you will need to spend a whole lot more than $60.

You can't have your cake and eat it, as they say in cake-eating and cake-having circles.

Gareth.

It's been a while since you shipped. I used a box 24" x 15" x 15" weigh 32 lbs going from Fl to Ga. Price was $34.00. Try computing the actual cost with weight, size and zipcodes with UPS or USPS and let us know. Mikek PS. on the USPS site they shock you with very high shipping prices and then you find the dropdown box or the lower prices.

Didn't it say when it would be back?

The bulb is probably hard-wired into the circuit, to save the cost of a socket. You could probably tear into the unit and fix it yourself -- assuming you can find a suitable replacement.

The Lady from Philadelphia might suggest that a microwave oven (whatever /that/ is) doesn't really /need/ a light. In her day, people cooked in coal- and wood-fired stoves, sans lighting.

Look on its demise as a way to save a bit off your annual electric bill.

Drill out the rivits or remove antitamper bottom of unit. replace bulb - fixture with similar odd size 120 bulb. reassemble, or replace as a unit at Walmart or Target - live w/o light.

You can download YouTube videos with either KeepVid.com or with the Firefox plug-in Download Helper.

You should be able to find the actual manufacturer through the UL file number printed on the sticker where you got the serial number. Or phone Oster and ask who makes their microwaves.

The bulb is usually an ordinary 25W - 40W incandescent, either screw-in or bayonet mount, but Ebay shows some bulbs mounted (permanently?) in a plastic base with two spade lugs sticking out. You should be able to get one from a real hardware store, appliance parts supply, vacuum cleaner dealer, Ebay, or order it online from places like RepairClinic.com (also has forums). A Google image search for "microwave oven bulb" will show the various styles.

Don't change the bulb without first unplugging the oven. You'll have to remove the whole cover by unscrewing it (several in back, proably

1-2 along the bottom sides) and pulling it back. There's a big high voltage capacitor inside, about the size of a pack of cigarettes (grey thing here, marked "DANGER", but most are silver colored):

It can retain 3,000 - 4,000 volts forever, if its bleeder resistor breaks, and bleeder resistors often break. Stay away from it and its wires because it can put out lethally high current at high voltage.

The lightbulb may be around there, in the top half, or it may be on the opposite side. If it screws in, it may be held in place with a dab of silicone rubber sealant, to resist vibration from the fans.

Do NOT plug in the AC power cord until after you have the oven cover completely installed, including all its screws. The cover probably has some steel fingers to help hold it in place, and it's easy to mount them on the outside instead of inside.

Ah, yes. That false sense of saving some money. Today when the cashier loudly proclaims how I saved $16, I respond with, "I would have saved $58 by not coming in here."

LOL!

Bet you're right about hardwired.

I know I don't 'need' the light, but sometimes I want to watch for the sauce boiling over. Or, the crisps to turn black.

I remind the cashier of how much I actually /spent/, and that I probably wouldn't have bought the stuff if it hadn't been on sale.

That last alternative may have to suffice. However, drill out the rivets? hmmm...

There are a series of hex heads all over the back panel. I hoped someone here would KNOW the step by steps to take this thing apart.

You may have missed my venting about the automated phone service, followed by lack of information once I reached a person at Oster. Checking UL label, interesting never thought of that.

I was hoping to have the replacment bulb in hand, BEFORE taking the uWave apart.

Charge migration in caps can be lethal. Turns them into little 'batteries'

So far, your description is the closest to a step by step. Thanks for the 'heads up' on metal fingers. Still wish there was a definitive step by step I could follow, including having that bulb before starting. so, know what getting into.

Just dive in, once you get it apart, you will know what to do to take it apart "the right way". :-) Mikek

I'm tempted. But...in the other room lies an easy to dissassemble Vizio large screen TV just waiting to have all its aging caps replaced...been there now for awhile.

Now, consider the uWave, in the kitchen and used often. Not likely to be able to do the same to it. Especially all over the countertop.

So, I'm stuck with, have the bulb in hand and know what all this entails BEFORE starting. sigh.

I sympathize. Some products look easy to take apart -- but aren't. This is particularly true of cheap stuff.

I would put the oven aside and let your blood pressure drop. With any luck, the oven might fail during the warranty period.

WAIT! The oven has ALREADY failed! The light bulb ought to be covered under the warranty, unless they have some stupid written exception that the bulb is not covered.

Jon

the last MOs I ripped open had real bulbs in real screw sockets, but they were taped in to prevent them from rattling out. The base is the the size one up from a 7 watt nightlight bulb, and seems similar to a sewing machine bulb.

Ebay or an appliance store should have these, but you have to open thing to get to it.

Excellent! What brand was it?

I have no idea anymore, but it wasn't made by the company name on the front of the unit. Most microwaves come from one company in china these days and they just brand them like a keychain or a pen.

Anyways, I just measured the bulb and it's a T7 rated 20 watts. You'll see the exact same bulb in the man's hand in this video:

The bulb I have says MD120V/20W G1. The same flanged black plastic housing is listed with all the other used (just look at the color of the glass) "microwave bulbs" on ebay.

The craziest tool I've ever seen needed to open a microwave is a torx driver, usually for one screw on the cover.

Thanks for the details. Candelabra bulb? Sounds standard. 130W T7 20W E12 base. Will pick some up.

Uh, can't view videos, and most websites now hang, or crash, our PC's, so I rely very heavily on text descriptions. Thanks for the URL, will bookmark it for HomeConstructionParts. Although the !@#$#@! website hangs, slows the system, shows me a picture then blanks and twenty minutes later still black pictures! the 'temporary' picture that went by looked about right size bulb.

I once ran across the same one screw different requiring a torx, when I repaired our Hamilton Beach Brewmaster! Since I bought a small tool set to do that, shouldn't have trouble with the uWave, eh? But I think the Rockwell 3Rill FULL toolset has several torx type adapters, too. Ms. Macy bought it for my birthday and it is incredibly handy to use. No she didn't buy it for herself and loans it to me, it was for me.

I might be able to disassemble, reassemble, buy the bulb, repeat after replacing the bulb, before anyone(?) notices the uWave was pulled in and out of service. ;)

I think the e12 is too small. I don't know the correct name other than it's what sewing machines used to use as well.