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Originally Posted by Glinda

House wiring absolutely DOES explain a lot to me, because of the clocks that needed to be reset and the clocks that didn’t. I’m thinking that there was a very brief (a few seconds) power surge – either before or after a brief actual outage (less than 60 seconds) – and that caused my poor, elderly microwave with its ancient hardware and software features to finally short/spaz out. If the above is true, the new, digital clocks needed to be reset because they’re new and very sensitive to any super-brief outage,

Digital is typically the most robust of appliances. Conclusion (myth) about 'sensitive' is promoted by many educated only by propaganda - advertising (such as Sexobon's surge citations that are blantant lies).

Listing specifically what each appliance did provides critically essential facts necessary for a better answer.

Notice which devices contain circuits to remain powered longer. Even your computer has a specification for how long it remains running uninterrupted with no incoming AC power. A number even stated in the original ATX Standard. And that is typically much longer in many computers.

This "uninterrupted without AC power" feature is found in all electronics and is especially necessary due to 'dirty' UPS power. Since a UPS must disconnect all power for a long time to eventually switch to battery power. They don't like layman to learn such realities. It might reduce sales.

How each item responds to an outage (or flicker) is unique to the that design. Applies both to today's more robust electronics or to 'rumored' more sensitive electronics from 40 years ago.

Originally Posted by Glinda

If what you claim is true, and a power surge kills microwaves, HVAC controllers, and doorbells, why do my newer microwave, my HVAC controller, and my doorbell still work perfectly? Why haven't the zillions of power surges over the past 50 years caused my old microwave to die before now?

So many urban myths remain to unlearn. Zillions of surges exist over 50 years because scam artists sell surge protectors that do not protect from surges. Those protectors fail catastrophically even on the first surge that is too tiny to damage any other appliances. So they claim surges are happening hourly and daily. How many unprotected GFCIs have you replaced today?

All appliances contain protection superior to what plug-in protectors claim. What so many call a surge (ie 120 volts approaching or exceeding 1000 volts) is really only noise (maybe a few tens of volts. Was your microwave exposed to a 1000 volt transient? Then how many other appliances are also destroyed?

120 volt electronics (even before the IBM PC existed) were required to withstand up to 600 volts without damage. Did I mention honest people also provide perspective - numbers? Where is one reason to suspect a 1000 volt spike? Not one fact suggests a surge. And plenty of facts that say it did not happen.

A surge is rare - maybe once every seven years. In your venue, typically less often. Things that suffer from a surge are permanently damaged - are never restored by power cycling. Surges do not weaken. They destroy or they are safely consumed as if 120 volt electricity. This from one who designs, who has traced surges, restored damage, and submitted everything to design reviews. Even before a Cellar existed.

Move on to anomalies that would actually explain your symptoms. One typical example was detailed previously. But nobody can say anything more until you provide more requested information.

Neither power outage nor restoration is or creates a surge. Only the many manipulated by sales propaganda and Donald diatribes never learn that. Move on to real world knowledge.

Originally Posted by Glinda

I said that the house wiring was a component of why the microwave powered on. The reason I believe this? It has to do with which clocks needed to be reset, and which clocks didn’t.

Again, behavior of every clock is traceable to its internal design. Household wiring has relevance - unless you can cite something so glaring unique to explain it. If it was a surge, it was incoming on every wire.

Meanwhile, more informed conclusions are possible if behavior of each item (not just clocks) is individually listed.

What is the problem with common sense? It results in junk science IF relevant science concepts are not first learned. We all learned what must exist to have knowledge - a hypothesis and experimental evidence. Common sense without first learning basic electrical concepts means no hypothesis; is how junk science gets promoted. We all here saw this happen and watched lies be exposed even long before the invasion started. Because so many used common sense to know Saddam had WMDs. If 'common sense' conclusions have no numbers, then it is a Richard Nixon or Donald Trump type lie - a worst type.

Again, international design standards, long before an IBM PC existed, required electronics to withstand surges. As defined by so many relevant numbers - some already discussed. Stop assuming old means failure. Failure is only defined by specification numbers have been discussed and that others here ignored so as to use common sense.

Surges also do not weaken internal protection. It is called a catastrophic failure. Either that surge is harmlessly consumed just like other electricity. Or the part fails catastrophically. Lies about 'weaker with age' or 'weakened software features' were invented by others who only use emotions to be experts. Who are not thinking logically like an adult.

You did not have a surge. Your every reason to believe so was promoted by other liars who know only because they feel they are experts. And who never post required numbers with every accusation.

Again, how many other appliances were affected by a surge - a voltage approaching or exceeding 1000 volts? Move on to reality.

Yes power surges existed in the 1970s just like they do today - maybe once every seven years. A number that can vary even in the same town. You know when a surge exists. Plug-in protectors fail catastrophically on that first surge. In 1987, PC Magazine published TWICE articles on how plug-in protectors fail and then create fires. A problem that continues so often today that APC finally admitted some 15 million protectors must be removed immediately due to less than 1000 house fires directly traceable to that one protector.

How many 'surge' experts bothered to learn that reality? How many protectors in your house tried to create a fire during that assumed surge?

Electricians do not know how electricity works. Electricians are experts on what must connect to what - according to code - so that human life is not threatened. Electricians have little grasp of how a microwave works, what a protector does, or even what impedance is. None of that necessary to memorize what can connect to what. Do not confuse an electrician (a technician) with an engineer or scientist. Completely different knowledge bases. An electrician could only have a funny look if a watchdog timer or voltage supervisor was mentioned. Those basic electrical concepts are never taught to electricians.

So, what was the behavior and resulting state of all other affected and unaffected appliances? Where is behavior of incandescent bulbs reported - since basic electrical knowledge says that is a major and critically important fact.

Do you have any video games? For example, did a PS4, not powered on then but plugged in, go into a safety lockout? A critically important fact. Incandescent bulb behavior (what is relevant detailed earlier) next week and last month is also a critical fact. Including behavior of a bulb powered from that microwave's receptacle.

BTW, which year was the microwave built? Difference between 1970, 1973, 1976, and 1979 is electrically significant. An example of why facts (especially numbers) are so important for better assistance.

I believe Spielberg once wrote a famous paper about how microwave ovens and other household appliances can kill us. It was then made into a Hollywood movie called Gremlins.

I was surprised that Sexobon did not bother to cite facts from that Spielberg paper.