Microwave

tdw · #1 02-23-2007

I notice that there are a couple of manufacturers who produce 12v Microwave ovens. Anyone have any experience with them. If so are they major power hogs ? Any recommendations ?

It just seems that they make damn good sense but I'm a bit worried about the power consumption. Admittedly the thing won't get used all that much, mainly for heating liquids really.

Cheers

TD

Freesail99 · #2 02-23-2007

Do you know hw many watts, the DC ones are ? Also how long are you going to run a microwave to worry about power draw ?

chris_gee · #3 02-23-2007

A small one would be 600 watt at 220 v so at 12v would draw 50 amp hr and would boil a mug of water or equivalent in about a minute and probably defrost and reheat a meal serving in 10, two servings in 20. It might be ok if gimballed but the container needs to rotate to cook evenly. Bigger ones draw more but cook quicker, but the small one is fine, if as is likely you are not cooking large quantities. It seems most useful for defrosting which would hardly be a problem in the tropics, and for reheating.

camaraderie · #4 02-23-2007

And on this side of the pond at 120 volts...the 600 watts is about 6 Amps and that is a really small micro. To deliver even 50 amps DC from your batteries to an appliance would require some major cabling. For 750 watts you need 6 guage cable for less than a 10 foot run in one direction.

Stick with AC!

tdw · #5 02-24-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by camaraderie

And on this side of the pond at 120 volts...the 600 watts is about 6 Amps and that is a really small micro. To deliver even 50 amps DC from your batteries to an appliance would require some major cabling. For 750 watts you need 6 guage cable for less than a 10 foot run in one direction.

Stick with AC!

Thanks for all your replies.

Cam,
AC is not an option. Raven isn't wired for it, we don't carry a generator and very rarely do we tie up to a dock. Your comments are all concerns that were rattling around in my head. As was Chris's comment re gimballing. An MW is not something we use a great deal even at home but madam thinks on Raven it would come in handy. Defrosting is not an issue cos we don't have a freezer, really the only thing it would be used for is heating liquids and maybe reheating leftovers. Not worth the hassle methinks.

Cheers

TD

camaraderie · #6 02-25-2007

TD...how about a decent inverter? You could plug a microwave into that...or a TV or a power drill etc.
You could just do one plug/cord off the inverter and have AC available...still need the heavy cable from battery to inverter but would be able to put the inverter close to the batteries so as not to have to deal with long runs of heavy cable. Just a thought.

tdw · #7 02-25-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by camaraderie

TD...how about a decent inverter? You could plug a microwave into that...or a TV or a power drill etc.
You could just do one plug/cord off the inverter and have AC available...still need the heavy cable from battery to inverter but would be able to put the inverter close to the batteries so as not to have to deal with long runs of heavy cable. Just a thought.

Good point Cam. Probably the better way to go. Now to find the worlds smallest MW oven.

Cheers

TD

IslandRaider · #8 02-28-2007

I run a Galanz, 0.6 cf with turn table measures 18"X 12"X10.5 works great

tdw · #9 03-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by IslandRaider

I run a Galanz, 0.6 cf with turn table measures 18"X 12"X10.5 works great

Apologies, I missed your reply unitl just now. Thanks for the info. For what I'm after and the size of our galley that sounds pretty damn good.

Cheers

TD

SimonV · #10 04-29-2007

I just found this thread. I made some enquires re 12V microwaves, seems they come with an inbuilt inverter.