Microwave ovens are everywhere, and at the heart of them is a magnetron — a device that creates microwaves. [DiodeGoneWild] tore one apart to show us what was inside and how it works.

The post-war period saw a proliferation in magnetron applications, beginning with the invention of the microwave oven in 1946 and continuing today with base stations for LTE and 5G networks.

Clearly, as your bog standard microwave oven can only handle at most one kilowatt; the ‘oven’ needed a bit of an upgrade. A 16 kW water-cooled magnetron. Why not over-drive it to 20 kW for fun?

The capacitor stores electrical energy and discharges it to the magnetron, ensuring that it receives the roughly 4,000 volts needed to generate microwaves. If the capacitor is faulty, the oven won ...

One day while working near the magnetrons that produced microwaves, Spencer noticed a peanut butter candy bar in his pocket had begun to melt - shortly after, the microwave oven was born.

Simplify meal prep with the best microwave ovens of 2025. Explore our top 10 picks from leading brands, designed for efficiency and ease. Find the perfect model to upgrade your kitchen and streamline ...