Repairing Your Microwave Buttons and Touchpad
Many home appliances can be repaired easily at home. Replacing handles, latches, and switches is often easier than you think. This is not the case with microwaves. The microwave is small and compact, and everything is tightly built. Repairs can be challenging. Many people will call in a professional appliance repair service or purchase a new model if their microwave breaks down. These are just some of the options. You can learn and DIY using a multimeter and screwdriver to fix your microwave. A faulty touchpad is one of the most common causes of microwave malfunctions. Soft-touch buttons, used in most microwave controls today, can lose their sensitivity. This means that some or all buttons will stop sending signals to the microwave. This, of course, renders the micro completely useless. We can help you fix your broken microwave touchpad or buttons.
How the Microwave Touchpad Works
The microwave touchpad does not have a touch sensor. The membrane switch comprises two flexible layers with a conductive inner coating and a bubble between. Each button consists of a flexible membrane with a bubble on top. A conductive coating is attached to the membrane and contacts the keypad’s back when a function or number button is pressed. By pressing the membrane and making the connection, an electrical current is closed that sends a message to the control panel. The control board is a microwave’s brain. The conductive coating can wear off over time and reduce the ability to connect or send a message. The control board may be faulty, causing keypad malfunctions.
Microwave buttons are not working
Your favorite microwave button may have worn down the membrane underneath the label. The button’s functionality decreases as the conductive coating wears away on the membrane. You may only be getting a partial signal, but you are not receiving the desired function. You may notice one button out and then a cluster nearby. The membrane is flexible, and damage to one of the buttons can affect the panel’s functionality. You’ll probably need to replace your membrane switch to fix these issues. You can replace the keypad assembly instead of removing the membrane. This will eliminate the need to deal with delicate membranes or exact replacements. The best way to get a membrane switch working is when it’s factory-aligned. Open the microwave cabinet and remove the mounting screws as well as the metal wraparound cover on the top and side. Access the front panel. The membrane switch will be connected to a flat ribbon wire connector. This will need to change to the new membrane.
Microwave Display Lights Up in Blank
The control board may be the culprit if a touchpad light illuminates without data. The buttons send a message, but the controller board is still figuring out what to do. The display might show blankness or nonsense before failing to respond. Or worse, the wrong action. Check your control board if you are a microwave user experiencing similar symptoms. Grab the multimeter and open your microwave. To open the cabinet, you’ll need to remove the mounting screw and the microwave cover. Here, you can reach the back of your microwave’s front cover, where the control panel is located. Once you have found the control board, carefully copy all wiring connections onto a similar new control board. Next, remove the old controller board and install the replacement. Your touchpad problems should be solved. If not, replace the membrane button as well.
Microwaves Controls Are Non-Responsive
Start troubleshooting if the touchpad of your microwave is non-responsive. To fix your microwave, you can use partial signals—for example, a few working keys or a black display. In the absence of a clue, you’ll need more information. A multimeter can gather information on your membrane switches button by button. If you want to test each button’s resistance when pressed, you’ll likely need to refer to an online matrix layout. If the membrane test fails, replace the switch and check if this solves the problem. If the membrane switches work fine, You can move onto the control board. Test the control panel with the multimeter to determine if it handles electricity correctly. Replace the control board if it is not reading the correct resistance or seems dead. You may need a new microwave if the control and membrane switches are not working. Because the touchpad on the microwave is so delicate, many people worry about repairs. It’s not necessary to have delicate hands to fix the microwave touchpad. Have the appropriate replacement part assembly. You can find more DIY repair tips on our blog. Also, feel free to explore this website. You can even stop at the membranes of microwaves. Our experienced technicians are available to repair your appliance. Our team is happy to bring your microwave back up to speed.