Last updated on August 14th, 2022 at 01:27 pm
Having a microwave is excellent; however, the potential issues that arise from using it aren’t.
Frigidaire microwaves are exceptional, but sometimes they can cause your breaker to trip.
If you notice this happening in your home, you may be concerned and wonder what causes it.
Your Frigidaire microwave keeps tripping the circuit breaker because the circuit is overloaded or the microwave’s fuse is bad. Furthermore, a faulty capacitor in your microwave could cause the microwave to trip the breaker.
Why Does My Frigidaire Microwave Keep Tripping the Breaker?
There are a couple of reasons why your Frigidaire microwave trips the circuit breaker. These could be either the fault of the circuit breaker or the microwave.
If the circuit breaker is the culprit here, the circuit could be overloaded. On the other hand, if the circuit is excellent, the microwave’s fuse must have burned out.
Furthermore, the door latch of the microwave may have been broken, the turntable motor could have a fault, the timer could be damaged, the capacitor may be faulty, or the transformer may have issues.
Join me as I explain these issues below.
#1. Overloaded Circuit
One of the reasons your circuit breaker is tripping is an overloaded circuit.
There are several circuit breakers in the circuit board with circuits supporting electricity-dependent things in your home, such as lighting, sockets, and electronics.
When you connect too many appliances to one circuit, it will be overloaded, and its circuit breaker will trip often.
Frequently, the kitchen has all sockets and lights connected to one circuit.
This is wrong as many heavy electricity-consuming appliances such as the fridge, toaster, oven, and microwave are usually in the kitchen.
Each of these appliances should have its dedicated amp circuits as just two of them in a circuit can overload it.
So, if your breaker trips whenever you turn on your microwave, it’s most likely because it’s overloading the circuit.
In that scenario, the circuit would have so much load that it can no longer support the microwave.
#2. Blown Fuse
Microwaves have fuses to protect them from power surges and other electrical hazards. However, when these fuses blow or get burned, it can cause the circuit breaker to trip off.
“How does it trip the circuit breaker?” you may wonder.
The main reasons the fuse is put in a microwave are to protect it from current overload and regulate the amount of current it draws in.
However, when the fuse is burnt, it will no longer be able to perform any of these functions. Thus, the microwave may draw more power than it should and cause the circuit breaker to trip.
#3. Damaged Door Latch
When the door latch of your microwave is faulty, it affects a couple of things. The door interlock switch is one of these things.
Usually, the microwave is supposed to work only when the circuit is closed; then, the closed door automatically activates the controller.
But if it develops a fault due to a faulty door latch and it’s turned on all the time, the circuit will detect an anomaly coming from the microwave and trip to avoid damage.
#4. Defective Turntable Motor
A faulty turntable motor could be one of the reasons your circuit breaker trips when you turn on your microwave, what damages turntable motors are usually liquids.
When you microwave foods with liquid content, these liquids can seep into the motor and damage its wiring.
Furthermore, if excessive current burnt the wires, they would stop working. In this case, the microwave would trip the circuit breaker as soon as you turn it on.
#5. Faulty Timer
If your microwave’s timer is faulty, it could heat food longer than it should.
And if you’re the type that usually leaves food with the expectation that the microwave will automatically turn off itself, you’ll probably be in for a surprise.
And that’s not even the worst that could happen. Because the microwave would continually be receiving electricity, it would heat up and add load to the breaker.
Next, its fuse will burn out from overheating, and the circuit breaker will trip.
#6. Damaged Capacitor
A faulty capacitor is one of the likely reasons the microwave trips the breaker. The capacitor of your microwave is meant to store excessive charge and protect it from harm.
However, if it develops a fault, its fuse is the next in line for damage control.
Since a fuse is the last resort, it’s not as resilient as the high voltage capacitor and will quickly burn out, tripping the circuit breaker.
How Do You Fix A Microwave That Keeps Tripping?
To fix a microwave that keeps tripping the circuit breaker, you must first diagnose the issue. Then you can be sure of the steps you can take to correct it.
Firstly, check the fuse of your microwave to see if it’s still intact. If the wires inside are burnt, or the glass container is broken, you should install a new one.
Next, you should check the capacitor.
However, since it’s not easy to locate the high voltage capacitor, you should call an electrician to check it out. If it’s damaged, you should replace it.
If the fuse and capacitor don’t have any issues, you should turn on the microwave and see if the turntable is working. If it’s not, the motor is likely faulty.
In that case, it’s best to get a new one in its place.
Furthermore, you should examine the microwave’s timer to ensure the issue isn’t coming from there. Finally, you should take it to a service center or call an electrician for repairs if it is.
It’s best to call an electrician to check out the circuit to see if too many appliances are connected. If your electronics are hardwired, it can be challenging to see this just with a glance.
But a professional can, so it’s best to call one to create a dedicated amp circuit for it.
Conclusion
The main reason your microwave keeps tripping the circuit breaker is that it is overloaded.
On the other hand, the microwave’s fuse may have burned out, the door latch may be faulty, its capacitor and turntable motor may be defective, and its timer may not be functioning correctly.