Boat 120V Microwave 0ven and Power Inverter

[Rockfish]

I have a small 750 watt 120v microwave oven that I am considering running off an inverter on the boat. It takes 1100 watts input and draws 9 amps. I am thinking I could put the inverter in the main transom electrical compartment not far from the batteries where the 120 volt marine duel bank smart charger for the batteries is. I assume I would need an inverter with an output of 1300 to 1500 watts. I would only use it for short periods of time (seconds or a few minutes to heat up some coffee, chicken wings, hot dogs, chili etc. It won't get a lot of use and we could turn on the main with its big alternator while using it if that were necessary to reduce the load on the batteries. I don't want to wire the whole boat for 120, just a cheap unit/set up for occasional use.

Don't want to spend a fortune on the inverter so it would depend on cost as to what to go with or if we even do this. I would be willing to go with a cheaper unit that has a little dirtier output as it would not be powering expensive 120v electronics etc. and could take the risk on the electronics in the oven as it was dirt cheap new. It would be nice if the inverter were sealed and corrosion resistant. If the oven corrodes and had problems over time I would just replace it for another $50.

Anyone done this or have any suggestions?.

 

[Chasin' Dreams]

I think you'll need a bigger inverter than 1500 watts even for a 750 watt microwave. Cause microwaves are usually rated for continuous use wattage but not for peak wattage. I looked into it a few years ago for my mining camp trailer with my solar power battery bank/inverter etc and everyone told me to not bother with the microwave unless I was going to add more batteries and bigger inverter. I think you have to figure on 4 times the stated wattage of the microwave in order to be safely powered with inverter size. So if that's the case you'd be looking more at around a 3000 watt inverter for the microwave the size you got. Best to call a battery/solar/inverter company though or try to find the math calculations for that online if you can. It's been awhile since I looked into the microwave use with inverter.

 

[fishin solo]

When you start going this route you need to buy good components. There is no real cheaper solutions. You will need a pure sine wave inverter and you will need a good battery bank that can handle the continuous draw. All this won’t work properly unless you have the right cable grade as well. There’s a lot of variables to consider when adding this stuff. Oh and forget the CDN TIRE stuff, you pay for what you get when it comes to this stuff definitely.

 

[Prfisher]

After 8 seasons doing contract maintenance for a major boat charter company, I have strong opinions about expecting to run 120V household appliances on an inverter. Basically I believe it’s not practical without a genset aboard.
premature battery death & spoiled holidays were often the result.

 

[Rockfish]

The consensus seems rather clear. Not a very good idea to try it with a 120 volt oven and risk damaging my batteries. Out of curiosity I checked the cost of a high end marine 3000 watt inverter and it alone would cost about $2600. by the time I got it up from the states and it sounds like I would need a large bank of deep cycles and perhaps a fairly large generator as was suggested. Don’t have the boat room or the inclination to spend $15,000. or more so I can reheat my cooling off coffee and occasionally reheat some food.

The boat did come with a small Galley area and a little butane stove, but I have never used it. I guess I could rethink that.

There is also some small propane barbecues available, some that can mount right into a spare scotty rod holder base. Then there is the issue of would you use one while underway even in flat calm weather on the kicker.

A few years ago I did find a reference to a very small 12 volt microwave oven used by long haul truckers but they appeared to be out of stock and there were a few concerns at the time including price for what it was. Things may have improved with the 12 volt technology. I suspect they are much more efficient since they don’t spend energy on the inverter process. They do say that the motor should be running when it is being used to protect the battery. Anyone ever tried one of the 12 volt microwaves? Still that price is US dollars. This is the new model.

http://www.roadtrucker.com/12-volt-microwave-wavebox/12-volt-wave-box-acdc-microwave.htm

There are also very small reheating ovens that use standard 12 volts (not microwave) and immersion heaters for liquid, water, coffee, soup etc.

https://www.skingco.com/rpsc-900-road-pro-12-volt-portable-oven

https://www.amazon.com/Aotto-Person...ords=12+Volt+Microwave&qid=1582163743&sr=8-10

https://www.amazon.ca/SINEDY-Immers...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00SYF57XI

 

[Sir Reel]

This is the Inverter-charger I have in my Commander. Very quiet and compact.
Runs everything. I just replaced an older 2500 watt as Jeff at Pacific Yacht systems told me I did not need that large of one. Big jump in price to go to 2500 or 3000 watt.
I have a sharp microwave/convection oven that works just fine. I have 4 x 6 volt Trojan golf cart batteries for the house side.
Price was about $950

http://www.xantrex.com/power-products/inverter-chargers/freedom-xc.aspx

 

[Rockfish]

The consensus seems rather clear. Not a very good idea to try it with a 120 volt oven and risk damaging my batteries. Out of curiosity I checked the cost of a high end marine 3000 watt inverter and it alone would cost about $2600. by the time I got it up from the states and it sounds like I would need a large bank of deep cycles and perhaps a fairly large generator as was suggested. Don’t have the boat room or the inclination to spend $15,000. or more so I can reheat my cooling off coffee and occasionally reheat some food.

The boat did come with a small Galley area and a little butane stove, but I have never used it. I guess I could rethink that.

There is also some small propane barbecues available, some that can mount right into a spare scotty rod holder base. Then there is the issue of would you use one while underway even in flat calm weather on the kicker.

A few years ago I did find a reference to a very small 12 volt microwave oven used by long haul truckers but they appeared to be out of stock and there were a few concerns at the time including price for what it was. Things may have improved with the 12 volt technology. I suspect they are much more efficient since they don’t spend energy on the inverter process. They do say that the motor should be running when it is being used to protect the battery. Anyone ever tried one of the 12 volt microwaves? Still that price is US dollars. This is the new model.

http://www.roadtrucker.com/12-volt-microwave-wavebox/12-volt-wave-box-acdc-microwave.htm

There are also very small reheating ovens that use standard 12 volts (not microwave) and immersion heaters for liquid, water, coffee, soup etc.

https://www.skingco.com/rpsc-900-road-pro-12-volt-portable-oven

https://www.amazon.com/Aotto-Person...ords=12+Volt+Microwave&qid=1582163743&sr=8-10

https://www.amazon.ca/SINEDY-Immers...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00SYF57XI

I just noticed that the 12 volt microwave from RoadTrucker is marked as discontinued . I also did a check on them and the reviews were, - lets say mixed.

https://www.resellerratings.com/store/RoadTrucker

 

[Vernon Forrester]

I have a small 750 watt 120v microwave oven that I am considering running off an inverter on the boat. It takes 1100 watts input and draws 9 amps. I am thinking I could put the inverter in the main transom electrical compartment not far from the batteries where the 120 volt marine duel bank smart charger for the batteries is. I assume I would need an inverter with an output of 1300 to 1500 watts. I would only use it for short periods of time (seconds or a few minutes to heat up some coffee, chicken wings, hot dogs, chili etc. It won't get a lot of use and we could turn on the main with its big alternator while using it if that were necessary to reduce the load on the batteries. I don't want to wire the whole boat for 120, just a cheap unit/set up for occasional use.

Don't want to spend a fortune on the inverter so it would depend on cost as to what to go with or if we even do this. I would be willing to go with a cheaper unit that has a little dirtier output as it would not be powering expensive 120v electronics etc. and could take the risk on the electronics in the oven as it was dirt cheap new. It would be nice if the inverter were sealed and corrosion resistant. If the oven corrodes and had problems over time I would just replace it for another $50.

Anyone done this or have any suggestions?.

Was speaking with Alberni Power and Marine earlier today about the same thing ! They are rigging out a TJ for me and I thought it would be nice to have some DC power. I have a dinky little inverter that plugs in the cigarette lighter but it only pushes out 180 Watts.
If the dealer is to install an Inverter they have to do up an entire panel with wiring and battery chargers and the whole enchilada. He started talking $5,000, so I immediately backed out of that idea. 180 watts should be enough to charge my MacBook so I'll live with that.

 

[Prfisher]

I should add that the boats I worked on were out for minimum of five days. Usually anchoring at night.
It’d be a different situation if you did day trips & plugged into a good charging system every night.
You’d have to run your engine for several hours a day if you weren’t able to get shore power to recharge.
I’m still not a fan of high usage of inverters, but if intelligently handled, it can be done.
Upgrades to charging systems & house batteries would be a must.

 

[Chasin' Dreams]

Have had my 2500 watt inverter, shore power etc for 5 years. Haven't had any issues (knock on wood). Yes if you are hard on the system by not keeping it charging and draining down your batteries all the time it will take a lot of life out of your batteries. I try to use my 110 volt stuff when my engines are running or when plugged into shore power if possible. Not a big deal to use the A/C powered stuff for a little while without the system charging but with long term repetitive use like that it will have a bad affect on the system/batteries etc.

To give you an idea of how extensive the parts list is to have a system installed here's what the shop charged to do all the installation with parts/labour 5 years ago

MARINE LABOUR 8.7 EACH 861.30
PROMARINER INVERTER 2500W/50A/ 1.0 EACH 1324.07
1214 BLUE SEA AC MASTER PANEL 360 S 1.0 EACH 280.70
S20-30 MARINCO EEL ADAPT 20A MALE - 3 1.0 EACH 85.49
S15-30 MARINCO EEL ADAPT 15A MALE - 3 1.0 EACH 47.24
S30-50 MARINCO 50' EEL CORDSET 30A 12 1.0 EACH 134.99
483079-1 3/4" X 1' RED DUALWALL HEATSHR 1.0 EACH 2.51
483141-1 3/4" X 1" BLACK DUALWALL HEATS 1.0 EACH 2.51
242286 ANCOR 1/0 - 3/8" TINNED LUG (B 2.0 EACH 5.74
242285 ANCOR 1/0 - 5/16" TINNED LUG ( 2.0 EACH 5.02
834092 BLUE SEA FUSE BLOCK 35-300AMP 1.0 EACH 24.29
BSS2127 BLUE SEA MAXIBUS 250AMP 4/5/16 1.0 EACH 33.29
BSS5133 BLUE SEA ANL FUSE 300-AMP DC-V 1.0 EACH 24.92
116005 ANCOR BLACK 1/0 CABLE 50' 4.0 FOOT 25.16
116505 ANCOR RED 1/0 CABLE 50' 4.0 FOOT 25.16
SFW14 SS FLAT WASHER 1/4 4.0 EACH 0.32
SLN14 SS LOCK NUT 1/4 4.0 EACH 0.58
131110 ANCOR WHITE 10/3 GA TINNED BOA 20.0 FT 53.82
SLN1032 SS LOCK NUT 10/32 4.0 EACH 0.58
131510 ANCOR WHITE 14/3 GA TINNED BOA 40.23
FH612 SCREWS SS FH 6 X 1/2 2.0 EACH 0.11
RH612 SCREWS SS RH 6 X 1/2 2.0 EACH 0.11
SPHM14114 SS PH MACH 1/4 X 1-1/4 3.0 EACH 0.86
SFW14 SS FLAT WASHER 1/4 3.0 EACH 0.24
SLN14 SS LOCK NUT 1/4 3.0 EACH 0.43
RH612 SCREWS SS RH 6 X 1/2 4.0 EACH 0.22
242285 ANCOR 1/0 - 5/16" TINNED LUG 5.02
116005 ANCOR BLACK 1/0 CABLE 50' 16.0 FOOT 100.66
116505 ANCOR RED 1/0 CABLE 50' 16.0 FOOT 100.66
FH41 SCREWS SS FH 4 X 1 4.0 EACH 0.18
303SSEL-B MARINCO INLET HULL 30AMP SS 1.0 EACH 112.49
312399 ANCOR 22-10 #10 RING H/SHRINK 8.0 EACH 10.0
311399 ANCOR 16-14 #10 HEAT SK.RING ( 12.0 EACH 10.69
54816311T CABLE TIE @100 100.0 EACH 42.30
309099 ANCOR 22-18 HEAT SHRINK BUTT 2.67
242285 ANCOR 1/0 - 5/16" TINNED LUG 5.02
119407 1/4"P X 5/16"H BRASS MALE NPT 1.0 EACH 1.61
102010 ANCOR BLACK 16GA WIRE 100' 20.0 FOOT 7.02
RH1058 SCREWS SS RH 10 X 5/8 4.0 EACH 0.36
RH1234 SCREWS SS RH 12 X 3/4 8.0 EACH 1.37
SC122 SS CARR BOLT 1/2 X 2 2.0 EACH 3.40
SLW12 SS LOCK WASHER 1/2 2.0 EACH 0.28 10 0.25 0.50
SN12 SS NUT 1/2 2.0 EACH 0.45 10 0.41 0.81
SFW34 SS FLAT WASHER 3/4 4.0 EACH 0.62 10 0.56 2.23
EZ101 BOX RETRO RECT 2.0 EACH 9.98 10 8.98 17.96
11C1 DPLX METAL COVER 1.0 EACH 2.98 10 2.68 2.68
1110 UTILITY BOX 1.0 EACH 5.90 10 5.31 5.31
NM74 1/2" PUSH IN CONNECTOR 3.0 EACH 0.78 10 0.70 2.11
11C4 PLATE METAL BLANK 1.0 EACH 2.98 10 2.68 2.68
N7599W REC GFI 15A WH 1.0 EACH 35.98 10 32.38 32.38
45211 DECORA PL 1G WH 1.0 EACH 1.90 10 1.71 1.71
5325W DECORA DPLX WH 1.0 EACH 3.18 10 2.86 2.86
5320W RECT DPLX 15A WH 1.0 EACH 1.70 10 1.53 1.53
SPHM122434 SS PH MACH SCREW 12/24 X 3/4 8.0 EACH 0.35 10 0.32 2.52
SFW1224 SS FLAT WASHER #12 (7/32) 16.0 EACH 0.08 10 0.07 1.15
SLN1224 SS LOCK NUT 12/24 8.0 EACH 0.39 10 0.35 2.81