Q&A for How to Test a Heating Element

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Why do I multiply two voltages?

Community Answer

Power formula states that P=IV. Ohms law states that V=IR or I=V/R. Substitute V/R for I in the power formula gives us P=V/R*V or V*V/R, so resistance of the element should be the voltage squared divided by the power.

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Question

How can I tell if the switch or the element is bad?

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If the resistance is higher than calculated or it's infinite (so the circuit is open), then you can assume that the heating element has gone bad. Same thing applies to the switch - if after setting the switch to the "on" position, the resistance is infinite, then it means that the switch doesn't close the circuit and it's broken.

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Question

What would cause a microwave to not heat up food?

Debra Bish

Community Answer

If your microwave oven quits heating food, it's time for a new microwave oven. There is usually not much else one can do when this happens.

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Question

You are using the formulas for D/C power, but the voltage you are calculating with is Peak to Peak A/C. Don't I need to convert it to Vrms first?

James Jemima

Community Answer

In the USA for example, your everyday, normal household AC Voltage does in fact equal Vrms=120V, and of course 2-phase AV Vrms=240V. The numerical conversion is already built into the standard. You can verify this easily as almost every modern multi-meter reports Vrms, as that is the more useful and informative value as opposed to peak values.

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