Sharp (R1214) Carousel 1.5 cu. ft. Over-the-Counter Microwave Oven Reviews

Bought this one to replace the ten year old microwave we had before. Had to replace the door switch twice on the other one. Probably due to the door being slammed shut so many times. Worked great for years and when it quit we knew that it was probably reaching the end of it's life expectancy. So, instead of spending money to have it fixed again we opted to put it toward the purchase of a new unit. We were happy with the old Sharp and we are now happy with the new Sharp.

When I picked up the microwave at the local Walmart Grocery Store, it looked at though it had been dropped. The box was ripped open on one end. I took it home but haven't been able to plug it in and try it yet. I will be returning it if it was damaged.

The Sharp over the counter microwave is full featured and good looking but the installation instructions leave a lot to be desired. They specify the width of the cabinet space required but not the depth required for the door to open without hitting the cabinet edge. I installed the mounting plate and microwave per the templates and directions, found the door hit the cabinet side, took the microwave back out, removed the mounting plate from the wall which drops the toggle bolts inside the wall, measured and installed a 1/2" sheet of plywood behind the mounting plate, screwed it to the wall again and it ALMOST fit. Since the door does not open flush to the microwave cabinet side, it just barely rubbed the cabinet edge. Took the microwave down again and snuck 1/8" shims behind the wall mounting plate without losing to toggle bolts again and it finally worked as it was supposed to. Also, there are two small plates that go above the mounting plate and are supposed to be temporarily taped to the wall. No idea what they are for or supposed to do and the instructions never mention them again. One picture in the instructions shows them still on the wall as the microwave is being lifted and placed on the wall mounting plate so I screwed them to the wall but still have no idea what their function is. Just a heads-up to be aware, measure carefully and don't trust the instructions to give you a trouble free install. Hope this helps.

I purchased this microwave as a replacement for one that was in my home when I bought it. I'm glad I found it,

So good I cannot see it or hear it.

My first lasted 6 years, then the switch/es in the door gave out. You can't really work on this without removing it from the area it's mounted in, and that's a two man job. Plus, there doesn't seem to be a reliable source of parts. So, since there aren't any other 24" over the counter built-ins I could find, I replace the old with a new one. The old one was manufactured in 2006, this new one in 2013. I've noticed that the new one is a lot quieter than the old. Hopefully, they've been able to find more robust switches for the new production runs. As far as the microwave itself goes, it's the by far best one I've ever owned.

This purchase was a replacement for my original which lasted just over 6 years. So far it does everything expected and fits beautifully. It is the only available OTC model. I'm hoping it will have a longer life this time.

This is my second Sharp, same model. The first one was all black and I had it for 10 years. The digital panel went out, but loved the size and wattage; we so pleased to see that Walmart carried it. The first time I paid over $500. This was a real bargain. I Love all the features, the stainless unit is a beautiful unit. Easy to clean, nice digital clock not too bright with a good under counter lighting.

Sharp makes microwaves for many other labels, some of which are much more costly than the Sharp brand. The Walmart price was better than other stores by about $100. If you plan to install this yourself, be advised it will take two people due to the bulk and weight of the microwave. The majority of the weight is held by large bolts fixed in a cabinet. Those are the easy part. The hard part is lining up the little clips that hold the unit to the backframe and getting everything straight before you tighten the weigh-bearing bolts. Once that's done, the unit plugs in, so no hard-wiring is necessary as long as you have an outlet available. Ours is inside the cabinet above the unit. In fairness, this unit replaces the identical microwave which was purchased about 5 years ago. The old unit's LED started to fade, the turntable stopped moving, and while things got hot, there was a worrying noise coming from the unit. Hopefully, this one will last longer!

We had a microwave which had been installed in the late 90s. No one makes a 15 inch high microwave anymore to fit and we have a granite backsplash which we didn't want to have to cut to fit the 16-17 inch models available today for over the range. The width on the Sharp was 24 inches wide instead of the 30 wide we needed, but I think I can find a way to cover the gaps on both sides of the microwave. Putting it up was difficult because we do not do home repairs often. The sharp works fine, seems secure and I have more space over my stovetop than before. By the way this model has two lights underneath which work great.