Inverter size for microwave?

Electric cooking is becoming more and more popular with liveaboard cruisers in hot places. Yes you need a big battery bank and a way of charging it up (solar is now incredibly cheap).
This is a big chunk of money, but it means you can do things like cook with an induction hob, which doesn't waste as much energy heating up the cabin, and it frees you from trying to find retirement gas bottles.

For your average weekend cruiser in the UK it isn't quite as compelling an argument of course.

err......
By those with stealthily sponsored youtube channels perhaps but in real life the cost of replacing gas with electric for cooking is ridiculous.
 

Well that's new to me! (I notice they are currently unavailable though(???)

The WaveBox is a portable 12V microwave oven. It is available in a 12V only model, as well as in an AC/DC version. With the AC/DC model, you don't have to stress your battery if you're at a camping spot with electricity, but you can still enjoy the convenience of microwave when power is not available.

The drain on a 12v battery bank would be very significant (20A) though so you'd have to have a decent generator.




12V Microwave Oven Wavebox®
12V Microwave Oven - 12 Volt Wavebox
 
The one I'm looking forward to is my bread-maker (I can smell the bread baking now!)
My Panasonic breadmakmer uses only a peak of about 550W and about 550watt-hours to bake a large loaf. Recently I've been using it only to knead the dough, which I've been baking as rolls in the oven.

I guess you could get several microwave meals out of 550watt-hours of battery - how much induction hob use could you get out of it?
 
err......
By those with stealthily sponsored youtube channels perhaps but in real life the cost of replacing gas with electric for cooking is ridiculous.

It depends on how far you want to go with it. If you want to completely ditch your gas system and go with a massive lithium bank, and buy Victron everything, then yes it will cost a fortune.

But you could also just get a cheap unbranded inverter, run it from your standard bank of four Trojans, and accept the limitations. Keep the gas installation but use electric when it's sunny enough to keep the batteries full (and, of course, where you have access to shore power).

I know that one forumite is doing exactly that, and seems very happy with the setup. I plan to do something similar myself.
 
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I wondered why I had never heard of a Wavebox 12V microwave but I don't think were ever sold in Australia. In Australia it would be against the law to pull up anywhere and stay overnight in your caravan (mobile home) We have " caravan parks' and all sites have 240V power.

Wavebox was apparently taken over by "Power Hunt" and now has been discontinued.

Interesting a cooking rack is no longer supplied it is not needed....?

In Australia I think you'd be battling to by a 12V one. (The price would be hideous anyway.

Screenshot_2020-07-31 12 Volt Microwaves (Power Hunt Wave Box) at RoadTrucker com.png


Screenshot_2020-07-31 12 Volt Microwaves (Power Hunt Wave Box) at RoadTrucker com(1).png
 
wondered why I had never heard of a Wavebox 12V microwave but I don't think were ever sold in Australia. In Australia it would be against the law to pull up anywhere and stay overnight in your caravan (mobile home) We have " caravan parks' and all sites have 240V power.
This may be the case now but when I was travelling down there 2003/2006 there were plenty of outback ‘sites’ where I needed to run my generator.
 
This may be the case now but when I was travelling down there 2003/2006 there were plenty of outback ‘sites’ where I needed to run my generator.

Of course if you are "off roading" where there are very few caravan parks that is another matter. But what manufacturer is going to target those people for sales?

(Your nick-name wouldn't be "crocodile" by any chance would it?) ? ?
 
Clive looking at outback truckers there would be a market for maybe 24Vdc microwaves.

When I was building DistantShaws there was a different 12vdc microwave and considered buying one but decided to go for a 240vac and a seperate inverter as I could used the microwave off shore power and a mains generator if available. I could also use the inverter to power other mains only devices.

Doing it this was gave more flexibility.

SWMBO did get me to buy a small mains oven to do oven cooking but the microwave I fitted did include an infrared grill but did not will not run that from an inverter as it would run the battery's down too quick. We only use the grill when on shore power
 

The TruckCheft would no doubt suit some situations - maybe a geologist and the crew cooking a meal in the outback under the stars.

My next door neighbor (and all the other inter-state truckies) have two drivers - one drives while the other sleeps. They have a 24V fridge/freezer and a food warmer. They couldn't possibly stop to use a 20L microwave to cook their meals. It's 4000km (2500 mile) each way and they must drive, unload, load, drive and take a day off each week. What a life! ?

I wonder if the Truck Chef has a turn-table?
 
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