Specifications

Ver SG 9/200 18 Sharp Electronics Corporation
The main concern is about microwave radiation leakage from around the oven door.
Some doors of earlier models were relatively loose fitting, particularly after being in use
for a while. Microwave energy can radiate from around such a door, just like light can be
seen under a door to a lighted room. The difference is that microwave radiation isn’t
visible. It presence, however, can be detected with the
proper instruments. A neon lamp (not connected to
any electrical source) will light up when held close to
a leaky microwave oven door. Other instrument must
be used to measure the exact level of radiation. When
carrying out these checks be sure to have at least a cup
of cold water in the oven. Check to also to see if the
door flange and faceplate are free of food spatters.
Spills and spatters can build up in these areas and
affect the door seal enough to cause leakage. Keeping
the oven clean might eliminate the need for a service
call.
Another important point to remember is that radiation diminishes by the square of the
distance from the source. Leakage of microwave energy from a microwave oven follows
this formula too. An oven radiating 10mW/ cm
2
measured two inches from the door will
show a reading at 20 inches, about an arms length, of 0.1 mW/cm
2
. Using the same
formula, if the measurement at the door is 100 mW/cm
2
, the level at 20 inches will be
only 1 mW/cm
2
. When one considers that microwave diathermy treatment of the eye is
carried out at levels of over 100 mW/cm
2
with the eye positioned a bare three inches from
the device, it is readily apparent that there is little need for concern about hazards of
microwave oven use.