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03 October 2003

Using the Control Panel from Defunct Microwave Oven as an Electronic Timer

Source: Sam's Gadget FAQ

It is usually possible to remove just the touchpad and controller board to use as a stand-alone timer with a switched output. Be careful when disconnecting the touchpanel as the printed flex cable is fragile. With many models, the touchpanel (membrane touchpad) needs to be peeled off of the front plastic panel or the entire assembly can be removed intact.

The output will control a 10 to 15 A AC load using its built-in relay or triac (though these may be mounted separately in the oven). Note that power on a microwave oven is regulated by slow pulse width modulation, on the order of a 30 second cycle if this matters. If it uses a triac, the triac is NOT phase angle controlled--just switched on or off.