Commercial Microwave Oven has sparks

If a Panasonic commercial microwave is sparking, verify that no prohibited materials are being used. Sparking is commonly caused by metal or metal-coated items inside the oven cavity.

1. Do NOT use the following materials in the microwave:
   1. Metal containers or pans
   2. Aluminum foil (including small pieces or foil-lined trays)
   3. Metal utensils (forks, spoons, knives, stirrers)
   4. Containers with metal trim or rims (gold, silver, stainless steel accents)
   5. Twist ties with metal wire
   6. Paper plates or containers with metallic coatings
   7. Takeout containers with metal handles or fasteners
   8. Plastic containers with thin metallic film
   9. Damaged containers exposing metal layers
2. Food-related causes:
   1. Food wrapped in foil
   2. Frozen food packaging with metallic lining
   3. Items with sharp edges covered in metal (can intensify arcing)
3. Materials that are safe to use:
   1. Microwave-safe glass
   2. Microwave-safe ceramic
   3. Microwave-safe plastic (clearly labeled)
   4. Plain paper products with no metallic coating
4. Corrective Action:
   1. Stop operation immediately if sparking occurs.
   2. Ensure the Microwave oven is clean. Refer to How to care and clean a commercial microwave oven
   3. Remove all food and containers from the cavity.
   4. Inspect the container being used and replace it with microwave-safe cookware.
   5. Resume operation only after confirming no prohibited materials are inside.
5. If sparking continues:

   If sparking occurs with an empty cavity or microwave-safe cookware, the issue is not material-related and may involve:

   1. A damaged waveguide cover
   2. Grease or carbon buildup
   3. Internal component failure

   In this case, remove the unit from service and contact authorized Panasonic service support.

Contact Panasonic Commercial Support by submitting a Service Request Form.