Microwave shows E5 and stops heating; display and timer may still function.
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Danger: High-voltage components inside a microwave can store thousands of volts even when unplugged. Only trained technicians should service the high-voltage circuit.
User-level actions:
- Unplug the microwave and leave it disconnected.
- Do not attempt to open the cabinet or access internal high-voltage parts unless you are qualified and have proper tools and procedures for safely discharging the capacitor.
- If the unit repeatedly shows E5 and does not heat, discontinue use to avoid further damage.
Technician-level actions (for reference only):
- Discharge the high-voltage capacitor safely.
- Test the high-voltage diode, capacitor, magnetron, and transformer for shorts/opens and replace defective components with Hamilton Beach-compatible parts.
Recommendation: Contact a qualified appliance repair technician or consider replacement if the microwave is low-cost and out of warranty, as high-voltage repairs can approach the cost of a new unit.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
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