Thread: What size inverter

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

Originally Posted by garrycol

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.