Comments by "eDoc2020" (@eDoc2020) on "What's the deal with the popcorn button?" video.

  1. It's November but that doesn't mean I can't put in effort. The service manual for your fancy microwave is W11400254 which you can find online. From the wiring diagram it does have a current limiting resistor but it is only used for the hood fan, the magnetron circuit is purely conventional on-off. I have no idea how it could run at reduced power when popping popcorn.
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  2. Even if it won't shut off when it should there are still a ton of safety features. There are usually physical overtemp sensors (either bimetallic strip and/or some sort of one-time-use fuse) to interrupt power if either the magnetron or box get too hot. There is also a double hardware interlock to make doubly sure it won't run with the door open.
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  3.  @DreAdeDcoRpSE  One of the things I mentioned is thermal over-limit switches. It should shut down before food gets hot enough to catch on fire. I suppose if you put something small in it could catch fire without heating the compartment bu then it wouldn't be large enough to cause damage.
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