Re: Sources for MOTs

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: David Speck <dave-at-davidspeckmd-dot-org> 

Easiest way is to cruise the streets on the night before trash day. 
Especially at this time of year, people are tossing the last generation 
microwaves (and serviceable, working  computers) after getting new ones for 
Christmas.  I see one at the curb nearly every week on my drive to 
work.  The Sharp and Samsung units seem to have a short lifespan -- I get 
lots of nearly new ones that are nice and clean inside.  Haven't 
investigated as to their failure modes, but I've just grabbed the 
transformers.  The evolution of the designs from the early to current 
models is amazing.  The old ones have about 50 feet of wire heavy enough to 
weld with inside, while the new imports have about 5 feet of telephone wire 
inside.

The ones you really want are the old Litton or Kenmore MWOs.  They have 
much larger, heavier and higher rated  transformers.  One very early Litton 
MWO that I scrapped actually had a separate high voltage filament 
transformer for the magnetron -- a neat find by itself, and the HV 
transformer must have weighed 40 pounds.  Generally, the bigger the MWO 
cabinet, the bigger the tranny will be.

My community also has an unguarded dumpster at the waste transfer station 
where residents can toss scrap metal.  It's actually more of a community 
trade space, as I'd bet that 80% of what's thrown in there it taken home by 
someone else.  I've learned to gut a MWO  in about 7 minutes -- just 
balancing the chassis on the corner of the dumpster and extracting the 
parts I can use.  Much easier that dragging the whole thing home, and much 
less likely to bring home unwanted critters.  If the local government is 
really paranoid about lawsuits, they may restrict salvaging or dumpster 
diving, but you may be able to slip a friendly attendant a little baksheesh 
to have him put aside some promising looking units for you.

As a last resort, many communities have Salvation Army or Goodwill stores 
where you can buy MWOs for $5.00 or so.

HTH,
Dave

Tesla list wrote:

>Original poster: "Hydrogen18" <hydrogen18-at-hydrogen18-dot-com>
>How do you people acquire MOTs? I can certainly buy them for cheap but dont
>want if I can get them cheaper(preferablly free). Any ideas or suggestions?