microwave on board

PabloPicasso

PabloPicasso

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Anyone run a microwave off their boats' 12v system. Any recopmendations or cautions. Can a domestic 240v microwave be adapted easily ( I mean without using an inverter as they suck too many amps). Are there good reasonably priced 12v m/waves available? Which make/models have you tried and were they succesful?

It seems that a microwave is an energy efficient means of heating food/drinks and cooking ( I Know its never gonna be quite the same as a toasted, grilled, fried, or baked meal).

What experiences do forumites have? Good/bad. Would you bother with a 12v microwave again? (I kniow you can plug a 240v m/wave in when connected to shore power, but that's not what i'm interested in Thanks:)
 
My experience is - I would never again eat anything from microwave. Like the food to be edible. :p (but then I'm not an Englishman...)
So I don't use it, home or boat. Think it's useless junk and also not healthy to have in boat - you want to be several meters away from it working for health reason, no matter what they advertise. So it will heat the dish in 2 minutes instead of 3, big deal.

2 KW inverter is aboard, would be no probs to run such, as they are less power usually. No idea why you are worrying about inverters.
 
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I have an 800 watt x 240 Hinari MW + a 1200 pure sine wave struder inverter
it is mainly used when on shore power to reheat home cooked food


PabloPicasso said:
Anyone run a microwave off their boats' 12v system. Any recopmendations or cautions. Can a domestic 240v microwave be adapted easily ( I mean without using an inverter as they suck too many amps). Are there good reasonably priced 12v m/waves available? Which make/models have you tried and were they succesful?

It seems that a microwave is an energy efficient means of heating food/drinks and cooking ( I Know its never gonna be quite the same as a toasted, grilled, fried, or baked meal).

What experiences do forumites have? Good/bad. Would you bother with a 12v microwave again? (I kniow you can plug a 240v m/wave in when connected to shore power, but that's not what i'm interested in Thanks:)
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Should add to my condemning microwaves - I carry two 'burner' electric stove for use when plugged in (and electric kettle too).
As said - 3 minutes to heat dish instead of 2, and it's flat, simple to stow. :)
 
Rossynant said:
My experience is - I would never again eat anything from microwave. Like the food to be edible. :p (but then I'm not an Englishman...)
So I don't use it, home or boat. Think it's useless junk and also not healthy to have in boat - you want to be several meters away from it working for health reason, no matter what they advertise. So it will heat the dish in 2 minutes instead of 3, big deal.

2 KW inverter is aboard, would be no probs to run such, as they are less power usually. No idea why you are worrying about inverters.
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i bet you walk around wearing a hat made out of kitchen foil to stop the little green men reading your mind dontcha!!:p
 
Not a big boat my sweet is... :o
dunmor said:
i bet you walk around wearing a hat made out of kitchen foil to stop the little green men reading your mind dontcha!!:p
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Not always, but I'm a green man myself, biologist in environment protection :)
 
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A 12v or 24 v microwave would be more efficient than using a domestic MW with an inverter. However they are far more expensive.
I think microwaves have a rolle in any good cooking especially for vegetables and defrosting.
However you can not escape from the fact that a small MW might deliver 700 watts of microwave energy so draw close to a 1000w of power which is just a lot of power from a 12v system so many amps almost certainly requiring the engine to be running for charging.
So yes a domestic MW if you can run on marina power. good luck olewill
 
I've had both. A 12 volt s/sung, 450 watt, no variable power, so cooking based on time. Flattened a big a/h battery in 30 - 40 mins. so need to keep engine running, fine whilst underway in the powerboat, but not so good in a marina/idyllic mooring spot. Also have 240 volt 1000 watt m/wave as I now liveaboard in a marina, it happily runs off inverter, but same problem with engine when moored away from shore power. I would not be without one, haven't used the origo whilst in the marina. I will be transferring the 240 volt one to my newly acquired yacht (roberts25) Here's the crunch, 12 volt model cost AUS$800 (5 years ago) 240 volt AUS$45-99 (k/mart) + inverter AUS$300 on e/bay Guess its a case of doing the maths but also weighhing up the benefits, not only in cooking but having the inverter on board. Cheers Peter
 
A lot of the trucks have these fitted 24v speaking to a driver the other day and with new batteries he could use it for 3.5 minutes before the battery power dropped to low, with slightly dicky batteries 20 to 30 seconds at best.
The trucks have two 1150a batteries fitted, microwave circuit is protected with a 40 amp fuse.



Lynall
 
William_H said:
I think microwaves have a rolle in any good cooking especially for vegetables and defrosting.
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How many have a freezer on their boat to worry about defrosting?
Microwaves are the worst way to cook vegetables as they destroy the cell walls by superheating the water inside the cell. This makes the veg flaccid, ruins the taste, and more than likely makes them less nutritious.

The only role a Microwave has in cooking is to reduce the washing up.
 
I have a Wavebox.
12v from the ship's supply via a ciggy lighter socket or crocks direct to a battery and 240 V when on shore power.
Its a lot less powerful than a domestic microwave but it does the job. I use it mainly for heating meals-ready-to-eat. Much more convenient and safer to open the pouch and microwave than boiling water in a pan.
I do a lot of cooking on board and have a Force 10 gas stove with oven, a good grill and two burners for when I am doing something from scratch, but the micro is the biz if I just want something quick and hot.
 
I laughed on reading the spec for our new (to us) boat, when I saw that it had two built-in fan heaters, and a 240v microwave. We have a swinging mooring, and never use marinas.
However, we winter ashore, and use the boat like a caravan, and have shore-power. The microwave is excellent, and apart from its convenience, saves producing a huge amount of condensation, by not having to burn gas.
 
Pls explain how a 12v microwave runs at 700w at 240v


TE=William_H;4015562]A 12v or 24 v microwave would be more efficient than using a domestic MW with an inverter. However they are far more expensive.
I think microwaves have a rolle in any good cooking especially for vegetables and defrosting.
However you can not escape from the fact that a small MW might deliver 700 watts of microwave energy so draw close to a 1000w of power which is just a lot of power from a 12v system so many amps almost certainly requiring the engine to be running for charging.
So yes a domestic MW if you can run on marina power. good luck olewill[/QUOTE]
 
a practical tip, make sure you check that the electric kettle isnt "tucked inside" when you test the MW :o


bitbaltic said:
Finally a reason for having one :)

If you live aboard plugged in then defInitely I can understand having one. Otherwise, it is high on the list of things I sail to get away from. Does anyone take one on a fortnight's camping holiday?
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A 12v or 24 v microwave would be more efficient than using a domestic MW with an inverter. However they are far more expensive.
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They are certainly more expensive, but not better value for money - and not more efficient either. The only difference is that a 12v microwave has the inverter built-in, so they are larger than a conventional mains unit, also more expensive to fix if they go wrong. Furthermore, as already mentioned, 12v microwaves are much lower power than domestic 240v microwaves, so take longer to heat anything. If you are considering a 12v unit, don't forget the bigger cables you'll also need to buy to install it - and if considering a second-hand one, check that service support is available, as the once-popular Samsung model is now discontinued.
I've been using an 850W Tesco microwave with a 1000W inverter for a couple of seasons now, works well, total cost under £150. Just pop in the food that needs heating as you motor into your anchorage, and by the time the hook's safely in, your meal is ready to eat!
 
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