If your Frigidaire microwave keeps tripping breaker, you cannot expect it to heat up and warm your food. So, this is an issue you should immediately fix if you ever want to use your microwave, and it begins with identifying the cause.
A Frigidaire microwave will continue tripping its circuit breaker due to a circuit overload, electrical supply fault, microwave malfunction, or wet turntable motor. If not, it could be a failed door latch, interference suppressor, magnetron casing, HV diode, capacitor timer, or transformer.
I’ll explain all 11 issues to enable you to understand what to check and what steps to take to get your Frigidaire microwave back working. And as you’ll realize, while some issues need a microwave expert, the majority are DIY which is music to your pocket ears if you want to save.
After that, I’ll provide a quick guide encompassing all the shared issues to help you troubleshoot your failing Frigidaire microwave.
Let’s get into it!
In a hurry? See below a quick guide for a continually tripping Frigidaire microwave circuit breaker.
Frigidaire Microwave Keeps Tripping Breaker – Quick Troubleshooting Guide
| Likely Reason | Quick Fix | |
| 1. | Circuit Overload | Move the microwave to its dedicated circuit |
| 2. | Electrical Supply Fault | Replace a faulty power outlet or power cable |
| 3. | Malfunctioning Microwave | Call an expert or replace the microwave |
| 4. | Wet Turntable Motor | Try to reset the breaker and replace the turntable motor if its contacts lack continuity |
| 5. | Failed Door Latch | Replace a broken door latch or micro switch that lacks continuity |
| 6. | Failed Interference Suppressor | Replace the suppressor if the microwave is too loud |
| 7. | Failed Magnetron Casing | Replace the magnetron if its terminals lack continuity |
| 8. | Failed HV Diode | Replace a short-circuited high-voltage diode |
| 9. | Failed Capacitor | Replace a bulged capacitor |
| 10. | Failed Timer | Replace a damaged or corroded timer |
| 11. | Failed Capacitor | Replace a bulged capacitor |
Why Does My Frigidaire Microwave Keep Tripping the Breaker?
Generally likely, your Frigidaire microwave won’t stop tripping the circuit breaker due to one of these 11 reasons:
1. Circuit Overload
A Frigidaire microwave requires about 120amp unless stated otherwise. For that to be the case, it needs a dedicated circuit.
If you plug it alongside other appliances, you overload the circuit, and that causes the circuit breaker to trip over.
Fix
Ensure the microwave is on its dedicated circuit. It should show the microwave. If that’s not the case, move the microwave to its dedicated circuit.
2. Electrical Supply Fault
Two issues prevent your Frigidaire microwave from getting the right amount of power and eventually trip the circuit breaker: defective socket or power cable.
Often, a high voltage blows up the socket or power cable. So, you should visually examine them for burning to determine if they are at fault.
Fix
Consider checking the power socket’s and power plug’s continuity with a multimeter. If any of lacks continuity, replace it.
3. Malfunctioning Microwave
Sometimes the microwave keeps tripping the breaker because something is wrong with it. That doesn’t necessarily point to a single component failure but the whole unit or multiple components.
Hers how to identify a malfunctioning microwave:
- Plug your microwave in a high-amp circuit, such as in the garage
- If the garage circuit breaker trips, that confirms the microwave is malfunctioning
Fix
Call a microwave expert when the microwave trips the garage’s circuit breaker. If the expert can’t fix the issue or asks you to replace the microwave, go ahead and replace it.
4. Wet Turntable Motor
The job of the turntable motor is to rotate the microwave. That allows the microwave to warm and heat the food uniformly.
However, since it’s exposed, liquids (from condensation or the food) may drip into the motor and short-circuit it. Once that happens, the circuit breaker will trip.
Fix
First, try to reset the circuit breaker before checking the motor, and here’s how to reset microwave circuit breaker:
- Turn off the circuit breaker
- Wait for 2 minutes to flip it back on
- Start the microwave
Check the turntable motor contacts with a multimeter if the microwave continues tripping. If they lack continuity, replace the turntable motor, as it’s likely to be short-circuited.
5. Failed Door Latch
The door latch lets the microwave door seal firmly, preventing the heated waves from escaping. But the microwave door cannot properly latch once the door latch breaks or its micro switch fails. Instead, the circuit breaker trips when you try to run the microwave.
Fix
Visually examine the door latch to see if it’s broken. If it is, replace it. And if it’s not, test the micro switch with a multimeter and replace it if it lacks continuity.
6. Failed Interference Suppressor
The interference suppression filter, otherwise known as the interference suppressor, suppresses the microwave’s loud noise. It reduces the noise to a tolerable level, but once it fails, the noise becomes intolerable.
And, of course, it causes the circuit breaker to trip over. Sometimes the microwave may short-circuit one of its components.
Fix
Consider replacing the interference suppressor if the microwave is deafeningly loud and the circuit breaker won’t stop stripping.
7. Failed Magnetron Casing
Inside the microwave is the magnetron, which generates the needed microwave energy. So, the microwave won’t work when it fails.
But still, the waves from microwaves are highly dangerous; the magnetron has an insulation layer or casing to contain them within a particular direction.
Sometimes, however, the casing fails and causes the waves top to leak, and that trips over the circuit breaker.
Fix
By probing a multimeter into its connection terminals, you can confirm if the magnetron leaks. If the airports won’t show continuity, the magnetron casing is leaking, and you should replace the magnetron.
8. Failed High Voltage (HV) Diode
A microwave features a set of eight stockpiled diodes, commonly known as the High Voltage (HV) diode. Their job is to convert AC to DC and double the voltage capacity to about 5,000 volts.
The excess voltage may short-circuit the HV diode causing it to trip the circuit breaker as a precaution to protect the microwave.
Fix
Inspect the HV diode for burning signs to indicate a short circuit and, if possible, replace the bad diode.
9. Failed Capacitor
The work of the capacitor is to store the microwave energy and release it quickly when needed. Sadly, it fails sometimes, forcing the microwave’s circuit breaker to trip off.
Fix
You can tell a failed capacitor if it looks bulged. If so, replace it.
10. Failed Timer
Nowadays, nearly all microwaves use digital timers, including Frigidaire microwaves. The timer receives instructions from the control panel and relays them to other microwave components.
However, it cannot do that if its contacts are damaged or corroded. Instead, it trips off the circuit breaker.
Fix
Inspect the timer for damage and corrosion and replace it if that’s the case.
11. Failed Transformer
The last microwave component to check is the transformer. Its job is to amplify the voltage to enable the microwave to heat food. However, it may fail; when it does, the circuit breaker trips continually.
Fix
A transformer can be too dangerous to handle. So, call an expert once you get to this point.
How to Fix Microwave Tripping Circuit Breaker?
Here’s what to do if microwave keeps tripping breaker:
- Step 1 – Check if the microwave is on a dedicated circuit. If it’s not, transfer it to a dedicated circuit.
- Step 2 – Check if the wall socket and the microwave power cord work. If any of them isn’t working, replace them.
- Step 3 – Move the microwave to the garage’s circuit and power it on. If it trips the garages circuit, replace it (the microwave)
- Step 4 – Test the turntable motor’s contacts with a multimeter. If they lack continuity, replace the turntable motor.
- Step 5 – Check the door latch and replace it if broken. Replace the door switch if they fail to display continuity on a multimeter.
- Step 6 – Listen to the microwave and replace the interference suppression filter if the noise is deafening.
- Step 7 – Test the magnetron’s terminals with a multimeter and replace the magnetron if the terminals lack continuity.
- Step 8 – Check the HV diode for short-circuiting (burning signs) and replace it if that’s the case.
- Step 9 – Check the capacitor for signs of bulging and replace it if that’s the case.
- Step 10 – Examine the timer and replace it if it’s damaged or corroded.
- Step 11 – Call an expert to check the transformer.
People Also Ask
1. Why Does My Microwave Keep Tripping the Breaker?
Your microwave is most likely tripping the breaker because of a circuit. A microwave needs a dedicated circuit, so it’s likely to trip over if you overload it. Also, check the power outlet and cord to ensure they are working.
2. How Do You Stop a Microwave from Tripping the Circuit Breaker?
You can stop a microwave from tripping the circuit breaker by not overloading the circuit. Ensure the microwave is on its dedicated circuit. Also, replace the power plug or socket if any is faulty. Additionally, check and replace the turntable motor and door latch for faults.
3. What Causes a Microwave to Trip the Breaker?
A microwave may trip the breaker for different reasons: some of its most typical causes are:
- An overloaded circuit (plugging too many appliances in the same circuit)
- Defective wall socket or power plug
- A malfunctioning microwave
- Defective door latch
- Failed turntable motor, capacitor, HV diode, magnetron, interference suppressor, or transformer
Closing Thought On a Frigidaire Microwave That Keeps Tripping Breaker
Shared are the 11 explanations as to why your Frigidaire microwave keeps tripping breaker. So, go through the checks and their respective fixes to restore the microwave to its glory working days. But if an issue seems too complex for your DIY expertise, consider experts’ help.
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