Mainship 40 Microwave fail

[jefndeb]

Hey again,

We had company over last night and the admiral was trying to pre-cook 2 baked potatoes and I guess it over heated our Tappan microwave and it died it seems.

Not sure if this is OEM installed, sure seems so.

Has anybody else replaced their unit and if so any suggestions?

Jeff n Deb

 

[OldDan1943]

My microwave used to stop midway. I would let it cool down and restart it.
Seemed too, as you observed, over heat.
I suspect the microwave would benefit by adding a side vent and or adding a fan that will turn on with the microwave.

 

[Marco Flamingo]

Shore power or inverter? When I purchased, my boat had a microwave on a modified sine wave inverter. Shore power was fine, but it struggled on the inverter. Wouldn't surprise me if a modified sine wave inverter shortens a microwave's life.

 

[Lepke]

Most microwaves are built to similar designs. Because so many are semi builtin, you should be able to find one that fits.
If you like to fix things, it's a matter of tracing power until you get to a component where the power stops. Most if not all the internals are available online. ebay is a good place to look. A common failure is the micro switches that ensure the door is closed when cooking. There's usually more than one and if one fails it shuts off the cooking via a relay. The micro switch is very common, also found in many diaphragm water pumps.

 

[jefndeb]

Thanks, this failure seems to be overheat related as it ran longer that it probably ever has...got pretty hot.

 

[OldDan1943]

Just how long is it supposed to take to cook a couple of 4 inch potatoes?

 

[jefndeb]

Well I think she was just sorta pre cooking it so the oven part would not take so long.

 

[Dougcole]

We have the same unit, it is OEM. It is also the slowest cooking microwave ever produced, two potatoes would take a loooong time. Like almost as long as cooking them in the oven. It is also an odd height, we have not been able to find a drop in replacement. There is room to cut out the cabinet face to fit in a bigger microwave, but it is a challenging cut to do on a vertical face like that with not too much room to work. So I have been waiting for ours to die.


I'm think a small microwave with a trim kit to cover the edges of the new cutout.

 

[Shrew]

You can fabricate a trim kit. find a microwave the fits the hole, then trim it out to finish the installation. Mainship used black plexi to trim out the microwave in 1999.

 

[Capt Mike]

Microwave replacement MS40

Hey again,

We had company over last night and the admiral was trying to pre-cook 2 baked potatoes and I guess it over heated our Tappan microwave and it died it seems.

Not sure if this is OEM installed, sure seems so.

Has anybody else replaced their unit and if so any suggestions?

Jeff n Deb

I replaced the microwave on my MS400 with a Williams Sonoma .7 cu/ft model. Some trimming was necessary as this model is not as wide as the original.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

Did it turn out to be an overheating problem?

And if so, does the microwave sit in a completely solid, blind pocket with no ventilation? That's how mine is and it seems prudent to at least add some slots or ducting to allow air movement in that pocket.

 

[OldDan1943]

I had one stop on my N46. I let it cool down and presto, it worked again

 

[Blazys]

Hey again,

We had company over last night and the admiral was trying to pre-cook 2 baked potatoes and I guess it over heated our Tappan microwave and it died it seems.

Not sure if this is OEM installed, sure seems so.

Has anybody else replaced their unit and if so any suggestions?

Jeff n Deb

Mine failed also. Maybe it is simply the microwave fuse. There ae fuses just microwaves and you can get those at hardware stores. I didn't have to replace the whole unit.

 

[RLKramer]

Ours died too on our msinship 43. I doubt yours is oem. We bought a new one that would fit the space from Best Buy-- Samsung, micro-convection. Shipped directly to boat at whatever marina we were going to be at. Easy peazy.

 

[TrawlerAJ]

That is indeed the original microwave. Mine died a few years back, opened up the enclosure, blown fuse. I replaced with a new fuse twice, then realizing I was putting "fast acting" fuses in. Bought a pack of "slow blow" fuses, 10 for $8, been working since...


YOLISTIC (Pack of 10) 20 Amp Slow-Blow Time Delay Fuse Ceramic 6x30mm

 

[timb7734]

After poking several holes in the spuds with a fork, they cook in 6 minutes in my experience, then I wrap in tin foil where they finish cooking. I use them later for hash browns. May need some extra microwave time for a regular baked potato.

 

[PaulB.]

Ours died in our 2006 400. We had a hard time finding one that fit the relatively low opening so I cut out along the top to fit a new one. I used the correct radius Forstner bit to cut the corners and clamped a flat metal bar along the cut line. Using a vibrating cutter with the 3"? half round blade I had no problem doing a straight smooth cut. Paul. Blue Moon

 

[OldDan1943]

Sharp Carousel 1200 watt microwave is something to look at. Approx 20wide,12high,19deep.

We all remember when microwaves cost an arm and a leg. Those days are long gone. If it weren't for microwaves, I'd have to drink cold coffee and cold left overs.