Some microwaves have turntables that turn in alternate directions each time they start. Why the heck is that?
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On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:43:20 -0400, "Tom Del Rosso" put finger to keyboard and composed:
I believe that's just a characteristic of the type of motor that is often used.
See this discussion at aus.electronics:
- Franc Zabkar
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It's so your food will cook more evenly. Many directions are to microwave for a few minutes, open and stir contents, then continue a few more minutes. It's more through to run the food past the microwaves in both directions.
No, it's not. It shouldn't make any difference, as the food is subjected to the same "pattern" regardless of which way the table turns.
My guess is that it's to even out the wear.
to
It a function of the type of motor used, it is much smaller to make a motor that will turn in either direction than one that always turns in the same direction. If you look at some extremely small motors, some have a ratchet and tiny gear that only allow them to turn in one direction, but the ratchet and gear take up space and cost extra $$ and so Uwaves don't bother to use them.. The direction of rotation does nothing unless you have a really wierd-shaped piece of food.
Bob Hofmann
"William Sommerwerck" wrote in news:CeydnZD-tu455GPVnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:
Maybe the change in direction is just to keep the user entertained while their food heats. Just like the light bulb... :-)
Puckdropper
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It a function of the type of motor used, it is much smaller to make a motor that will turn in either direction than one that always turns in the same direction. If you look at some extremely small motors, some have a ratchet and tiny gear that only allow them to turn in one direction, but the ratchet and gear take up space and cost extra $$ and so Uwaves don't bother to use them.
Shades of the very first AR turntable. It used two motors, the smaller of which was present to make sure the larger turned in the correct direction.
My InSinkErator changes direction on each cycle, but this is intentional.
Doubt it. 99.9999999999 percent of motors in consumer appliances and electronics are either unidirectional or may have their direction changed trivially by the electronics, and it doesn't cost more or take up more space or cost more.
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Is that the offical dummy version?
To quote Galileo: "Nevertheless, it does move." Once upon a time, microwave ovens had a "stirrer", a fan that "moved" the standing-wave pattern around the oven cavity.
Eggzackerly ! One of those references that I gave, also refers to rotating antennas. Both of these devices for altering the microwave pattern, are placed in or at the exit of the waveguide, which by definition forms part of "the emitter".
Arfa
Remember those old Philips machines? where the magnetron was at the bottom and fired the magic rays into an aluminium 'fan' which was mounted beneath the glass floor of the oven. the reflector was propelled by the draught from the magnetron cooling fan whereupon the microwaves were reflected upwards through the glass floor of the cavity and onwards and upwards into the food.
Ron
Never saw one quite like that, but I guess that rotating 'reflector' is the same principle as the motor driven 'stirrer'
Arfa
Oh, but it does.
If there's nothing in the cavity to absorb the microwaves, the magnetron will overheat. The metal walls of the cavity absorb very little radiation, reflecting most of it.
Now, tell us... What's your real name? (What parents would name their kid "Claude Hopper"?)
There used to be an old-time-radio company run by a gentleman named Carl Amari. (Say it out loud.) He was fully aware of the unintentional play on words.
Let's assume the guy's handle is a deliberate joke, and his posts clever trolling.
On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:52:11 -0700, "William Sommerwerck" put finger to keyboard and composed:
Likewise, it makes no difference whether you roast meat on a spit CW one time, CCW the next. Neither does it matter in which direction you stir your coffee, or how you turn your sausages on a barbecue grill, or whether you flip your pancakes from left to right or right to left.
Agreed, the wear in the gearbox would be evened out, but the bearings wouldn't know the difference.
BTW I'm right handed, but I sometimes use my left hand to even out the wear. :-)
- Franc Zabkar
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