Teardown #5 - 2KV Microwave Oven Capacitors

Opening up some high voltage capacitors from discarded microwave ovens to salvage the 10 mega-ohm resistors inside. Some tips on opening the can and a nice surprise inside one of the capacitors.

[@nathanthomas7083]

I have been shocked by a microwave transformer. I was immediately put into cardiac arrest and rushed to the hospital.

[@consciousenergies]

This is an important video for those who re-purpose. Many who don't realize there are resistors and diodes in microwave oven capacitors. Thanks for taking the time and sharing.

[@EnergyFabricator]

Diadon Acs No problem. Thanks for watching :)

[@yz250ftony]

I've been searching for DIY meg-ohm resistor videos and i came across this. perfect, i need a 10Meg for a project and I have a few of these caps laying around, thanks for uploading!

[@EnergyFabricator]

No problem. I'm glad it helped!

[@jerrystrader754]

Rotary tool brother. Like a dremel with a cutting wheel. Should eat through that casing like butter. Cool video. Only one of its kind that I've seen.

[@falquest]

The oil is usually mineral, the same stuff you drink to help with tough caca, and occasionally silicone based oil. So to those worried about the toxicity- it’s not too bad. It might even help you shit.

[@niktesla3939]

Could also file apart top rounded edge. Would have wanted more info on what other materials were being used in various capacitors.

[@organicvids]

try safety can can opener, it cuts on the outter circumference

[@allenau4527]

Sir , Can I use 1.05uf instead 0.87uf for the Capacitor . thank you !

[@mojojomo6750]

Interesting, but it's painful to see the caps being butchered just for the resistors - oil-filled caps are much more valuable than resistors.

[@EnergyFabricator]

Yeah, I'd usually be inclined to agree, but the caps cost me nothing & the local availability of high M-ohm resistors is low. Also, there are not many industrial and/or consumer goods from which you can salvage them.

[@Ferraday]

Energy Fabricator resistors are literally the easiest and cheapest component to make. This is almost as bad as the scrappers who melt down the microwave oven transformers for $5 of metal

[@edwardcoleman9291]

What precious metals can be found in their resistoras

[@gokuls6536]

Can you give me the capacitor specification used in microwave oven

[@jovanjovanovic9037]

hi people .. i won ask question . Can it be use for car sound system?just capacitor ( just remove it from Oven and connected in car) thank you for respond

[@d.jensen5153]

At first glance it appears that microwave oven caps are inductive. No attempt seems to have been made to extend the plates beyond the dielectric for parallel connection. Bummer.

[@alexcantlow2920]

Mum just borrowing your tin opener

[@punjab4614]

I want to use HV capacitor with microwave transformer ...how is possible?

[@juliusvalentinas]

What do you use the resistors for? The caps cost about 7USD so I can't image it cost effective to get these resistors this way.

[@EnergyFabricator]

I use the resistors for high-voltage voltage dividers. I get the caps for free from scrap microwaves so it costs me nothing but my time. You can check the prices of MOhm resistors & decide if it's worth it to you.

[@jacknisen]

A guy could buy a bag of 10 meg resistors for 7 bucks.

[@MrMacman98]

Good stuff! I didn't realise there was a resistor inside those caps! Also to note is not to open up old caps as they could have the nasty PCB oil in them

[@EnergyFabricator]

Machine Man 10 megaohm resistors are hard to come by and they are very useful for making high voltage probes :)

[@MrMacman98]

Energy Fabricator ahh nice! maybe I should look inside a few of mine!

[@colormovie1321]

Just use gloves

[@BeeEmmW]

thanks for the video, and hello from Sydney! i want to make a massive cockcrofft and walton generator using 50 of these do you think the resistors will affect the performance of the capacitor dumping HV?

[@johnb003]

Why do you junk the caps? Can't they withstand pretty high voltages? Probably even nice to have the cap without the bleeder resistor, so you can just fill it back up and seal it again.

[@EnergyFabricator]

+johnb003 The caps are rated to 2KV or 2.1KV and I did consider keeping them but I have sooo much stuff and I also have high voltage caps that are ready to go off the shelf. If I kept these caps, they would need to go back under oil asap before they dry out. Also, the oil vapour is flammable so it would be risky to solder leads to the terminals. I can also get more of them whenever I want. In short, it's just too much work and I have better caps. If I didn't have any other caps, I would maybe consider it, but I don't need to, so I don't.

[@claudio_sergiacomo]

Is there wny way to know which capacitor mf. value must be used with a specific magnetron? I think mine was replaced with one that is not the same value of the original and I´ve read that it may cause a low heat or a premature magnetron damage. I´ve looked on the internet and can´t find a chart where each magnetron model has the value of the capacitor to work with

[@louiepugado363]

Is the hv.cap.repairable?

[@236vic]

I want to understand how they work? Can they be charged with a 12 volt battery ? Battery is direct current how are they charged in a microwave? And what determines when it releases its charger ?

[@ToGuyFor]

Hah, wow, didn't know these were worth saving

[@garyweber6413]

Hello, is that resistor there to slowly discharge the capacitor? Great info thanks.

[@EnergyFabricator]

YES

[@raymondbivens5787]

You might b able to peel back the crimp at the top using a good pair of wire cutters/diagonal cutters

[@EnergyFabricator]

Raymond Bivens I haven't tried that, but the hacksaw is definitely a quick and easy method. Thanks for watching :)

[@jeffiscool1805]

Mine has a resistor that is soldered across the terminals externally. Does that mean there isn't an internal one? thanks

[@EnergyFabricator]

Usually they are internal. If you have an external resistor, i would say there would not be an internal one.

[@jeffiscool1805]

Thank you.

[@harukoyama9515]

May I ask why resistor is used in conjunction with high voltage AC, low Amp capacitor?

[@EnergyFabricator]

To discharge the capacitor when not in use.

[@harukoyama9515]

So it is for safety reason. When power off. Capacitor is drain clean. My electric motor is AC, has Bridge rectifier convert 120Vac to 120Vdc. Before go to motor. It has resistor. No capacitor anywhere. Why still need resistor in this case? ------ I was wondering if it is possible have AC capacitor such as the one you shown on the video from microwave to store DC volt and DC current.

[@eigur9231]

Hmm, If you look in the background. You can see a white pvc pipe that looks like a pipe bomb with a transformer on it.

[@morakskuld7126]

Hi I'm new why take them apart? are they expensive or just hard to get, or because you can. I have other questions, but I've just subscri ed so maybe you'll do a video and I can put the question there.

[@TediChannel23Ja]

that oil is to flammable

[@pietersleght8235]

do you sell the resistors on line?

[@EnergyFabricator]

no, I just salvage them for my own use.

[@DJPaulFreeman]

Not convinced

[@HIDLad001]

Beware of PCBs in older capacitors!

[@deronburton2994]

you mean to tell me there is nothing else inside there except for copper coils???

[@jamesharrell4360]

use a p-38 can opener

[@scubacertified]

How can I charge a capacitor?

[@scubacertified]

Hv capacitor

[@annelieseocallaghan801]

Charging this can kill you, be careful.

[@bjtaudio]

Why do want the resistors anyway?

[@EnergyFabricator]

They can be used in high-voltage voltage dividers.

[@Bodragon]

99c on ebay?

[@Drcraigpl]

They are bleed down resistors.. the capacitor will not hold a charge with the resistors still in there...they are a safety feature of these large caps.

[@faithman1000]

How toxic is the oil???

[@EnergyFabricator]

I've had it on my hands and I'm still alive - but don't use it to cook your sausages! Best to wear gloves :)

[@colormovie1321]

Just dont drink it and wash your hands after using it and your fine

[@TheDarknessConsumesMe666]

I don't get why there is a resistor bridging a HV cap.

[@TheBlork74]

+Christian Cedeno to slowly discharge it over time.

[@kyinchi]

Christian Cedeno what do you do with the oil?

[@meagain2222]

Its a safety measure to prevent some idiot from touching the capacitor and killing them selves.It discharges the cap after the power is turned off.And believe me there is way more than killing power here.Be careful.

[@PyroTronix]

Christian Cedeno it a bleeder resistor

[@keithking1985]

What power rating are those resistors??? "What watts" are they😂. no but really?

[@EnergyFabricator]

keith king I'm not sure exactly what the power ratings are. The ones which look like standard resistors are probably around 1-2watts. The flat ones on ceramic strips are most likely 1/4 a 1/2 watt.

[@keithking1985]

@@EnergyFabricator those caps can kill you right!!? Do you know what sort of power they can put out when charged up?? Like what's there rating, Fareds and such???

[@bengali481]

My zero waste Facebook group is always looking for ways t avoid the landfill.scratch Let's should look for and join groups lime that as a source for defunct appliances.