In message <001701c11d38$d6a66e10$4968fea9@VAIO>, rad0
<rden25@MINDSPRING.COM> writes
>I am asking because, I would like to know if a microwave detector could be
>home build??

There was a project in a UK magazine for building a microwave oven
leakage detector many years ago.

>I'd like to be able to build something to leak check microwave ovens, and
>to check for these through the wall video systems, mostly to track down
>sources of  TV interference....

Unless you have some way to accurately align it, it's not really going
to be much use. I've been repairing microwave ovens for many years, in
the UK we are legally required to have a professional leakage detector,
and to have it re-calibrated yearly. We are also inspected yearly by
various of the oven manufacturers who we are service agents for, they
come and take a record of the calibration certificate number.

As for testing microwaves for leakage, it's generally a waste of time
(although we have to test every one we repair!) - I've only ever seen
two which leaked, and they were both well within the permitted UK limits
of 5mW (but outside the USA limits of 0.5mW). Both of the leaking models
were identical Philips ones, they had a door which opened downwards,
with a catch only at one corner - so the opposite top corner tended to
spring open slightly producing a small amount of leakage.

I've had the same microwave at home for 20 years, and despite been able
to take the equipment home, I've never bothered testing it, nor have I
any intention of doing so. It's nothing to get paranoid about, a decent
microwave won't leak unless it's damaged in some way.
--

Nigel.

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