12 volt microwave oven?

[Visionsbydarrah]

Has anyone here ever used the Power Hunt Wave Box (12 volt microwave oven.) ?

I know most reviews on the 12 volt stuff usually gets a thumbs down.
but I was kind of hoping this item was different.

Any and all input is welcomed.

[eamarquardt]

Nope.

That said though it is detrimental to the health of your batteries to draw more than about 10% of their amp hour capacity (in amps). So, to run this puppy (55 amps) it will take 5 to 6 100 amp hour batteries. That's 300-350 pounds of batteries.

You'd be better off, IMHO, with a generator and 120 volt microwave.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

[GuitarPhotog]

You will need a heavier duty alternator than stock to supply the 55 amps that thing requires. That's going to require 5 gauge wire for power connections, and you won't be plugging it into any cigarette lighter-style power points.

Suitable for a big rig diesel, but not auto or SUV electrical systems.

<Chas>

[Shadow Catcher]

Nancy and I were discussing plans for our eight days on the shore of Lake Superior relying on the solar for power, and she asked about a microwave and and the electric fry pan we use when camping and I explained the, using resistance heat appliances and other big power suckers, facts of life.
I picked up a Harbor Freight 16' 6 ga set of jumper cables (it is 6 ga and it is dirt cheap at $20) and have installed a 50A Anderson Powerpole on one end that mates with the line I have coming off of the battery to power the inverter. The alternator in the Subaru is rated at 90 Amps and I can recharge the battery if soar panels can not keep up.
Even if you had one of these power hogs you would have to have a way of getting power to the microwave with a 60A fused line. Mike's, it is made for big rigs, is no doubt correct.
The amps on the Road Pro is 25A

[Visionsbydarrah]

slow, asfar how much would get used (how long) about 5 to 15 minutes max at any one time.
And thanks for everyone's input.

Just thought it would be nice at times.

[JuneBug]

While we are on the subject, and just out of curiosity, what does it take to run a small (not tiny) Crock Pot?

[Corwin C]

It really depends upon the vehicle. Most modern cars have alternators which deliver 35-70 amps. Pickups and large SUV's can have alternators that will provide somewhere in the 110-130 amp range. Semi's are in the 200+ amp range and higher power demands (ambulances) can have multiple alternators providing over 400 amps. If you want this microwave, by all means go for it, but recognize the challenge to provide it with the power that it requires. No matter what the appliance is, you will have to provide an adequate source whether it is from battery, alternator, or shore power.

My only actual experience with these is walking past a truck in a truck stop whose park lights were flickering slightly dim. At the same time the driver hopped out of the cab. I pointed it out to him, trying to let him know there might be an issue, and he said that his wife was running the microwave in the condo. Apparently, they're a big draw even for them.

[Shadow Catcher]

This started me thinking about a gas slow cooker and the Coleman version is evidently a metal version which is too hot to slow cook. This started the hunt!
One hint is a version that sits on top of a stove and has a lid that holds water to keep the temperature down.
In looking on line there are LOTS of them, in other countries! Looking at Alibaba (wholesale from China mostly) minimum order of a 1,000 or so. One example http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/34437 ... ooker.html
I am also wondering if you could not make your own using an old crock pot with a small burner.

[JuneBug]

I am also wondering if you could not make your own using an old crock pot with a small burner.

Good point. Perhaps get a flame spreader of some kind and there you go.

[Visionsbydarrah]

slow,

No harm here in making the topic change from one cooking device to another.
If it keeps people posting.
Like you noticed in one of your other post things seem slow on the boards right now.

Oh and by the way I have the Coleman skillet... Works great.

[Visionsbydarrah]

Slow,

Sorry, I know nothing about tne coleman slow cookers.
But I still see them in stores.

[pmowers]

I would have to agree with others about the 12 VDC microwave, the power draw on batteries would be brutal. Although I have a microwave built into my CT conversion, I don't really use it that often and would probably not miss it (Oh, who am I kidding- I am never going off the grid!) It is used mostly for reheating my cup of coffee, I should drink it faster.

Since the topic has changed, evolved? degenerated? I have used both the Coleman skillet as well as their slow cooker.

The skillet is a joy to use. The slow cooker, not so much.

The major problem with the slow cooker is that it isn''t. The flame will not idle down low enough, the flame is too close to the bottom of the cooking insert, the insert is too thin, and the area that the flame covers is too small. All of which combines to make cleaning up after a pot roast a hour-long job to get the burnt gunk off of the bottom. And that is using determination, and about a pound of elbow grease. After making and riveting a flame spreader to the slow cooker, similar to the one found in the skillet, the results are much better, but you can still write home using smoke signals.

Ideas about using a crockpot insert over a flame will probably result in exploding stoneware. The liners are designed to be heated slowly and over a wide surface area, concentrating the heat to just the bottom could unduly stress the ceramic.

I would probably use the old, but tried and true dutch oven, on the coleman stove. I can make sauerbratten in a cast iron dutch oven over a very low flame, letting it cook for hours without burning.

[Babby]

Hi! I just finished reading about Thermal Cookers,Crockpots etc on: http://www.andybaird.com/Eureka scroll down to kitchens, then, slow cooking with no electricity, and Thermal Cooker. I found it very interesting especially Grant Johnson's Thermal Cooker Blog @ wordpress.com. This is my second post and as you can see I am computer illiterate! Hope this gets you to the right place! I'm interested in this Thermal Cooking as my husband is a stickler for weight and I only have a DO, frying pan and a small wok. Not that hotdogs on a stick aren't our staple meal!
This site is fun and interesting
Babby

[Visionsbydarrah]

Babby, Nice find on the web site lots of good ideas there.

I hope you enjoy your time on this site, it has a great group of people here.

[Junkboy999]

Every video I seen on youtube about 12Vdc microwaves, the user said it took twice as long as as 110 ones.
Not really a good comparison because the 12v one are so small. Most camping sites lets you run generators
in the day. So a small house Microwave and a generator would be the best. That really what big RV run any
how.