• Klordok@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      4 days ago

      The power setting makes the microwave cycle between ON and OFF at the given ratio. So at 50% power the microwave will only be heating for half of the cook time.

        • DocMcStuffin@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          10
          ·
          4 days ago

          Nope, pretty much all have a duty cycle. Like 30 seconds on, 10 seconds off, and they keep repeating that or similar for however long the cook time is. If you listen closely you can hear the magnetron kick on and off.

          I believe Panasonic was the only company that sold an inverter microwave that lowered the power output.

                • Lumidaub@feddit.org
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  4
                  ·
                  4 days ago

                  This is more interesting than I would’ve thought. I’m also sick right now so I may not be of entirely sound mind.

                  This is what I recognise as a standard Mikrowelle control panel like I’ve been using all my life:

                  You punch in a wattage, turn the knob to set the time, and then you press start. Older models would have a knob for setting watts too. Note the lack of a “popcorn” button.

                  And this seems to be the standard when I ask Duckduckgo for “microwave”:

                  Wot?

                • Verat@sh.itjust.works
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  3
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  4 days ago

                  It might be, where I live in the US all microwaves with a power setting ask you to set the power from 1-10 (implied to be percentages/10) with no hint as to the wattage except the label so you have to hunt for it.

      • deranger@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        3 days ago

        Modern LG microwaves have a variable power inverter so it’s not PWM. I would imagine they’re not the only ones.