What Microwave oven

Bobobolinsky

Bobobolinsky

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I'm looking for a full size microwave for my boat. Ever trying to reduce power requirements, I'm looking for a 27litre oven, which uses small start up current. I have seen solid state microwaves using inverter technology. From experience of welding plants, inverters are the mutts nuts, so any reccomendations.

Robin
 
You'll still need at least 2000w for a 700w microwave (the power ratings on microwaves is the output of the magnetron not the input power). Panasonic and Sharp make good microwaves and AFAIR panasonic ones use the inverter technology (makes them lightweight) rather than the usual huge transformer inside.
 
we have a cheapo microwave ( hinari ) with a Struder 1200watt pure sine wave inverter.
the struder has an aluminium body.
we tried a mod sine wave but it woulnt start the microwave
the microwave has been on board for 4 yrs now & still as new
 
I think you'll be buying a Panasonic if you want to benefit from inverter technology. It would certainly reduce peak current, because you could set it on less than full power and it'd use less current because it can actually reduce the microwave output rather than pulsing the full microwave power as usually happens. As for peak power demand, Panasonic quote 1320W input for 1200W microwave power, so that's fairly efficient.
 
"Why microwave oven?" is a better question. What do you want a microwave for? Are you in a hurry? Or what? Just curious as we haven't thought of a reason for having one on a boat.
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
we fitted one as we were going on holiday on the Normandy coast ( marinas every night ) + marina based @ present. so cheaper to use than gas as elctricty inc. in french marinas. we later fitted an inverter, hot pasties in a trice offshore /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif..
its been worth while as we tend to take home made /frozen at the w/e so 5 mins job done /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
On a charter yacht customers want every luxury and expect food and hot drinks on demand. It is not unknown for them to come back from a run ashore and want feeding. If the hostess does not want to be cooking at 2am microwaves are pretty useful.
Thanks for the replies folks, a lot to think about.
 
I think the so called " Inverter Technology" is where the AC is rectified to DC (about 340 volts which is then switched at high speed 1 megahertz into a very small transformer which produces the 1500 volt AC which is rectified to DC to drive the magnetron. As opposed to the old technology which uses an iron transformer to transform 240V AC at 50 hertz to 1500VAVC which is rectified for the magnetron. The electronic "Inverter Technology" is cheaper to make than the copper and iron of the transformer and lighter so is used but not necessarily more efficient. (and certainly more prone to failure.
If Bobolinsky is running his microwave off an AC gen set or shore power then I say go for the cheapest/best domestic microwave.

If he is running off 12v battery system and an inverter. Then far more efficient is one of the 12v microwaves that are available. Here 12v is switched at 1 megahertz into a transformer to produce the 1500V AC which is rectified for the magnetron. Saving one stage of conversion so one stage of ineficiency. olewill
 
On my old boat I had a combined gas hob and oven. SWMBO asked me to fit a microwave which I did but a low power non branded microwave which my 2500 w invertor would not drive.

In designing my new boat I again asked SWMBO and she wanted a microwave but did not want an oven.

I found a nice Samsung with a drop down door which I could fit in the bulkhead just above the worktop which would have given trouble with a side hinged door due to the items on the worktop.

During the power cuts we had last winter we used this microwave as my 2500 w inverter would drive it even through it is of a higher output power. The model also has a convection heater in that could be used when on shore power.
 
but if I plan when I want to eat and know it will take an hour then I'm not "waiting". You could argue that a mobo is the only way to go as you do not want to "wait" the additional time taken in sailing to your destination.
I can understand the charter situation, but we're not in a rush.
Chacun a son gout. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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