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How can I tell the wattage of an appliance?
I'm looking to find out the wattage of my microwave. It came with the house, so I don't have any user manuals or anything. I'm not seeing anything in the door or the inside either.
Is there a way to find this info out?
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Re: How can I tell the wattage of an appliance?
Posted by dajc23
Is there a reason you need to know the wattage?
you can contact the manufacturer directly to assist you also
LOL - I just need to know how long to warm a heating pad up for - the time varies depending on the wattage. I'm paranoid and didn't want to overheat it. 
Thanks for responding, btw!
Message edited 10/21/2008 9:38:40 PM.
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: How can I tell the wattage of an appliance?
Since all microwave ovens lose power as they age, here is a method to determine the current wattage, not what it was sold as.
http://www.davesrepair.com/DIYhelp/DIYmwwattagetest.htm
Ever wonder if your ‘700 watt’ microwave oven’s actually cooking anywhere near its rating? Does it seem slower these days than when it was new?
Here’s a quick & easy way to find out what’s taking place in there:
Fill a Microwave-safe container with 1 carefully measured liter of water, preferably at room temperature, about 70F, and measure its temperature (Fahrenheit) as accurately as possible. Write that temp. down, and place the container in the MW. Set the timer for 2:03, and hit start. (If yours is a 'mechanical timer' type, with just a dial, use a stopwatch - this must be accurately timed.)
Carefully measure the ‘end’ temperature and multiply the difference by 19.4. The result is the approximate energy gain in watts. (I know you’re wondering about those 3 seconds - it takes about that long for the magnetron tube’s filament to heat and start to ‘fire’, and we want exactly 2 minutes of heating)
Keep in mind that it’s normal for a microwave to produce less energy as it ages (hmmm… sounds familiar somehow!), but your results should be within about 50-75 watts of the rating.
Another variation:
http://www.gallawa.com/microtech/output.html
The following test will provide a suitably accurate measurement of the output power of any microwave oven. Variations or errors in performing this test will produce uncertain results. If the line voltage (from the electrical outlet) is low, the magnetron output will be correspondingly low.
* Equipment needed: Microwave safe container with 1000 mL (1 Liter) gradation.
* Fahrenheit thermometer (Amana part # R0157397), or centigrade thermometer (Amana part # M95D5)
1. Procedure: Pour exactly 1000 mL (1 Liter) of cool tap water into he container. Using the thermometer, stir the water, then measure and record the temperature. For accurate results the water should be about 60 degrees F (20 degrees C).
2. Place the container on the center of the oven cooking shelf (do not leave the thermometer in the container and remove any metal racks), and heat the water (at full power) for 63 seconds. Use the second hand of a watch, not the oven timer.
3. After the heating time is completed, immediately remove the container, stir the water, re-measure and record the temperature of the heated water.
4. Subtract the starting water temperature (step 2) from the ending water temperature (step 3) to obtain the temperature rise.
5. To determine the output power in watts, multiply the total temperature rise by a factor of:
38.75 , if you're using a Fahrenheit thermometer;
70 , if you're using a centigrade thermometer.
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