SplashDancer wrote:
Prof, serious question to you or others. Can anyone tell me where to find these small (ie 600 watt out) M.Wave units. We dont' seem to get them anywhere in Canada, even the big box stores. As you stated, I'd like one (for my sailboat use) for when smaller and longer is a great alternative to NO MW, (hair dryer too!!) and on the boat I don't need a big heavy portable gen. Looking at the CPE for that as well, since it's shape makes it a LOT more stable than the red or blue styles
Now, that's strange. I mean not being able to find small microwaves on your side of the border.
The shelves at our local Wal-Mart and Target here have them all the time for as low as $35.00 with a manual timer. They are often called "Dorm" microwaves referring to what kids take to college. Cooking wattage ranges between 600 and 800 which translates to 750 to 1,000 watts of generator or inverter power to operate. And yes the little ovens will pop a bag of popcorn - just elevate the bag to the center of the oven with a small heat resistant bowl turned upside down.
If you can order from Amazon in the States
here is one with a manual timer for under $50 that is 600W. If you want to see more just do a search on mini microwaves.
As for portable hand held hair dryers, Nancy goes through them like a baby does diapers. They don't seem to last too long :). I have a box full of cast-offs I keep for parts and the small high volume fans inside. All of them have a High-Low switch with low being 1/2 the wattage of high. Quite a few also have a 110 or 220 volt selector switch at the bottom of the handle. When put in the 220 volt position it will work at 1/2 power from a 110 volt source.
Yea, we rough it a lot when we dry camp in the fiver with the Volvo (also a fully equipped mini-motor home inside). I even drank instant coffee one morning - but only once. :W
EDIT ADDED:
:S I just thought of another source for low wattage microwaves and appliances - A large truck stop! Browse their store shelves and you will find all sorts of mini 120 VAC appliances that OTR truckers put in their tractor cabs and sleepers and run off of DC to AC inverters.
They also have kitchen stuff that runs off of 12 VDC like drip coffee makers, toasters, pizza ovens, etc. But, unless you are running an engine to keep the voltage up the 12VDC appliances don't work very well.
