Forum Discussion

Railronnie's avatar
Railronnie
Explorer
Sep 27, 2017

Need to find alternative for OTR microwave

Through our own error, we fried several appliances on our last trip with our fiver. Have been able to repair every single thing EXCEPT the microwave. This was an OVER-THE-RANGE Magic Chef Model MC02212ARB manufactured in Jan 2006 and was only 22 3/8 inches wide. We have EXHAUSTED our search for a replacement OTR microwave. Our 2006 Cardinal 5th Wheel with rear kitchen has only 25 3/4 " space over the range with NO wiggle room. We cannot even find a replacement at RV salvage shops across the country! So we are now going to have to install a vent hood over the range and modify the cabinet above to accommodate a build-in microwave. (Essentially a counter-top microwave with a trim kit). Now we are having a problem finding a range hood that is 12v AND non-vented. We have NO external vent over the range. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
If it's not one thing, it's another.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Sep 27, 2017
    Two suggestions. ONE.. Don't worry about exact replacement.

    RV microwaves fall into 2x2 categories
    1: "Built in" this is a standard microwave like you might get at Best buy, My Dometic built in is really an LG (Lousy Goods) and thus never worked till I did a bit of re-design (Never had an LG that worked).

    In this case you'd have to build a new facia for it (mounting bracket) but any good tin-smith (Heating and cooling contractor) can do that easily.

    2: Sits on a shelf.. Nuff said about those

    the other two

    Built into a vented compartment No special work need be done here

    Bilt into a NON vented compartment (Vents via the front panel) You may need to see that tin smith to design a new exhaust air channel for it.

    But in all cases the actual microwave is an standard Best-Buy type.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Sep 27, 2017
    If your non-vented hood is like my RV non-vented hood, I'd just replace it with a light. The fan is set up to pull the air through a little grease filter, and then discharge it underneath the hood again. It makes a lot of noise but otherwise doesn't seem to accomplish much of anything productive.

    Installing a vented hood (which requires putting a vent hole in the wall, of course), as Scott suggests, is not a bad plan at all. You could also possibly duct it to an output grille somewhere near your new microwave installation to circulate the air back into the RV assuming the new hood has a grease filter as they generally do.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Sep 27, 2017
    Check the wall for a stud and if none is in the way, install a vent for the new range hood.

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