Microwave in RV Camper Van on Battery Bank Inverter Solar

Can you use a microwave in a CamperVan RV on battery bank, inverter and solar? Lets find out.

[@cgmuso6619]

Wow. So I'm looking at getting a campervan. I'm obsessed with having a microwave, and everyone on forums etc say don't bother. This video has now made me have a rethink.

[@yvonnethompson9429]

Very interesting video. I am setting up my van now and was wondering what my 3 golf cart batteries and solar could do. Now I know - not much. Guess I will be using the generator more than I thought. Thanks for the great video

[@mwdeters]

Hi RC, Good stuff! I have to admit I tend to look at the watts required on devices and not the amps so this was an excellent heads up. Thank you, Mark

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

Amps and watts are a good thing to know about. Thanks Mark.

[@BarryMung]

Remember: W = V x A In this case you were creating over 1200W of power out of the battery, it was going somewhere. (You've made me buy a clamp on ammeter now lol) I can understand 200-300W of loss, but 500W?! They made it easy to convert AC to DC no trouble, but never the other way around. If there were no losses, I'd of expected to see 60-70A. I used to work on big CB burners back in the day, same thing really :-)

[@TheStephen3417]

I really enjoyed your you're talking about your solar power stuff on top of the roof and everything I don't know too much about it but a little bit I hope you have some more it's really great and do you have anything in the past that you could tell me about thank you

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

Thanks! Yes I have a solar video, a battery bank video, an inverter video, a smart charger video ect. I will also do an update video on all these system as well shortly. Thanks for watching!

[@MultiRabe]

Brilliant!

[@lisakent5682]

Thanks for the info! :)

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

You bet! Thanks for watching!

[@ColinTonkasdad]

thats one item i have not got in my rv....no tv as well but a elec toaster cause its quick and hot water dispenser for tea . i have 3000w pure sine wave /charger and its big but i dont mind ...but good information cause i do not have generator .. cheers from tamworth uk x

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

I have an electric toaster but I dont want to give up the space Im using right now for ir hahaha. Toaster ovens are great!

[@SBecktacular]

could you please do a vid on your battery bank/solar and inverter and how they are all wired?........that would be sooo awesome.your inverter is wired to your transfer switch and I would loooove to see how you have all that wired and what kind of wires and fuses you're using.man, if you get a chance it would be so awesome to see a recap of your whole system.!thanks bro

[@epicvape6546]

I agree that would be nice to see

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

You bet! I may have to seperate into a few videos. One for inverter, one for battery bank, one for solar, smart charger ect. Thanks

[@SBecktacular]

awesome......will be lookin' forward to that ! thnx a lot & your vidz r tha best.. ;D

[@WizzRacing]

Goes to show how efficient and stable that Samlex is. One of the better inverters for the money.

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

A great inverter for the money. There are better units out there for sure but for the cost... I love it. Thanks for watching!

[@couldyouhelpmeout5598]

That was really interesting. I've wondered how much 12V draw it would take. That seems to demonstrate a lot in inefficiency in the inverter. 1100 watts in for a 700 watt microwave. It would be informative to see how much current the microwave is drawing on the 120 side. Good job on making this video.

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

Thanks Tom! I believe on the 120v side it would be around 10 amps. Thanks for watching!

[@stevenpeterson5981]

I have a van and have yet to wire everything. I have a 2500 watt pure sine inverter and a 100 amp/h lithium battery, and a little microwave like yours. Thanks for the video. What are the size of your wires?

[@SBecktacular]

hey J....I sent you a mssg. the other day on your channel but not sure if you got it....I was hoping to get your advise on something....thanx!

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

thanks for the demonstration ---- no more burittos for me. lol.

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

Haha yeah skip those burritos!

[@robbywilson6729]

Question, and as a new watcher to your vids, sorry if missed this elsewhere, but you do still have a generator correct? If so, what one are you using if I may ask?

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

+Rob Wilson The Van came with a Onan 2.8 microlite genset but I removed it. I have a 2000 watt Yamaha inverter generator but also never use it. Its only for when we dont get any solar for many days.

[@BlaneysChannel]

Thanks for this info. When I'm done with my build I'm going to have 300 watts solar and 400 amp hrs storage. So this is what I don't understand, how fast is this drawing the 98 amps? Does this mean that in 4 hrs my batteries would be drained or in 4 minutes. If you have 400 amp hrs how long could you run your microwave before your batteries fell below 60%. I'm asking this question assuming It's at night with no solar. Thank you.

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

It would be 98 amps per hour. So a drain to 50% on your bank would be 2 hours use. But no worries cause most microwave meals are only a few minutes so your good. Thats what is great about a microwave... Its FAST so you dont use much power. Just divide the 98 amps (average for 700 watt microwave) by the minutes used for the meal. A 5 minute usage for 19 used amps... not to bad. Thanks for watching!

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

just subbed

[@HiddenHighways]

I put a microwave in my mini-van camper, but I only run it when my engine is on (hooked up to battery isolator). That way my batteries don't get drained. Since it is only going to be on maybe 10 minutes a day, that's fine.

[@tudormartac9888]

Mine draws 128A ,I ran it for10 min on a 2000w inverter and two 225AH 6v batteries without issues. I also have 400w solar pannels. I don't think you need 4 batteries

[@wizeminds799]

what would i need to power a microwave that needs 1050 watts in my camper

[@GodMadeMeStupid]

the same as he is using, his must be similar. Amps time volts equals watts.... so his 98 amps times his 12 volt battery bank would equal 1176 watts to the microwave. I think he was actually measuring the battery bank cables going to the inverter, showing how much power the inverter was drawing from the battery bank.

[@notme751]

why did you choose solar over a simple dual battery setup with an isolator that would charge the batteries much faster

[@alvaradacosta4111]

Jjames Notme .... that's a great question.... Is that what you are using.???? if you are.... Is it working well for you???

[@markbrugger2349]

do you have anyone with nuwave stove and old fashion elecrit stove and do a campare ....???

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

I will look into it. Thanks

[@112330059daniel]

You seem a little tense, try drinking a tea.

[@seannewhouse892]

and I guess the low-energy-usage nukewaves are almost useless

[@davidgurrola9370]

im a trucker and they have a dial microwave it was low watts which it can run on a 500 watts inverter

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

That sounds like a cool little microwave. People trying to use less power would like that for sure. I will look it up thanks.

[@davidgurrola9370]

target has them

[@davidgurrola9370]

the cheap one and it has to be a dial micowave

[@mikemeixner1504]

That's a lot. most microwaves use 6 maybe it's 9.8 amps?

[@gdm620]

+Mike Meixner Yea on 120 volts it uses around 6 to 9 amps. When pulling from 12 volts you have to times 120 volt amp use by 10. so 98 amps is about right with the extra from the inverter. Thats why you need big wires on 12 volt systems for the inverter.

[@mikemeixner1504]

Dang!!

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

Thanks gdm620 for explaining that. Yes a 120v microwave powered from 12v battery bank from a 12v to 120v pure sine inverter. Uses lots more amps from battery bank through inverter.

[@peterboalch5313]

rambling indeed

[@quentonfetcher9271]

Throwing mine out.

[@seannewhouse892]

well, not QUITE that bad

[@mikemeixner1504]

98 amps. you sure??

[@TheRamblinCamperVan]

Yes. This is a 120v microwave being powered by a 12v battery bank with a 12v to 120v pure sine inverter. There is a huge loss in efficiency when going from 12 volts to 120 volts... so way more amps is used from 12v system. Thanks for watching.