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 Topic: Small microwave oven for campervan?
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28/3/2022 at 6:00pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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The standard OEM fitment microwave in my van is a Daewoo KOR-6L5R, rated at 800W output, 1200W input and requiring around minimum 6A supply (Daewoo's words, not mine! - 6A = 1440W!). It's dimensions are 446 x 270 x 318 mm, so not minuscule, 20l cavity volume, and 10.5Kg weight.
It has an 'Eco' feature whereby after 10 minutes of inactivity or at the push of a button it goes into a shutdown/power saving mode until revived by another press of a button.
It's fitted in an eye level open fronted 'cupboard' with it's own dedicated vents to outside of caravan to vent steam/heat generated during heating/cooking (and they are very much needed when in the confines of a 'cupboard'! - I have actually had it trip it's inbuilt overheat protection where it needed to cool down before resuming working!
As to whether you can use the microwave at the same time as other appliances (as mentioned by Kenles above), that very much depends on the rating of the EHU, AND the wiring/power distribution within your van, on mine the heating and power sockets are on different MCBs, so little risk of tripping them, and mine have happily been run at same time (16A EHU). As already mentioned (shame manufacturers never bother to mention it in their instructions!) microwaves draw large surge currents on start up, way in excess of their normal running current, that can trip a MCB pushed near it's tripping current by multiple appliances, so some caution needed.
Not sure I've ever seen a microwave marketed specifically for caravan/MH use, but those OEM fitted do tend to be lowish power, compact size and low weight for perhaps obvious reasons.
A few things that you need to consider for use in a camper/MH/caravan over and above power concerns. Weight, can the shelf/bracket/cupboard withstand the weight of it under travel conditions where it's static weight is multiplied by the 'bouncing movement' of the vehicle. On the subject of movement, the glass turntable either needs removing for safe travel storage, or securely wedging in place during travel (I use a block of expanded polystyrene wedged between turntable and cavity roof), or risk of it breaking/damaging microwave interior! The entire microwave needs some restraint to stop it moving during travel (even with wells for the feet to locate in and a restraining brace inside the cupboard, mine tends to move within the cupboard on bumpy roads!).
With some regards made to it's power demands and weight, I can't see much wrong with a budget microwave from the supermarket, so long as above comments are considered. It is what it is, it may not live forever, and for certain it won't have been built especially for the rougher travelling conditions of mobile use as opposed to a fixed domestic kitchen, but it's going to be cheap enough that should it happen, early failure is not the end of the world. If such a thing as a dedicated camper/MH/caravan microwave did exist, you can guarantee that the price would make your eyes water as is the case of all other dedicated appliances!!!!
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via mobile 27/3/2022 at 10:20am
but otherwise has been good and I've never yet had an issue with electrics on 6 or 10A sites. This may be the first year we camp without it as kids have now out grown... though her ladyship does like supermarket curry night with the trimmings which it also heats up nicely.
