what size inverter do i need for a small microwave?

[wilcofan]

I know that there is an initial draw that is much higher than the wattage rating. What would I need to run a 600 or 700 Watt microwave?

 

[Instead]

An 800 watt inverter would be my guess. See below:<br><br>http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TE0IMG...ASIN=B001TE0IMG&amp;adid=17036729AMTX24P5YKQM<br><br><div style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> <span style="margin-right:5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_4_0 " title="4.0 out of 5 stars"><span>4.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span> <span style="vertical-align:middle;"><b>Nice little inverter</b>, <nobr>August 18, 2010</nobr></span> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> <div><div style="float:left;">By&nbsp;</div><div style="float:left;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1MFMYN19D6FQR/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bobster</span></a> - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member...auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview">See all my reviews</a></div></div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> <b><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>Cobra CPI 880 800 Watt 12 Volt DC to 120 Volt AC Power Inverter with 5 Volt USB output (Electronics)</b> </div> Got this to put in my little RV. I was looking for something small enough to not draw down<br>the one battery I have in the Coach. Installed under a cabinet close to the battery and<br>ran 10 ga wire to it. Plug in the Coach electrical cord to it and turned it on. It will<br>run a Radio or TV or the Microwave or the Fan in my A/C but not the A/C itself which would<br>take about a 3000 watt inverter which would drain my battery really fast! I watched TV and<br>listened to the radio for 2 days and finally ran the battery down running the A/C fan on the<br>second day. It's a little workhorse. Good for the price too! <br><br><br>

 

[bobbert]

Not to get off the subject too much, but from what I've heard, it would be in your best interest to get a Pure Sine Wave inverter. Microwaves are picky on the type of wave. Some modified waves work; some don't. &nbsp;<div>To answer your question, you want around 1,500 watts minimum; the more the merrier-<div>Aims make excellent inverters. <a href="http://invertersupply.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&amp;products_id=42" target="_blank">Inverter Supply sells them here</a>.</div><div>This one (which is 2000 watts &amp; powers my microwave nicely) is mine:</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://invertersupply.com/bmz_cache/d/d138bcf55b7cb2a1e35b1f18e001eb17.image.225x225.jpg"></div><div><br></div></div>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Definitely pure sine if you are wanting to use a microwave... I have modified sine and the microwave doesn't like it at all.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">A microwave continously uses 1.5 times the amount of power it is rated at due to inefficiencies.&nbsp; An 800 watt will use 1200 watts continuously.&nbsp; I agree with the assertion that you should use a 1500 watt at the minimum.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I may end up replacing the inverter purchased with a pure sine model... Since there is a Honda generator on board all the time, I can get by with a much smaller model of inverter.&nbsp; But overall, I almost never use the microwave anyway....</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Have fun!&nbsp; 1500 W would be nice...&nbsp; Get something with strong reviews.&nbsp;&nbsp; There are some Chinese ones out there that are cheap but use poor quality transformers - the inverters get hot, are inefficient, and burn up early...</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I would feel good about the AIMS models.&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">VT</p>

 

[squire]

<p style="margin: 0px;">VanTrekker has a point, most microwaves list the watts in cooking watt output not watts input. Most micowaves have about a 70% efficiency ratio.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Using those numbers 1000watts (in)x .70&nbsp; (out)= 700watts, that said, 70% is a"rule of thumb" plus&nbsp;I never want to run an inverter at full capacity</p>

 

[Instead]

What do you guys think about the long term toll a higher rated inverter might take on an alternator?<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/confused.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br>