Microwave off ehu

[Wellington]

i know it’s not usual, and I know a lot people have no time for microwaves, but I find it incredibly useful. So I want to be able to operate mine off ehu, especially at overnight stops.

I favour an inverter, rather than a 12v microwave (because then I can use the coffee machine as well!) unless there is any reason to favour one over the other. Is there anything I should know (in words of one syllable please. I have only the dimmest awareness of what elecktrickery actually does!)

I am planning to drive to an aire or similar, park up, heat up a previously prepared meal for my child (takes one minute, max) and turn in. In the morning, I will run the coffee maker, heat milk for my coffee (again, two mins) and drive off again. I’m not expecting to wild camp for days. We have a solar panel and two leisure batteries, and there will be the usual occasional toilet/water pump and fridge use.

Is this at all feasible? I know most people are happy with gas, but with a small child, cooking meals at home and freezing them for later zapping is fast, convenient, nutritious and minimises washing up. Also, I have found no way of reheating a baked potato on a gas hob, and my daughter practically lives on them! When we’re in the van, I’m on holiday, and I want the most convenient option for me.

Do I need to worry about the batteries? I keep reading about not discharging them more than halfway, is there any sort of safeguard to prevent this happening? Is it worth upgrading to lithium batteries as well? Can anyone recommend a resource for learning about invertors for dummies?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Are they the ones that don’t need the turntable? I’m plan on having one, because the turntable makes a helluva rattle if you forget to take it out.

I will keep the halogen oven on board if it turns out the combi won’t work out (I haven’t asked the dealer yet). It’s going next to the fridge, so we’ll cent it through there. I’d prefer a built in, single appliance solution. I much prefer to keep things stowed where they are used, if at all possible, to make for slick pack ups.

Don't know really, ours hasn't got a turntable and it's a posh combi thing but whether it's inverter gawd knows. Haven't had it to bits. .. Yet

 

[Lenny HB]

Are they the ones that don’t need the turntable?

It is just the way the power is produced.

 

[Richard n Ann]

My first experience of "inverter" was at college in the 80s working on TVs the inverter circuit was a voltage multiplier and it was called inverter because the output wave was upside down.
Nowadays lots of things are called "inverter" they must have similar AC voltage increasing circuits, but Im no expert

 

[autorouter]

Panasonic call it 'inverter technology', I don't know if anyone else makes them or what they call it. Weight not hugely important in a house kitchen, so they don't make it a big selling point. I have one in the kitchen at home, but in the MH I have a cheapo one from Wilko, because it had to be small to fit in the space available.

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[Stanbrook]

You might consider fitting for peace of mind a VICTRON ENERGY BATTERY SMART PROTECT WITH BLUETOOTH INSIDE. 65A – 220 AMP AUTOMATIC protection. 12or24 VOLT models are available. This blue box will prevent you over discharging your leisure batteries. Happy microwaving.

 

[Wellington]

I think that would be very helpful, thank you.

 

[bfb]

I went to ROADPRO and spoke to their tech guru. I also wanted to use a Coffee maker and a Microwave.
I bought a 2kw NDS Pure Sine Wave inverter. Instead of using my normal leisure batteries I purchased a TROJAN 31 XHS Leisure battery from TAYNA.
Inverter £700
Fitting kit and fuse can't remember but on their website
Battery £180
I have never had a problem since buying over 2 years ago so can go for a week without recharging but use a CTEK charger rated for the use it gets.
The guys at ROADPRO can advise, they are very good at what they do.

 

[Wellington]

That’s good to hear, thank you.

 

[Old and wise 1]

I bought a Leisurewize 700w from our local motorhome accessory shop. It's free standing in a cupboard above our fridge plugged into a 13amp outlet. I imagine the cupboard is for a microwave. We use it all the time.
Being oldies and suffering with aches and pains it's brilliant for heating up hot pads ( on full power) and loads of other things.
Use it all over France when on EHU, Never had a problem.