GE SpaceMaker XL1800 Microwave Installation Instructions

Open the carton and fold the flaps against the sides. Remove the instruction manual, glass tray and bag containing the attachment hardware. Roll the carton over to position the open side against the floor without removing the foam padding. Lift the carton off the unit. Undo the two screws holding the mounting plate to the oven with a Phillips screwdriver. The mounting plate doubles as a wall mounting template.

Locate the wall studs in the opening above the range by either tapping the wall lightly with a hammer or using a magnetic stud-finder. Tap a small finish nail through the drywall near the upper cabinet to locate the outer edges of the studs. Mark the stud center points with a pencil and carpenter's square held against the underside of the upper cabinet.

Place a spirit level up against the underside of the wall cabinet above the range to ensure that it is level. If the cabinet has a face frame with a front overhang, measure the overhang depth with a steel measuring tape and transfer the measurement to the wall. Draw a horizontal line across the wall using a long spirit level with the bubble centered.

Draw a vertical line down the wall at the center point of the microwave opening. Use the long spirit level to ensure the line is perfectly vertical.

Place the mounting plate against the back wall. If the upper cabinet has a front overhang, position the top edge of the mounting plate against the line on the wall; otherwise, butt the plate's top edge against the back of the upper cabinet. Line up the notch on the lower face of the mounting plate with the vertical line on the wall.

Mark the four mounting points through the holes in the mounting plate as indicated in the installation instructions. If none of the holes line up with existing studs, mark another hole in the center point of the stud nearest the middle of the opening.

Drill the four mounting holes as indicated on the installation instructions. If any of the marks line up with one or more studs, use a 3/16-inch drill bit and a cordless drill/driver to bore pilot holes for wood screws. If there are no backing studs, drill 5/8-inch holes through the drywall to accept the toggle bolts provided in the kit. If all four holes miss the wall studs, drill a fifth pilot hole for a wood screw as outlined in Step 6. The mounting plate must be secured to at least one stud with a suitable wood screw.

Unscrew the toggle wings from the bolts. Pass the bolts through the specified holes in the mounting plate and replace the toggle wings. Hold the mounting plate in position and push the toggle bolts through the wall. The spring-loaded wings will collapse to allow the bolt through, and then re-open on the other side.

Pull the plate away from the wall to jam the first toggle wing against the inside surface. Snug the screw down, but do not tighten. Push the mounting plate up until the top edge either rests against the mark on the wall or butts against the underside of the upper cabinet. Line the notch on the lower edge up with the center line on the wall.

Tighten the first mounting bolt with the drill/driver. Pull the other toggle bolts out until the inside wings rest on the drywall. Take up the slack by hand and then use the drill/driver for final tightening. Attach the mounting plate to the wall with at least one wood screw secured to a stud.

Tape the top cabinet template to the underside of the upper cabinet. Read the instructions on the template and mark the position for the power cord hole and the three mounting screws on the underside of the cabinet. Mount a suitable size hole-saw in the drill/driver and bore a hole through the cabinet for the power cord. Drill the three mounting holes as specified. If mounting the microwave to a face-frame cabinet with a front overhang, prepare three drilled wood filler blocks to take up the space between the upper cabinet and the microwave.

Lift the microwave with the help of a friend, and tilt it forward. Hook the slots at the rear bottom edge of the microwave onto the four tabs on the mounting plate. Feed the power cord through the prepared hole in the upper cabinet. If the cabinet is metal, place the nylon grommet provided in the kit around the cord to prevent damage. Rotate the microwave into position as you feed the cord through the hole.

Insert one of the self-aligning screws provided in the kit through the center mounting hole in the upper cabinet. Place the center filler block between the cabinet and the microwave if necessary, followed by the outer two filler blocks and screws. Start the threads of the middle bolt and tighten two full turns by hand. Pull the power cord to ensure there are no kinks or sections trapped between the microwave and the cabinet. Insert the two outer self-aligning screws and start the threads by hand two full turns.

Tighten the center mounting screw first with the drill/driver, and then the two outer screws. Follow the written instructions and install the charcoal filter and outer grill to complete the installation.