Most of us use our microwave oven on a regular basis and we might use it for a variety of reasons. At one moment, it is there to use as a timer and in another moment, we may be cooking a pot roast. If your Magic Chef microwave is no longer working, how do you reset or fix it?
To reset your Magic Chef microwave, you need to disconnect it from power. This is known as a hard reset and you can accomplish it by either unplugging it from the wall or turning off the circuit breaker. Wait for a few minutes so some of the power can dissipate and then reconnect it again. Your microwave is now reset.
Although resetting the microwave in this way is a good way to get things back to factory settings, it is not going to fix every problem. At other times, you may be able to do a softer reset if it is just a common issue or if you make a mistake while programming.
The way to perform a soft reset on a Magic Chef microwave is to press the off/cancel button. Each time you press that button, it will back up one step that you have recently taken. Eventually, you will be to the point where you are back at the clock again, and your microwave has been soft reset.
In addition, you may not be able to fix every issue with a reset. It’s a good idea to try it at first, especially if it seems as if you are having some type of strange error or even if there is an error message.
Resetting the microwave brings things back to factory settings again and erases any of the settings you have. That is why you have to reset the clock after you do a hard reset.
Magic Chef Microwave Not Working (How To Fix/Reset)
Before you begin working on your magic chef microwave, it’s important to recognize that safety is always a factor to be considered. You have to work safely or else you could actually die as a result of this DIY project.
Working on a microwave is not like working on a common house lamp. After you have disconnected the power to your microwave, there will still be a significant amount of energy inside the unit.
That energy is held by the diodes and helps to regulate how much power is sent to the magnetometer while the unit is running. Considering the amount of power that it takes to run a microwave, which is significant, it may be holding enough energy that it could electrocute you.
You can get around this problem by discharging the diodes when you start working on the microwave. Most DIY enthusiasts are not familiar with how to do so, and it can be problematic if you make this attempt unsuccessfully. It’s better if you just have someone else work on the unit.
Another safety concern for the common DIY enthusiast who works on a microwave is in the magnetometer itself. The insulators of the magnetometer contain a very potent material that will kill you if it gets in your lungs. Unless you know how to work on the magnetometer properly, you should not attempt to work on it on your own.
After you reset the microwave, you may find that there is still a problem that needs to be corrected. We will discuss some of those specific problems below, but first, let’s consider the possibility of an electrical problem.
To put it plainly, if your Magic Chef microwave is not getting power, it is not going to work. You need to trace the power problem, which is typically easy to do.
This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 06/22/2022
First of all, unplug your Magic Chef microwave and check the plug and power cord. If you see any damage, especially if there is any burning of the plug itself, you should not use the microwave until it is repaired.
There may also be an issue with the receptacle. Although receptacles are fairly stable items in the home, they do fail from time to time.
Try plugging your microwave into the second plug on the receptacle if it is available. You can also test the receptacle by plugging in a lamp or another appliance.
If the power cord and receptacle are okay, you may have a problem with overloading. Microwaves drain an excessive amount of power, which is why it is generally recommended that they are not included on the circuit with any other item.
If you were to run your microwave and another kitchen appliance, such as a toaster at the same time, you run the risk of overloading the circuit. This would cause the circuit breaker to trip.
If you are getting any power to the microwave, you may need to check the circuit breaker and see if it did trip. A circuit breaker will be slightly out of line with the other breakers in the box and you may see a red marker on the side of the breaker, indicating that it has tripped.
If the circuit breaker did trip, flip it entirely to the off position and then turn it back to the on position again. You will hear the circuit breaker snap into place in both instances. Your breaker is now reset.
Resetting a circuit breaker on occasion is not uncommon but having to reset a circuit breaker constantly when you are trying to run your microwave is an issue. If you aren’t running any other items on the circuit breaker, you may have to have an electrician check out the breaker itself.
If you smell any burning smell at the electric panel or if there is a rotten egg smell, it is a sign that the circuit breaker has gone bad. Don’t use the appliance until you have it repaired.
There are also many internal items in your Magic Chef microwave that could have gone bad. Here are a few to consider.
Door Switch – When the door opens, the microwave shuts off automatically. That is a safety feature that is built into your Magic Chef microwave.
If the door switch is not working properly, it may allow the door to come open slightly or it may detect that the door is open inappropriately. In either case, it will not allow the microwave to work until the door switch is repaired or replaced.
Thermal Fuse – The thermal fuse is an interior fuse that disconnects the microwave from power if it detects a high temperature. Unfortunately, a thermal fuse can sometimes go bad and it will cause your microwave to stay disconnected. You will have to replace the thermal fuse if that is the problem.
ThermalProtector – This is a similar item to the thermal fuse, but you can think of it as more of a circuit breaker than the fuse. The thermal protector will switch itself off when it detects high temperatures and it should, in many cases, turn itself back on again. If it doesn’t, you may need to reset it.
Control Board – If the interior control board is faulty, you will have to replace it. You can’t test a control board but you can often determine it is the problem if none of the buttons are working and the microwave is not functioning. You can also visually inspect the control board for damage, such as burning or cracks.
Magnetron – The Megatron is the item in your microwave that actually heats the food. If it has gone bad, you may hear some strange noises like humming or vibrating and you may smell a burning smell. If you suspect that the magnetron has gone bad, disconnect the microwave and either replace or repair it.
Finally, you have to make the decision as to whether it is worth repairing the microwave or not. Microwaves are not typically expensive, although some Magic Chef microwaves can be in the hundreds of dollars.
If a microwave is older and will soon need replacing, it may not be worth spending money to have it repaired. This is a personal decision, but it is one that you should consider.
Let’s take a look at some of the specific problems you may be experiencing with the magic chef microwave and how to repair them.
Magic Chef Microwave Not Heating
When we put food or liquid in the microwave oven, we expect that it will heat it quickly. If your Magic Chef microwave is no longer heating, what can be done to fix the problem and get your microwave back on its feet again?
The most common reason why a Magic Chef microwave stops heating is due to a faulty thermal fuse. The thermal fuse is an interior fuse that shuts the power off to the magnetometer if it detects high temperatures inside the microwave. When it is faulty, it may shut off the ability of the microwave to heat inappropriately.
Fortunately, the thermal fuse is relatively easy to replace. You first need to get to the fuse, remove it, and then check it for continuity using a multimeter.
If continuity is not detected, then you will have to replace the thermal fuse. It is not part of the microwave that can be repaired.
Another feature that can cause the microwave to no longer heat is if the magnetron itself has failed. This will often be detected prior to the failure by a humming or other odd noise. You may also smell a burning smell.
Since the magnetron is responsible for cooking the food, any problem with the magnetron is going to keep the food from heating. You can replace the magnetron but in many cases, it is going to be less expensive to replace the microwave.
Magic Chef Microwave Not Rotating/Spinning
One of the features that are often underestimated in your Magic Chef microwave is the ability of the turntable to spin. It seems simplistic, but when it spins, it allows for even heating of the food or beverage. What can you do if it is no longer turning?
A common reason why a Magic Chef microwave is no longer rotating or spinning is because the glass plate has come off track. It needs to be seated in the ring under the glass plate properly in order to spin with it. It will not click into place, but it will lock into place once you have it properly situated.
Anytime you work with the glass plate inside of the Magic Chef microwave, you should do so cautiously. Not only is it an inconvenience to break this item, but it is also rather costly to replace.
You might also want to ensure that things are cleaned under the glass plate. This is often something that is overlooked, but it can cause the plate to stop spinning in many cases. Remove the glass plate and the guide and wash in warm water.
If it seems as if the problem runs deeper than the glass tray, it may be that the motor that spins the tray is no longer operating properly. Remove the glass tray and watch the drive shaft of the motor as the microwave is running.
If the driveshaft is not spinning, you will likely have to replace that motor. Be cautious when tearing apart the microwave because the diodes hold onto energy that could electrocute you.
Often, determining what is causing the microwave plate to no longer spin is hit or miss. Look for the simpler items first and hope that you find the error early on.
Magic Chef Microwave Not Responding
When we walk over to the microwave and push a button, we automatically expect it to respond to our command. Typically, it responds with an audible beep and when we push the start button, it starts running. What can you do if it is no longer responding?
A Magic Chef microwave will stop responding if it does not have power to the unit. In this case, nothing will work on the microwave, including the buttons and the clock will not be illuminated. Once you reestablish power to the microwave, it will begin operating again.
It is not uncommon for a microwave to trip a breaker, especially if the breaker that is operating the circuit is 15 amp. 15 amp is relatively low for a modern microwave. 20 amp is often recommended, but you have to have the proper wiring and breaker to upgrade.
It is also generally recommended that you operate your Magic Chef microwave on an electrical circuit by itself. Trying to operate it with other appliances, especially high-energy appliances used in the kitchen will often overload the circuit breaker quickly.
Check the circuit breaker in the breaker box to see if it has tripped. A tripped breaker will be slightly out of line with the other breakers and you will see a little stripe of red to one side.
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You can reset the breaker by turning it completely to the off position and then back to the on position. This should start your microwave working again.
If you find that the circuit breaker is constantly tripping, make sure that you are operating the microwave without the other appliances on the same circuit. You might also need to replace the circuit breaker itself.
Other issues that could cause the microwave to stop responding include a faulty receptacle, bad wiring, power failure in the home, and even a faulty control panel.
Magic Chef Microwave Light Not Working
When you open the door of your microwave oven, the light comes on and you can see inside easily. The light also should come on while you are running the microwave and cooking your food. What can you do if the light bulb is no longer working?
The most common reason why your Magic Chef microwave light bulb is not working is that the bulb needs to be replaced. Like any lightbulb, it has a limited lifespan and may need to be replaced on occasion. Make sure that you get the proper bulb for use in the microwave and then replace it according to the manufacturer’s directions.
If you replace the light bulb in your microwave and it burns out quickly, this may be a problem associated with how you install it. The microwave light is going to burn hot, so you should never touch the bulb with your fingers.
This isn’t to keep from burning your fingers but rather, you don’t want to get any oil from your fingers onto the lightbulb. Doing so would cause it to burn out more quickly.
There may be other issues that are also causing your light not to work in your microwave. This could include issues with the microwave not getting power or with the bulb holder.
Magic Chef Microwave Buttons/Touchpad Not Working
When we push the buttons or touchpad of our microwave, we expect it to respond appropriately. What can you do if the touchpad and buttons are no longer working?
A faulty control panel is the most likely culprit when the touchpad is not working. Since the control panel is responsible for the operation of almost everything in the microwave, it will keep the panel and the individual buttons from working.
On the other hand, the control panel may not necessarily be to blame if you push some buttons and they work but others don’t work. This may actually be an issue with the touchpad, which may be replaced separately from the control panel.
Magic Chef Microwave Display Not Working
We get accustomed to seeing the display change when we push buttons on our microwave. It generally means that food is on the way. What can you do if the display is no longer working?
A problem with a Magic Chef display not working is tied to the display board. Since the display board or control board can not be repaired, they will have to be replaced. Sometimes, it may be necessary to replace both the display board and the main control board at the same time.
Although it is not possible to test a control board, you can give it a visual inspection to see if there are any problems. Issues with a control board will often display themselves as burnt areas in the circuitry or cracks in the circuit board.
You can replace the control panel or display board in your Magic Chef microwave but you must be cautious. The diodes in your microwave can hold a lethal amount of energy, even when the microwave is unplugged.
Magic Chef Microwave Fan Not Working
Many people do not realize that the microwave contains a fan. It helps to keep the temperature inside of the microwave cool while food is cooking. This is especially beneficial when cooking a large meal, but what can you do with a fan that is no longer working?
The most common reason why a Magic Chef microwave fan is no longer working is because of a defective motor. To make this determination, the fan motor must be removed from the microwave and turned by hand. You will have to replace the fan motor if the blades don’t spin freely.
Unfortunately, this is a type of motor that is not generally able to be repaired. If you have gone to the trouble of removing the fan motor from your Magic Chef microwave, it may just need to be replaced with a new one.
There may be other reasons why the fan is no longer working, and these could include issues such as the main control board being burnt. If the control board is not working, you will have issues with many areas of the microwave.
Magic Chef Microwave Keeps Beeping
We expect our microwave to beep when we push buttons or when our food is done. What can you do with a Magic Chef microwave that continually beeps?
For the most part, a beeping microwave is trying to tell you something. It is either alerting you to an error or telling you that you forgot to remove food from the microwave. Rather than simply disconnecting the microwave to keep it from annoying you, it is best if you check to see what has gone wrong.
All too often, we bypass the security features in our appliances that alert us to errors. This could be by resetting the microwave when an error message occurs or unplugging it when it is beeping.
Get to the bottom of the problem and repair the issue that is leading to this annoyance. Otherwise, you can always disable the sound on your microwave by following the instructions included with your unit.
Magic Chef Microwave Keeps Blowing Fuse/Tripping Breaker
Microwaves use an excessive amount of power. Generally speaking, they would be run on their own circuit and that would minimize problems. There may still be times, however, when your microwave blows a fuse.
A blown fuse is relatively common but if your Magic Chef microwave continues to blow fuses or trip breakers, it could be due to an underlying issue. The most common reason why this occurs is that other appliances are operating on the same circuit. This can be anything from a toaster to a lamp but adding a drain on the circuit can cause the circuit breaker to trip.
In order to correct this problem, you will have to isolate the issue to the best extent possible. This would include looking for other appliances that are plugged into the same circuit.
You might also consider the possibility that the circuit breaker is going bad or there may be a problem with the wiring. If the breaker is excessively hot and continues to trip, consider calling an electrician.
There may be other signals that alert you to a bad circuit breaker, including a rotten egg smell when the breaker trips. Don’t ignore this problem because it is an extreme fire hazard.
Magic Chef Microwave Keeps Running
We push a few buttons on our microwave and it stops running. When the food is cooked, it stops running. What can you do if it doesn’t stop running?
When your microwave continues to run even after pressing the stop button, the control board is the most common issue. Even though you may be pushing the button, it is not sending the signal that alerts the microwave to shut down. You should unplug your microwave until this is fixed.
It is one problem when the microwave runs with the door closed but it is quite another when it runs with the door open. If you open the door to your microwave and it continues to operate, you should unplug it immediately.
This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 06/22/2022
The same energy that is cooking food in the microwave will also cook human flesh when the door is open and the microwave is operating. That is especially true of your eyeballs and your genitalia. Think of that when this issue occurs and you will shut it down quickly.
Magic Chef Microwave Keeps Shutting Off
One of the benefits of having a microwave is that we can cook food for a specific amount of time. If we want to cook food for one minute, we set the timer for one minute. Unfortunately, there may also be times when the microwave shuts down inappropriately. What can you do to correct this issue?
If your Magic Chef microwave runs for a few seconds and then shuts off, it may be due to a failure in your door switch. The door switch is a safety feature that keeps the microwave from operating when the door is open. Visually inspect the door switch area for problems with burning or arching and fix the issue if necessary.
Other than the door switch, it may also be a line fuse in the microwave that has blown due to excessive current. Once the line fuse blows, it must be replaced before the microwave will run.
How To Reset Magic Chef Microwave
There may be rare instances in which you need to reset your Magic Chef microwave. These include issues with error messages or excessive beeping.
To reset your Magic Chef microwave you will need to disconnect it from power. Wait a few minutes before reestablishing power and then reset the clock. This is a hard reset and is often enough to correct some of the smaller errors you are experiencing.
It may also, at times, be necessary to perform a longer hard reset. The diodes in your microwave hold power for up to 24 hours, so keeping your microwave unplugged for a day or more may be needed when the error messages warrant it.
Is There A Reset Button On A Magic Chef Microwave?
If you need to reset your Magic Chef microwave, you may be looking for the reset button. Does it exist?
Magic Chef microwaves are not made with an automatic reset button. To perform a soft reset, press the Off/Cancel button multiple times until you are back at the clock display. To perform a hard reset, disconnect the microwave from power for a few minutes before reestablishing power.
Magic Chef decided not to put a reset button on the microwave to keep people from resetting it unnecessarily. Resetting your microwave takes it back to factory settings, and would require you to reset the clock.
How To Factory Reset/Hard Reset Magic Chef Microwave
Do you want to take your Magic Chef microwave back to factory settings? This can be done by performing a hard reset.
To perform a hard reset on your Magic Chef microwave, unplug the appliance or turn off the circuit breaker that operates it. Leave the power disconnected for a few minutes to allow energy to dissipate. When you reestablish power and reset the clock, it will have been reset back to factory settings.
It is not always necessary to reset a microwave in this way. Hard reset is typically performed to overcome an error or if the microwave ‘freezes’ and is not operating properly.
How To Reset Clock On Magic Chef Microwave
Do you need to reset or change the clock on your Magic Chef microwave? It’s easy to do.
The easiest way to reset your Magic Chef microwave clock is to disconnect the microwave from power for a few seconds and plug it back in. You can then press the clock button on the control panel of the microwave and follow the steps.
Since we use the clock on our microwaves often, it is always best to keep the time as accurate as possible. This also allows you to preprogram certain items that may need to be cooked when you are not at home.
How To Reset Magic Chef Microwave Power
When we have a Magic Chef microwave, we expect that it is going to operate flawlessly every time we go to the panel and push a button. Unfortunately, that is not always the case and sometimes, small errors may cause the need for a reset. How is this done?
A hard reset of your Magic Chef microwave can be performed by disconnecting the power for a few minutes. After allowing the energy in the microwave to dissipate, you can reestablish power again. At that point, you will have to reset the clock and your microwave has been reset.
Although this seems like a simplistic maneuver, there is actually a lot more going on behind the scenes than most people realize. It isn’t simply a matter of disconnecting the microwave and reconnecting it, you need to give it time to reset.
In fact, there are many cases in which the microwave may have partially reset due to the power flickering at our home. That is a reason why you will sometimes go to the microwave and the clock will be flashing.
Don’t consider this to be a full reset, because sometimes the power wasn’t off long enough.
This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 06/22/2022
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on June 22, 2022.
If you need to hard reset your Magic Chef microwave, take the following steps.
1. Disconnect from Power – The first step in doing a hard reset is to disconnect your microwave from power. If you have access to the receptacle, you can unplug the microwave. Otherwise, you can turn off the circuit breaker at the breaker panel.
2. Wait – In most cases, small errors can be reset using a hard reset by keeping the microwave disconnected for a minute or two. This is long enough to allow much of the energy in the microwave to be dissipated.
A full reset may sometimes be necessary and for this, you need to completely drain all of the energy from the microwave. This includes the diodes, which hold an exceptional amount of energy for up to 24 hours or longer.
If you are trying to correct a small error, a short reset may be possible. Otherwise, you may need to leave the microwave unplugged for a day or more before it can be considered fully reset.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on June 22, 2022.
3. Reestablish Power – After waiting the appropriate amount of time, you should reestablish power to your Magic Chef microwave. This is done by either plugging it in or turning on the circuit breaker.
4. Set the Clock – One final step in doing a hard reset is to set the clock. In many cases, you will not be able to do anything with your microwave until the clock is set. Begin by pushing a button and it will walk you through the process automatically.
Sometimes, it may not be necessary to do a full reset of the microwave. In fact, there are certain issues that would only require a soft reset.
To soft reset your Magic Chef microwave, press the Off/Cancel button. Each time you push the button, it will back up one step through whatever steps you have previously taken. Eventually, you will be back to the clock, and at that point, the soft reset has been completed.
A soft reset is typically necessary if you made a mistake when programming the settings to cook a meal or if you disrupted the kitchen timer before it reached zero.
ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on June 22, 2022.
If your Magic Chef microwave is no longer working, it is likely a problem with the power. When the microwave is not getting power, no buttons will operate and the clock will not be illuminated. Check the circuit breaker, receptacle, and power cord for problems. After reestablishing power, your microwave will begin working again.