Inverter Microwave - Current Draw vs. Power Setting
Anyone checked the current draw of their inverter microwave at a given power setting? Does a power setting of, say 50%, also drop the current draw approx. 50%? Thanks!
Forum Discussion
Inverter microwaves do indeed have their (peak) current draw change when the cooking power changes, down to some value (maybe 30 or 50% power). Below that level, they cycle on and off at the lower power setting similar to standard microwaves.
For this reason they're especially useful with inverters; by lowering the peak power draw, you can get better battery life thanks to operating in a better part of the peukert equation.
(Internally, inverter microwaves basically just use a switching power supply, with a switching frequency of ca. 20-40 kHz, rather than a 60Hz transformer to generate the high voltage needed for the magnetron. There are some details and constraints that make it not a run-of-the-mill switching power supply, but that's the basic concept. As such, they should be pretty well immune to line voltage changes and operate efficiently at full power with MSW inverters.)
For this reason they're especially useful with inverters; by lowering the peak power draw, you can get better battery life thanks to operating in a better part of the peukert equation.
(Internally, inverter microwaves basically just use a switching power supply, with a switching frequency of ca. 20-40 kHz, rather than a 60Hz transformer to generate the high voltage needed for the magnetron. There are some details and constraints that make it not a run-of-the-mill switching power supply, but that's the basic concept. As such, they should be pretty well immune to line voltage changes and operate efficiently at full power with MSW inverters.)
