4 ms·

Since there seem to be many microwave oven enthusiasts here, I post this less related question here: Why do all microwave ovens have this inconvenient, insanely

Since there seem to be many microwave oven enthusiasts here, I post this less related question here: Why do all microwave ovens have this inconvenient, insanely loud, lock? And is there a way to get rid off that noise (and while we’re at it, to quite down that finished-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep)? All info that I could find revolves around more or less that we have a deadly device in our homes and any UX convenience added means more deaths/mio. But having a smooth opening door, a no noise lock and instead of that beep a notification on my smart watch, seem like doable improvements.

wincy 6y ago
Is this outside the US? I’ve never seen one like that here in the US. I wish my microwave had a lock. The door mechanism stopped working properly and almost blasted me with microwaves when I opened it without turning it off first. The lights flicker ominously if I open it now, so I just stopped using it. It scared the hell out of me.
- woodpanel 6y ago
  Sorry, I'm not a native speaker and not versed in micorwave terminology (and living in Germany). But basically every MW oven I've seen or used (or briefly touched in stores across Europe and NA) had the same door-opening mechanism: A big button (on the right bottom) that you have to forcefully push into the MW's casing to open the MW's door. During pushing the button (or closing the door) you notice some heavy resistance inside the MW, hinting at a rather clunky but solid locking mechanism. This is what I mean by "lock" ;-)
  - wincy 6y ago
    I think the word you used is accurate. My microwave looks like this [0] and has an actual handle. We have another, less expensive microwave that does have the push button like you're talking about. It might be a regulation in Germany/E.U? https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5900/5900311_sd.jpg https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/produc...
wiml 6y ago
It's probably a safety requirement. The door has to close firmly and evenly to keep microwave energy from leaking, and there are (sometimes multiple) interlock switches to keep the oven from turning on when the door is open or even partly open.

wincy 6y ago

Is this outside the US? I’ve never seen one like that here in the US. I wish my microwave had a lock. The door mechanism stopped working properly and almost blasted me with microwaves when I opened it without turning it off first. The lights flicker ominously if I open it now, so I just stopped using it. It scared the hell out of me.

woodpanel 6y ago
Sorry, I'm not a native speaker and not versed in micorwave terminology (and living in Germany). But basically every MW oven I've seen or used (or briefly touched in stores across Europe and NA) had the same door-opening mechanism: A big button (on the right bottom) that you have to forcefully push into the MW's casing to open the MW's door. During pushing the button (or closing the door) you notice some heavy resistance inside the MW, hinting at a rather clunky but solid locking mechanism. This is what I mean by "lock" ;-)
- wincy 6y ago
  I think the word you used is accurate. My microwave looks like this [0] and has an actual handle. We have another, less expensive microwave that does have the push button like you're talking about. It might be a regulation in Germany/E.U? https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5900/5900311_sd.jpg https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/produc...

wiml 6y ago

It's probably a safety requirement. The door has to close firmly and evenly to keep microwave energy from leaking, and there are (sometimes multiple) interlock switches to keep the oven from turning on when the door is open or even partly open.