Microwave

Woodglue I believe our convection microwave use a loot more than 900 w

When I researched the microwaves that are sold as being for RV use I found that in truth they were cheaply produced units that had a front grill mounted and were junk - and expensive junk. With the mass of any RV the microwave that sits inside a cabinet is not going to get a lot of vibration and be damaged. The "RV" ones are hard attached to the mounting panel and their is absolutely nothing in the way of shock absorbtion being provided.

If I had a grill mounted microwave that died I would remove it and then measure the opening and buy a microwave from a discount operation like Best Buy or Home Depot and check the customers' reviews to see which brands seemed to last the longest.

Thanks so much for all of the great information. I would have never imagined that replacing a microwave took so much thought.

Thanks again.

wa8yxm wrote:
"Do I need a special RV microwave?"There is no such animal.. ....Nothing at all special about an RV microwave.

In regards how it works I agree with you. But when it comes to how they VENT and FIT into the area designated for them in a VEHICLE that is moving and bumping and grinding?

Sure I picked up ones for 50 bucks at Walmart after my factory one died and as I said that one flew out and crashed. After that I bought another 50 buck one, NONE of these have a top vent so you have to buy the smaller one so it CAN vent in the opening and I had to take it out and put it on the floor every time I moved the MH. They may not be that heavy but try lifting one up and over your head to fit into the opening for it. Mine is above the stove so you are also trying to lean over it and lift and the same time. Been there done that and it sucked.

IMHO buy one that is sized and 'vented correctly' to fit EXACTLY in the same spot the original one sat in. I.E. these are the micro's that are manufactured for the RV industry. Vented on top and size to fit the majority of the openings the coach builders put in for the micro.

The money I spent on all those Wally Mart cheapo's because I was being hard headed about dropping a few extra bucks more for one that actually would fit and vented correctly, I could have bought the top of the line big bucks RV convection micro. :S

How's that for a run on sentence! :B

I would check in the back of the unit for a fuse that often fails. It is made out of a ceramic type material grey in color. Can be bought at Radio Shack for about $5. I have fixed several units this way.

$98.95 for a new High Pointe RV Microwave:

RV Microwave w/ Trim Kit

The only thing special about an RV microwave is its lower wattage, around 900.

WoodGlue

All right, for starters, I need to watch the ventilation and have a trim kit.

Thanks all for the input.

Kathy

In researching microwaves I have 2 criteria are needed:
1. The new unit must fit the width, height, and depth of the opening - AND - must have clearance around it inside the cabinet as required by the MFG for a built-in microwave.
2. Finding a microwave where the TRIM KIT is available. The Trim Kit is the vented surround the covers the opening in the cabinet. Many have altered their existing trim kit to fit their new microwave.

I have the Sharp R-820BK convection microwave. The microwave is still available for purchase, but the Trim Kit (RK-82K) is no longer available and is almost non-existent.

I replaced my microwave with at Panasonic inverter model, it wouldn't run on a 6500 watt Onan generator. Ran fine on utility power so I swapped it for the Panasonic from the house. That one fit the width pretty well but was about 2 1/2" shorter. I cut a thin piece of steel, put a 90 degree bend in it so I had a flange about an inch wide. Painted it semigloss black which matched the microwave. Screwed it to the top of the microwave (took the cover off to find a safe place and length for the screws) and cabinet. It covers the gap and has held the microwave in the cabinet for thousands of miles and looks original.

"Do I need a special RV microwave?"

There is no such animal.. Though if you want one a Panasonic Inverter model might have some advantages. (Panasonic makes a line of microwaves that have a very advanced power system, they convert the incoming 120vac to DC, then invert it back to AC and in so doing control the power of the microwave as well as clean up MSW power if you have a MSW inverter).

NOTE: these are "Home" type microwaves.. I have only seen one of them, in a park I frequent in the family center.

In my motor home I have a "Dometic" but if you open the door you find it is a common, off the shelf, LG microwave (Lousy Goods, don't work right less you modify it, which I have the skills and tools to do and did) (Note Dometic sells many different Microwaves, far as I know only this model is an LG).

They modified it for RV use as follows.

They attacked some sheet metal so the exhaust fan blows through the front grillwork/mounting plate they attached.

I can replace it with any microwve of the same size, I may need to bend up a bit of sheet metal is all,, or even a different size if I make adjustments to the grill/mount.

Nothing at all special about an RV microwave.