Will 1K inverter work microwave?

We carry the el-cheapo WALMART SPECIAL White faced manual knob model Microwave for camping off the power grid all the time. Looks something like this one... I think it is a 600WATT model.


It gets stored in the floor, banged around, sometimes sitting up side down, and has worked flawlessly for the past few years. Cost $35-$40... Its alot like the old TIMEX commercial... It takes a licking and keeps on ticking...

It works great from our Inverter when camping off the power grid... All we use it for is to warm up the coffee cup and some very basic microwave needs. Its been a great PLAN B item to have around...

Roy Ken

smkettner wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Just for the record, the Dometic microwave in my rv draws 1561 watts. (What on EARTH were they thinking?)

They are thinking you are on utility power and the kids are screaming for a warm meal.

And I do agree Dometic could design a lower power MW for 30a RVs.
Maybe even a low/high switch that draws 900w/1561w.

Mine too...1500w

Ironically, there are "inverter microwaves" now that consume variable power. Except none are rated for built-in/mobile use. I have mine out right now to compare to NN-SN651B Panasonic, but I'm not sure I want to risk it.

I am putting in a 1000w inverter, and would be glad to be able to run the microwave while on the road or for short bursts without firing up the generator. Running it on defrost would be a common usage, or popping popcorn. Either situation wouldn't put much load on a battery pack.

Time to invent one and get rich, right?

BFL13 wrote:
Yes, it doesn't matter how big the inverter is as long as it will run the MW, it is all about the battery bank to run the inverter.

You can use a MSW inverter and it will draw fewer amps to run the same MW as a PSW inverter will. However, the MW may not run at all on MSW or it might run but poorly. Some do ok, where it cooks ok but just takes longer on MSW.

Trouble is, there is no info on which ones will do what so it is a******shoot how yours will act.

EDIT--I don't know why the editor blanks that out as though it were a swear-word. "Shooting the dice" is part of "that" game. Nothing to do with the man who invented the toilet.

Try cr*pshoot.... works for me.

I just realized I can use my Killowatt and see exactly what the microwave is using. Back in a flash with an update.

Update- using full power is 1185 watts . Boils cup of water in less than 3 minutes. Using 70% power uses 1275 watts then drops to 875 watts.
It's just not worth the trouble and expense just to reheat or defrost something.

Hi Wayne,

I've done some further testing. From dead cold on the low setting the NuWave draws about 700 watts. Once it reaches that temperature it cycles on and off to maintain the temperature. On the sear setting that becomes 1700 watts, dropping within a minute to 1300 watts.

Exactly what the inverter is for, so you can do 120v stuff without running the gen.

The OP needs a 700w MW instead of the 900 or else a bigger inverter than the 1000w to supply the 900. Batteries for the inverter as required.

BTW to boil water for a cup of instant coffee you can also use a small electric kettle. Ours draws 90 amps ( which is less than the MW) so it also works on the 1000w inverter (as does the toaster.) The kettle is faster than the stove-top method.

It is situational whether you want to conserve propane or battery AH or don't need to conserve anything, so there is no "superior" way to do RVing. EG if you are on solar you can replace those AH that way, but replacing the propane might be a nuisance.

I am the OP. I have an Onan 4kw generator. I don't use the microwave to heat coffee or boil water. I have a 3 burner stove that does just fine. I have low daily amp useage as we changed out all our bulbs to LED. My reason for this topic was dry camping at state and National parks with generator hours. We seem to start prepping a meal outside of generator hours. We sometimes need to defrost something or reheat leftovers.

Hi Wayne,

The NuWave is 1300 watts running on the highest possible setting.

I thought I'd do some more checking. The NuWave draws 60 watts when ever it is plugged into the wall. Poor design imho.

I used it for supper--so after it cools off completely I'll do a wattage check on each "main" level.

Do you know how much power the NuWave uses at its highest setting?

Hi,

Just for another twist, I purchased a NuWave induction cooker. I love it. It allows 52 power levels but does require a pure sine wave source. It will heat that cup of coffee in a ferrous metal cup likaty split! Unlike many microwaves it draws power at the level you set it at.