The secondary of my transformer has burn't up so the transformer needs replaced. I have other transformers from other microwaves that are rated at the same wattage but they are shaped somewhat differently (layout of coil is vertical instead of horizontal). Everything else seems to be the same. I checked the resistance of the coils and it seems they are very close.

Is there any danger with putting in a transformer that I have even though it isn't the exact same?

Original: lg microwave - transformer model: 6170w1d091j (not branded)

Replacement transformers
Samsung SHV-u1870C
or
Samsung SHV-5594uc

 

Hi,

Transformers have very specific design criteria so it would be a gamble. First there is voltage and current ratings, then there are the secondary issues such as leaked microwaves from the oven cavity. Of course there is total power delivered and if it over powers the oven it could easily burn out the magetron. Arcing is also a possibility. A lower power transformer might get too hot. There are a lot of possibilities without the right part so it's hard to say exactly what will happen.

 

What do you have to lose? A dead oven in one hand, an unemployed transformer in the other hand. The worst that can happen is exactly what you have now...two useless parts.

 

A primary of such transformer burned ? That is a beefy wire to toast/open circuit ! What is the health of it series thermal breaker before you do surgery ? Measure voltage at the transformer input leads before...

 

A primary of such transformer burned ? That is a beefy wire to toast/open circuit ! What is the health of it series thermal breaker before you do surgery ? Measure voltage at the transformer input leads before...

It was the secondary of the transformer. about the middle 1/3 of the winding is charred.

 

Sorry. A mental fart wrongly read 'hasn't burned' misleading myself the primary was.

If a bad magnetron caused the charring, it will happen again with a substitute transformer. If a power spike/surge did it, there is a chance for resurrection via transplant.

 

What do you have to lose? A dead oven in one hand, an unemployed transformer in the other hand. The worst that can happen is exactly what you have now...two useless parts.

Hi,

Well, to be more *exact* (ha ha) if we start with two useless parts and end up with two useless parts we have not lost anything, but here we are starting with two decent parts so if we end up with two useless parts we've effectively lost two good parts.

Most likely though we'll only loose one of those decent parts if something burns out, and if it is the oven, then we've failed. The alternative would be to get the right transformer and hope nothing else is wrong.

Microwave ovens are a lot cheaper than they used to be so unless this is an expensive model or something i'd go get a new one. I am a pretty cheap azz too (har har) but even i would go get another one.

Would be cool if it worked though. Maybe look online for how to check for leaks if it works at all.

I've fiddled with a few MW ovens in my time but never replaced a transformer. I guess my old ovens were so beat up anyway i would not even consider paying for a new transformer unless i got it really cheap. Also, the ovens seem to improve a little so every time i go to buy a new one it seems better than the old one.
My ovens generally fail when the keypad starts to malfunction. Numbers i use more frequently start to fail so i cant enter that number anymore (like the '3' or something).

A little checking might reveal how different those HV diodes are too, as to the voltage raings. Maybe that are not that different, maybe they are very different, i dont know.