After a power outage back home (thunder storm), our High Pointe 0.9 cuft RV microwave has started acting up. It's totally random; it will beep, then go into some obscure mode, flashing meaningless (to me) symbols. So far, it's been possible to reset it, and then it's ok for a while.Since that initial thunder storm, I've installed a Progressive Ind. Voltage and Surge protector. It gives no indication that the microwave's current random weirdness is related any power fluctuations. Maybe it's turned into an alien radio?Anyway, we're thinking about replacing it. $140 (incl. shipping) from Burnstines. Or would there be a simple, cheaper, guaranteed fix, like replacing a circuit board?

If you plan to do it yourself, then perhaps swapping a circuit board would be cheaper, but if you have it done, probably not.

My guess is. By the time it's tested, problem located & repaired, you would spend close to the $140 anyway.If replaced, why not do so with another, better made micro ? There are several to choose from. Amazon, Ebay, Best Buy

These High Pointe microwaves are probably the lowest quality appliance they could muster up. Yeah, I have one in my trailer too. I seriously doubt you'd be able to replace any circuit board (try to find one for this) for much less than it would cost to just buy a new one.

The only reason I would put money into fixing that one is if it's built in and matches everything. Otherwise i'd just buy a new one.

My guess is the microwave is trashed. Maybe not much actually wrong, but 1. finding it, and 2. correcting it, are probably prohibitive.This Amazon search "0.9 cu ft microwave" netted a number of models around $100. Take a walk around Walmart's appliances, some are much less. If yours is mounted like ours, the mounting brackets can be transferred to another microwave. Just find one with the same dimensions or close to the High Pointe and trim or add molding to adjust the difference. It should be safe to drill holes for the brackets into the new microwave. Still, make a drill stop so it goes just through the surface and can't poke down farther.

Crazed microwave | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

brulaz
Explorer
Feb 05, 2015
brulaz wrote:
OK, thanks folks. We'll replace it.

Especially since it looks like exactly the same thing is at WalMart as a West Bend 0.9 cuft:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/West-Bend-0.9-cu-ft-Microwave-Oven/39085613

For $50 + change. And no shipping as it's locally available.

Hopefully I can use the existing installation bezel and have an extra glass tray and roller ring (we've already broken one and now try to remember to take out the glass tray before travelling).

And it's in and a perfect fit. No more random beeping! Price dropped to US$46 at Walmarts.

The existing installation bezel works fine, but had to drill 3 holes on the top of the new uWave for self-tapping screws.

And the vents on the new one are different, so I did not re-install an existing bit of ductwork. There's lots of room in the cabinet for ventilation, and the bezel vents to the room so all should be fine.

Anyway, if you want an almost exact replacement for a High Pointe EM925RCW uWave, this is the way to go.
brulaz
Explorer
Nov 30, 2014
Dave H M wrote:
Have you had it totally off shore power and back on and it still acted up?

Kinda like winning the lotto, sometimes totally killing the power will cause some things to have a new start in life.

Yep. We're going from S.P. to S.P. in Florida and it's been acting up everywhere we go. Maybe getting worse. Just now beeped on and on for the longest time yet (maybe morse code?), steadily flashing symbols. I'm sure it's trying to tell me something ...:)

And since I didn't bring along my full workshop, I'll probably opt for an exact dropin replacement instead a better brand. For now anyway. We're going by a WalMart in a few days ...

Thanks for all the advice folks.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Nov 30, 2014
Have you had it totally off shore power and back on and it still acted up?

Kinda like winning the lotto, sometimes totally killing the power will cause some things to have a new start in life.
HTElectrical
Explorer
Nov 30, 2014
If you are going to replace the Microwave, I would look into the Inverter Micro's. They actually control the level of power when the power level is adjusted, instead of cycling on then off.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 29, 2014
Of all the models I have stared at, the LG brand seems to have the stoutest board but whether they have the right model is a color of a different horsey.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Nov 28, 2014
brulaz wrote:
After a power outage back home (thunder storm), our High Pointe 0.9 cuft RV microwave has started acting up. It's totally random; it will beep, then go into some obscure mode, flashing meaningless (to me) symbols. So far, it's been possible to reset it, and then it's ok for a while........snip........

We have a home microwave that behaves this way, and when it first started we were going to replace it. But we became sort of weirdly fascinated by that "self-healing" thing and decided to see how long it would keep doing that. It's still working with the occasional resettable time out ...and in April 2015 it will be THIRTY YEARS OLD!
brulaz
Explorer
Nov 28, 2014
OK, thanks folks. We'll replace it.

Especially since it looks like exactly the same thing is at WalMart as a West Bend 0.9 cuft:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/West-Bend-0.9-cu-ft-Microwave-Oven/39085613

For $50 + change. And no shipping as it's locally available.

Hopefully I can use the existing installation bezel and have an extra glass tray and roller ring (we've already broken one and now try to remember to take out the glass tray before travelling).
j-d
Explorer II
Nov 28, 2014
My guess is the microwave is trashed. Maybe not much actually wrong, but 1. finding it, and 2. correcting it, are probably prohibitive.

This Amazon search "0.9 cu ft microwave" netted a number of models around $100. Take a walk around Walmart's appliances, some are much less.

If yours is mounted like ours, the mounting brackets can be transferred to another microwave. Just find one with the same dimensions or close to the High Pointe and trim or add molding to adjust the difference.

It should be safe to drill holes for the brackets into the new microwave. Still, make a drill stop so it goes just through the surface and can't poke down farther.
ScottG
Nomad
Nov 28, 2014
The only reason I would put money into fixing that one is if it's built in and matches everything. Otherwise i'd just buy a new one.
jfkmk
Explorer
Nov 28, 2014
These High Pointe microwaves are probably the lowest quality appliance they could muster up. Yeah, I have one in my trailer too. I seriously doubt you'd be able to replace any circuit board (try to find one for this) for much less than it would cost to just buy a new one.