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We went into Lidls this afternoon & they were just putting out the stock for tomorrow, this incuded a stack of Microwaves.

We bought an 800watt microwave/1350watt grill for £39-99 with a 3 year warranty. Now I reckon that was a bargain.

BB  

A bargain

Make sure that you switch everything else (230V)off in the van before using the microwave as it will need almost 2X 800W on start up 

Quote: Originally posted by JohnG on 10/12/2006

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A bargain

Make sure that you switch everything else (230V)off in the van before using the microwave as it will need almost 2X 800W on start up 

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Thanks for that JohnG, I'd have been out at the trip switch the first time I'd used it if you hadn't said about it.

BB  

Hi BB, should be fine on most UK sites. On the continent quite a few site's supplies are 6 or less amps, there's a good chance that the microwave could trip those on startup.

Phil.

We have been using a microwave in the van for about 18 years

The original one which lasted until last year when the Bailey came ready equipped was 400W

The only time that we couldn't use it was in Prague in 1991

Hi John, any idea where I could get a 400w one that would be ideal for in the van?

As you mentioned in your earlier post an 800w oven could possibly draw twice that, and it would be very close to max on some 6 amp sites.

As you know many sites are only 3 or 4 amps and I wouldn't expect an 800w microwave to run on those. I've been looking for a low power MW for some time but I've not yet seen one that runs on less than 1100 watts these are mostly 650 or 700w.

I spend most of my holidays in Italy and I guess it would be pushing it a bit on some of their sites.

Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux would be OK as they are often 10 or 16 amp.

Phil.

I don't think that they are available any more

We got that one ex display from B & Q all those years ago .

They are all about 600W or more these days .

Caravan dealers sell the lower wattage ones but at a price premium

The cheap ones from Morrisons etc should be fine if used on their own

It didn't have a turntable which made it suitable for the van as well(no packing it away etc)

The problem with 16amp site electrics is that even CC and C & CC ask you to limit yourself to 1000W at peak winter periods (about 5 amps max)

The microwave on its own will work but may be slower with voltage drop on a busy site

But as has been said you should be OK on most UK sites

In France many sites are only 6amps

Thanks John, I never thought of Morrison's, there's one in St. Albans I'll try there.

Phil.

Hi again Phil

Just got the microwave book out of the van

This is what Bailey fitted to our Oklahoma

Daewoo :

Output power 700W

Power consumption 1000W

Dimensions (outside)465mm X 279mm X 324mm

Net weight 12.5kg

Thanks John I'll have a look at the Daewoos, match my vacuum cleaner  , I could probably manage with a 1kW version.

Phil.

Just bought a 500 watt M/wave from ebay for .99p - yes, Ninty Nine pence - works a treat

Runs perfectly off my invertor and that's exactly what I wanted it to do

The 700w models draw too much power for my set-up.

Theres a microwave in Asda which is slightly under £25 it's an 700w. Would that be ok in the caravan?

Hi, it's not the output power that is important it is the input power, as I said earlier this is often around 1100 watts, you can find this out from the label on the back of the microwave. 1100 watts is a little under 5 amps so providing the campsite supply is over 5 amps and you have no other 'power' items running at the same time it should be OK.

Phil.