How much power required for a Microwave

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anniebray

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We have a Sharp mains powered Microwave fitted in our boat which is a great asset when we are moored up & plugged into shorepower especially in France where you rarely pay extra for electricity (but pay excrutiating amounts for Camping Gaz! ). I am considering purchasing a portable generator but would like to keep it as small as possible, something like a Honda EU10i. The microwave requires input power of 1210watt which is too much for for the suggested generator, but supposing we ran it at 50% power would it work OK ? I think the answer is probably no because I reckon that the microwave actually works at full power all the time & effectively adjusts its cooking power by operating in varying bursts depending on the cooking power selected. Can anyone enlighten me on this ?
 
Generator

I had a Honda EU20i .. Worked Ok .. We were on a swing mooring .. Bit heavy to move around as well .. Used to have it on the forepeak but you could still hear it ..

You also have to remember that it powers the whole boat including things like water heater , fridge etc which have to be switched off or they will be using power ..

Suppose the best way is just a staight connection to the microwave or just use the oven and cooker ..
 
You need at least 2kw genny to run the standard microwave cooker. Don't waste your money on buying a 1kw because you'll be a sick a the proverbial pig when you find the microwave wont work.
We have had the E20i for about 6 months and whist I have to say it runs perfectly, you should be aware that when you are running the microwave or water heater or any demanding appliance it makes a hell of a racket!
We always try to be "downwind" of any neighbours when running it and we run it for as little time as possible.
 
I have seen it reported that you will need at least 1.5 times the microwave size for the genny.
However I feel that this is low, I would look for at leat 2kw for your microwave.
 
There are a lot of good advice given to you here and the best was to get a 12v as we have it does the job. If you want to keep the 240/250 microwave then operating it at half power is correct it will only use half power to cook... BUT still use 240/250 volts. You will need a 3kv gennie.

Peter
 
Microwave Power

Don't make the mistake i have ever made with a microwave.
I used a 1000W cooking power, which uses 1500 W input power,
on a 1000W inverter. I switched it also to 50% cooking power, but
it did not work. This is because a magnetron reduces it's cooking
power bij switching it on and off in a sequence. But if it switches
on it uses it's full 1500W input power (always). So the 1000W inverter
could not cope with it. I bought later a 600W cooking power magnetron
that uses 950W input power and that works on the 1000W inverter.
So keep this in mind.
Good Cooking.
HermanD
 
rivonia said:
Uses for a microwave 12v on board;
Scrambled eggs
custard
Hot chocolate
pre-cook jacket potatoes
de-frosting
warming up cold food
re-cooking leftovers etc etc etc etc

Peter
Click to expand...

Pretty much the only item on that list that might benefit from a microwave is baked potatoes, IMO. I guess I'll have to live without them while aboard

I find microwaved scrambled eggs to be revolting.
 
rivonia said:
Uses for a microwave 12v on board;
Scrambled eggs
custard
Hot chocolate
pre-cook jacket potatoes
de-frosting
warming up cold food
re-cooking leftovers etc etc etc etc

Peter
Click to expand...
All of which can be done in an oven. Are you really in that much of a hurry when tide and weather dictate your moves?

KISS.
 
planteater said:
Pretty much the only item on that list that might benefit from a microwave is baked potatoes, IMO. I guess I'll have to live without them while aboard

I find microwaved scrambled eggs to be revolting.
Click to expand...

Well the point is the OP wanted to know about powering his CURRENT microwave, not doing away with one. The easiest solution is to get a 12v one. You only run them for minutes anyway so battery drain shouldn't be an issue.
 
Seanick said:
All of which can be done in an oven. Are you really in that much of a hurry when tide and weather dictate your moves?

KISS.
Click to expand...

You can, of course. But a microwave on board is amazingly useful. I lived without one for decades and would never have thought to install one. But when I bought a boat with one already installed I immediately understood that it's the cat's meow.

Reducing labour in the galley is a good thing. When short-handed you don't always have a lot of energy left for cooking after you've been doing the main thing all day.

A 12v microwave has yet another use -- make hot food or drinks underway, in conditions when it's not entirely pleasant or even safe to use the cooker.
 
Thanks for all advice. LADYINBED & HERMAN have confirmed what I thought about generator size required & others have reminded me that generators even Honda's can become very noisy with high outputs. Would have bought a 1kw genny if it had been sufficient for the microwave , so I'll carry on cooking by gas when not moored ashore. My already fitted microwave is flush mounted (wooden housing which protrudes into the cockpit locker but still loads of space there !) so it takes no space out of the galley & provides extra cooking facility. Some of you may not realise how useful it is for cooking eg vegetables , boiled & jacket spuds, fish & probably loads more not yet discovered.
 
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