Apollo Microwave convection oven issue

[JTCHess]

I have a 2008 Winnebago Outlook and the Apollo microwave convection oven went at the end of last season. I have been waiting now for over 4 months for a replacement unit. I did some research and it turns out that these units are built in batches in China. I sure wish there were some alternative brands for this application. Seems strange that a company as large as Winnebago would be doing business with a firm that manufactures like this.

[Mocoondo]

bob_nestor wrote:
Sharp makes a combination microwave/convection oven (RS820 I think) that is virtually the same size as the Apollo used in the Class B's. They even made a mounting kit at one time that routed the venting out the front just like the Apollo. These Sharp units are widely available at places like Walmart and they're pretty inexpensive. Unfortunately Sharp seems to have stopped production on the mounting kits. There are still some available, but it's a real treasure hunt to find one nowadays.

That is the unit I was referencing in my post above. The R820 is black. RS820 is silver. It is a direct fit replacement for most .9 cubic foot RV microwaves.

As far as I know, the mounting kit is no longer necessary with these microwaves, hence the reason the kits are no longer made. You just screw the microwave surround into the case of the microwave with some short self tapping screws and install.

[bob_nestor]

Sharp makes a combination microwave/convection oven (RS820 I think) that is virtually the same size as the Apollo used in the Class B's. They even made a mounting kit at one time that routed the venting out the front just like the Apollo. These Sharp units are widely available at places like Walmart and they're pretty inexpensive. Unfortunately Sharp seems to have stopped production on the mounting kits. There are still some available, but it's a real treasure hunt to find one nowadays.

[Mocoondo]

Get a different/better unit and move on. Those Apollo units are cheap builder grade junk and fail all the time. They just cannot withstand the vibration and the bumps of RV travel. Dometic makes some good units or you can find a consumer grade unit from a household appliance store as a replacement. The Sharp "Carousel" line is seen in a large number of rental motorhomes and I can personally vouch that the unit is a real workhorse with very few failures experienced.

[Mich_F]

erip wrote:
I have a 2007 holiday rambler augusta sport. My apollo microwave went last year as well. I replaced the microwave with one that fit the space but the feet weren't in the same spot so i moved the the plastic brackets.. then added L brackets at the cabinet edge.. the microwave still bounces around quite a bit . i haven't figured out a wave to keep it really secure.. glad to hear that others have had the same issue and solved the problem better than I

I installed hold down grips for a microwave.

[erip]

I have a 2007 holiday rambler augusta sport. My apollo microwave went last year as well. I replaced the microwave with one that fit the space but the feet weren't in the same spot so i moved the the plastic brackets.. then added L brackets at the cabinet edge.. the microwave still bounces around quite a bit . i haven't figured out a wave to keep it really secure.. glad to hear that others have had the same issue and solved the problem better than I

[Bobbo]

BennieH wrote:
Ours died last fall on our last trip for the year. This is what I did:
Once home I found that the control board broke loose (very crummy mounting method! Surprised it lasted as long as it did) and cut the Keypad ribbon cable. Called to get just the keypad ($32). Since they changed the parts a few years ago(of course) the parts would be $140 for everything needed instead of $32 and an entire new unit is $499!
I took the whole thing apart & I found that you can remove the micro/convection part from the housing. There are only 4 screws holding it in the housing and about 12 holding the housing cover on. Once removed, I found a Magic Chef 1000 watt Microwave only unit (we never used the convection part) at my local Menard's for $79 that fit in the housing perfectly. We then still have a Microwave and the vent hood. Also there is plenty of airspace around the microwave for cooling.
A little over 2 hours work and $79 we are are fixed up again!

Saved into my RV folder for when the Apollo 1/2 Time Oven dies in my 07 Winnebago.

[BennieH]

Ours died last fall on our last trip for the year. This is what I did:
Once home I found that the control board broke loose (very crummy mounting method! Surprised it lasted as long as it did) and cut the Keypad ribbon cable. Called to get just the keypad ($32). Since they changed the parts a few years ago(of course) the parts would be $140 for everything needed instead of $32 and an entire new unit is $499!
I took the whole thing apart & I found that you can remove the micro/convection part from the housing. There are only 4 screws holding it in the housing and about 12 holding the housing cover on. Once removed, I found a Magic Chef 1000 watt Microwave only unit (we never used the convection part) at my local Menard's for $79 that fit in the housing perfectly. We then still have a Microwave and the vent hood. Also there is plenty of airspace around the microwave for cooling.
A little over 2 hours work and $79 we are are fixed up again!

[KristinU]

JTCHess wrote:
Great comments, thank you. I'll be heading off to Best Buy today.

If it is the built in style with the bezel I'd recommend taking your bezel along to the stores to be safe with it fitting. I did that a few months ago - felt like an idiot, but I was sure of a fit! (and none of the stores I went to gave me a hard time about it) Ours was just a microwave to microwave swap.

[Teacher_s_Pet]

We have a small Apollo "1/2 Time Oven" in our B+. So far the only problem I have with it is the running amperage draw at 18-19 amps per our power management LED meter. Can't run a heater, hair dryer or AC when it's on, trips the power pedestal breaker not the RV breakers. Our full size Sharp Convection/Microwave doesn't have that problem in our Tiffin, it's rated at 15 amps.

[JTCHess]

Great comments, thank you. I'll be heading off to Best Buy today.

[Wally_Walleye]

We replace our MW/convection oven with a Samsung From BestBuy, Works great. Just take the measurements most are standard sizes. Good luck

[Straycat2161]

We have a 2010 Tripe E Regency and had the same issue. We replaced it with a Sharp convection/microwave of almost the same size. As was stated on another post, the problem in doing so is venting the heat. The Apollo has a fan on the top rear which vents the heat out the front. The Sharp does not have a similar exhaust fan. Our unit was located below the stove top.

To solve the problem, I put in a sliding shelve in the existing opening and placed the new unit on it. When we want to use the unit, we merely release the lock and slide the unit out to use it. Because nothing is above it or behind it, the unit vents the heat just like it would if it was on the counter top. I cut some wood molding, stained it to match the cherry cabinets and drawers, and framed around the original opening. I liked the look of the wood much better than the plastic frame that was on the Apollo.

This has worked well for us and the new unit is of much higher quality than the original Apollo. Hope this helps!

[JTCHess]

BB TX, the site you referenced is the one I called and learned about their China manufacturing location and batch manufacturing techniques. Perhaps I need to speak with winnebago but over the 6 years I have owned my unit I have become increasingly frustrated with the lack of quality they have put in their units which WAS the prime reason for me buying from them. The sub-quality parts and questionable suppliers and quality of assembly I have experienced with my unit really makes me regret my decision to purchase a winnebago...

[BB_TX]

You can get away with replacing it with a microwave from Walmart or such. But not so sure about a microwave/convection. The Apollo has an exhaust fan to blow the hot convection oven air out the front so as not to overheat the inside of the cabinet. Or at least our does. You would need something similar with another brand.
Ours, in our '07 Montana, also quit several years ago. But at that time they were easy to get replacements or parts.
Did you try this site?
I got mine from Midwest Sales.