Inverter and microwave oven

[serenisea]

Hi,

I went to run the microwave oven while at anchor. I started the engine to provide a continuous charge to the batteries. I turned on the Heart 20 (2000 watt) inverter, as well as the microwave switch on the AC panel.

The microwave interior light came on, but not the control panel on the front of it. The control panel comes on when plugged into shore power. I thought I used it underway before, but can't be sure. I also tested the AC plug voltage under the inverter vs shore power. The shore power pegged the needle, and I had to turn the voltage levels down on the tester. The inverter may be on, but just providing an idle charge until being under load, but again, I am not sure. I couldn't get an answer from the owners manual. Any ideas?

Gary

Serenisea2

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Gary
Did you try anything else with the inverter to see if it idles up?

Also, if you are running the engine at low to moderate rpm and expect it to provide sufficient amps, take a look at the typical alternator power curve - most won't develop any appreciable amps in the low rpm range.

 

[Benny]

The battery if charged should have provided the amps to run the microwave oven. This is provided you are running a small oven around 850 watts. Check your connections and verify if other loads are on the grid at the same time.

 

[serenisea]

I figured it out

Gary
Did you try anything else with the inverter to see if it idles up?

Also, if you are running the engine at low to moderate rpm and expect it to provide sufficient amps, take a look at the typical alternator power curve - most won't develop any appreciable amps in the low rpm range.

Don,

Problem solved.

I plugged in an AC light to draw some current through the inverter, and then turned on the microwave and it came up. I understand now that there is a minimum idle search threshold the inverter has to get over before the microwave senses that it is really plugged in.

As far as turning on the engine, it is just to offset any substantial draw down on the batteries. But it is probably not really necessary unless I use the coffee pot, which draws 90 DC amps when the heating element is on.

Thanks for the response.

Gary

 

[Guest]

Inverter

Hi Gary, we have a Freedom 25 on our boat that draws from two 8D house bank batteries that combined deliver about 500 amps. The inverter does work to deliver the power to run our microwave, but it does the job. Perhaps some trouble shooting is in order. Sound and solid battery connections, strong batteries, is the microwave receiving 120 volts AC, etc. Most any kind of weak point can hamper the system's ability to deliver the amp draw required by the microwave. A battery load test might also be in order; no dead cells. Most yard shops can do the load test for you, some will do it for free in hopes they can sell you a new battery.

Terry Cox

 

[seadaddler]

Check Batteries

I have the Heart 20 hooked up to two 4 D's and run the microwave,it does take a lot of power from the batteries so you should check your batteries
Nick

 

[bananabender]

we had a Heart 20, 2 x 4D's and a small microwave. On shore power no problem - using the inverter the microwave would make a severe buzzing sound. I wondered if there were different types of microwave controls or was it the control circuit didn't like a square sine wave. I also thought the pure sine wave inverter may make a difference.

 

[Joseph Wienecke]

Inverter question

maybe this is a good place to aske this question I have a 1998 Hunter 376 and want to add an inverter. What would be a suggestion on a good brand with a good price? Is it difficult to install or is it best done by a pro?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

maybe this is a good place to aske this question I have a 1998 Hunter 376 and want to add an inverter. What would be a suggestion on a good brand with a good price? Is it difficult to install or is it best done by a pro?

Victron and Xantrex are among the more popular and good quality brands. How difficult it is to install is a function of both your expertise and how large and complicated you want to make it.

A small one (a few hundred watts) can be plugged in when needed and otherwise stored. A 2000+ watt inverter could be hard-wired with a cross-over switch or simply mounted in close proximity to your shore power plug and plugged into the shore power receptacle when off the grid.

The critical elements are your ability to properly connect it to an adequate battery bank and to properly size it for the expected demands. Most mfgs include a well-illustrated how-to section on installation which you might want to read online before making a decision.

 

[Guest]

Inverter

maybe this is a good place to aske this question I have a 1998 Hunter 376 and want to add an inverter. What would be a suggestion on a good brand with a good price? Is it difficult to install or is it best done by a pro?

Hi Joseph, Don put it very well. Our Freedom 25 has two sides; AC in/out and DC in/out. Pretty simple (tongue in cheek). The AC supply comes from the buss source, either shore power or genset. The 25 sorts the AC for charging and/or pass through to assorted outlets.

The DC supply comes from the buss source, which is two 8D batteries, one starter battery and an eighty amp alternator. The 25 sorts the DC for whatever demand is in play. It has a built in manually activated inverter feature for converting DC to AC. It is a marvelous piece of gadgetry.

I installed the 25 myself five years ago by following the installation instruction manual. No I'm not an electrician, but I have done my own electrical work over the years. It depends upon your comfort level whether you do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you.

Terry Cox

 

[jwieneck]

question

Thanks

What is the difference between the modified sine wave and the non-modified sine wave with these converters.

 

[bananabender]

If I understand it correctly, the modified sine wave is somewhere between the square wave and a sine wave. I was lead to believe that some electronics don't handle a modified sine wave, usually found in the cheaper inverters. I'm sure an expert will correct me!