What size inverter

[olbod]

Would be required to run an 800/900 watt 240 volt microwave oven off a 12 volt system ?
Bit curious.

Ta.

Robert.

[bee utey]

My Jaycar 1000W inverter won't run a small microwave but my 1500W Selectronic will, just. I would suggest a 2000W inverter or get a 12V microwave instead.

[drivesafe]

Hi Robert and as bee_utey posted.

The 800/900w is the cooking power of the microwave and the total power draw is usually at least twice the cooking power.

If you are planning on running a microwave oven of batteries, you need just that, multiple batteries, 4 at least, and even with 4 batteries, you would be drawing 40 to 50 amps off each battery..

The draw a microwave and the inverter you need to run it with will destroy even small battery backs in a very short time.

Put simply, microwave overs are battery killers.

If you are hell bent on using a microwave power from a small battery capacity, then the only way you could get away with using a single battery is to use a lithium battery but this would introduce a whole new set of potential problems.

[olbod]

My Jaycar 1000W inverter won't run a small microwave but my 1500W Selectronic will, just. I would suggest a 2000W inverter or get a 12V microwave instead.


Thanks, I didn't know they made a 12 volt microwave.
Are they any good ?
As I said I was a bit curious. You see, about 18 months ago my big stove blew up and I never bothered to replace it. I just use the microwave to cook everything.
I was thinking, Jeese, this could be handy out on the road at times in the 4x4. It's raining, no firewood, outa gas and so on.
It would be so easy most of the time just to use a microwave, no fuss, no setting up the gas cooker or lighting the fire, virtually no washing up, no mess etc. I am on my own now so I dont bother cooking elaborate meals for myself. I just eat stuff to stay alive, not fussed about what it is as long as it's not too unhealthy, eh.
I dont know if I will or would, as I said, a bit curious.

I only have a small inverter to run my EEE as a computer and GPS while on the road. It works fine.

Robert.

[olbod]

Thank you Drivesafe.
What I was thinking but know nothing about, was using one on the road in the fourby with twin battery systems etc. With the engine running of course.
I dont mean for elaborate meals that take a long time to cook !!
My meals at home take no more than 5 minutes or less to cook or heat up.
There have been times over the years when I have thought how good it would be if I could get in the truck to cook this and out of the weather.
Just a thought.

Thanks.

Robert.

[bee utey]

At a 12V shop, at a 4wd shop, ebay, there seems to be a common model available:

12v Portable Microwave Oven - For Camp Cooking, Caravan, Camper Trailer 12 Volt | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12v-Portable-Microwave-Oven-Camp-Cooking-Caravan-Camper-Trailer-12-Volt-/251129040634?pt=AU_Boat_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a78750efa)

[olbod]

At a 12V shop, at a 4wd shop, ebay, there seems to be a common model available:

12v Portable Microwave Oven - For Camp Cooking, Caravan, Camper Trailer 12 Volt | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12v-Portable-Microwave-Oven-Camp-Cooking-Caravan-Camper-Trailer-12-Volt-/251129040634?pt=AU_Boat_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a78750efa)


Thanks, that looks interesting.
If my eye ops are successful and i am fit to head back out, I will probably buy one and give it a go.

Ta.

Robert.

[austastar]

Hi,
not sure if this is accurate, or where I heard it, but you will guess what I'm suggesting.

"A 9kg gas bottle has the same energy as an 11ton battery"

Happy to be corrected if some one has the facts.

cheers

[bee utey]

Hi,
not sure if this is accurate, or where I heard it, but you will guess what I'm suggesting.

"A 9kg gas bottle has the same energy as an 11ton battery"

Happy to be corrected if some one has the facts.

cheers

Strictly speaking Olbod is wanting to convert the vehicle's fuel to heat, then to rotary motion, then to electricity, then to microwaves, then to heat in a roundabout kind of way, but think of the convenience...:cool: and sometimes naked flames are verboten.:(

:):):)

[101RRS]

Does anyone have any idea how well those 12v microwaves work - total input power is 660w so actual power to cook food is only about 300-400w so not real good. Given how long the typical microwave is on for I think the original option of a small 240v microwave and an inverter might be just as good as long as it is only used for short periods and the batteries are in good nick.

[RangieBit]

Don't have any experience with these 12V microwave ovens but rating isn't everything.

Have a 1000W all singing and dancing microwave in the kitchen and a $49 600W k-mart cheapie elsewhere. Guess which one heats better? Yep, the cheapie.

Could be a whole bunch of factors I'm sure but empirical observation on the same foodstuffs gives the small one the nudge for efficiency.

This is not to say that a 400W 12V jobbie could be crap or that it could be great.

Like Tim the Toolman often discovered, more power isn't necessarily a good thing. Sometimes using that power in a "better" way is what's called for (Thank you Al).

Like the old adage - Size doesn't matter. Maybe!?

Cheers,
Iain

[austastar]

Hi,
Yep the microwave is convenient, we use one at home for a lot of cooking/heating etc, especially as the kids are now gone.
My only experience with a microwave used for camping was with a fellow camper running a generator which would really load down and nearly stall every so often.
It turned out to be from his Mrs using the microwave in the caravan, and the poor old generator was at its limits by the sounds it was making.
We wouldn't have the space for one with our present setup, add a generator, and it would be impossible for us.
cheers

[malleefowl]

Recently purchased an induction 240v cooktop.It is super and will boil a large billy of water in 6 mins.
Would love to be able to use it in the Mulgo Defer camper during in clement weather for quick cuppa,baked beans toast etc.Super safe -no flame no gas no exposed hot surfaces.
selectable power range 300W-2000W
Temp 60c-270c
Would only need to run for a couple of minutes at a time.Wondering if one of those 1000/2000 watt inverters on ebay would cope.Wouldn't really mind if i had to run the engine
Also thought of microwave but cooker is more compact ,light as a feather easy to use anywhere.
Appreciate any advice
Cheers,
Mary

[olbod]

I have noticed that a lot of those 2000 watt type inverters advertised are 110 volt models !!! Be careful and read the specs.

I have gone off the idea of an inverter and I am going to investigate the 12 volt microwave idea a bit.
Early days but some appear to be slow cooking and others are faster.
Something to do with amp output or something.

I would like one to be about as quick as what I use at home, even if I have to run the engine at same time for a few minutes.

Robert.

[streaky]

Does anyone have any idea how well those 12v microwaves work - total input power is 660w so actual power to cook food is only about 300-400w so not real good. Given how long the typical microwave is on for I think the original option of a small 240v microwave and an inverter might be just as good as long as it is only used for short periods and the batteries are in good nick.

I have been using the Wavebox 12v microwave oven for about 3 years now. The engine must be running though since it puts a strain on the battery otherwise. It's great and does what you'd expect it to.

The Wavebox works with three different connectors;
1) 12v lighter socket. Things take ages to cook with this method since there seems to be some type of automated step down inverter.
2) Jumper cables and crocodile clips. This is the best method. I have swapped the croc-clips for Anderson type connectors. It appears to run as a regular 6-800watt microwave when using this plug.
3) Convention 3 pin 13amp plug for times when you want to use the microwave at home or from an inverter.

At first I bought it as a gimmick but soon realized I was tucking into a hot meal and a cold beer while my mates were still faffing around with BBQ's and camping gas stoves!
Another big plus is that I can simply re-heat meals that I'd pre-cooked the night before or perhaps warm up a few left over snags for breakfast left over from the night before.