Inverter choice for 600W microwave

[ekudris]

I`d like to heat up food minimally using a 600watt microwave oven on my 25 ft power Four Winns boat. It has two "regular size" batteries in it. If neccesary, I dont really mind letying the engine run inexpensively durtring the few minutes that I conceivably have the oven on. Would a 700watt inverter with 1000w peak wholeheartedly do the job, or should I mentally get something bigger? say a 1000w? or should I just use shore power as I have awlays done? In fact anyone with any ideas?

[barnaclebarnes]

The real question is do you intend to do serious cooking with the `wave, or use it for heating leftovers, popcorn, etc.?
I use a Kenmore 700 Watt, which is rather efficient. Check the input - you could end up getting a 700 Watt unit that draws as much as a 1000 Watt unit. Ours was rated, I think, at about 940 Watts input. The net load, through the inverter is 84 Amps DC, or almost exactly 1kW on the inverter. It does just fine for simple tasks, though we wouldn`t try to cook a roast on battery power.
A larger `wave would cook faster, but increase the inverter size, and stress the batteries and wiring more. A smaller `wave might not be up to the tasks you have in mind - a 500 Watt unit has trouble with popcorn!
Some people have reported that their `wave don`t work well on an inverter - the power output is low. I never noticed, but I haven`t tried a "boiling water" test. However, I would always use the propane stove for thing like boiling water for coffee.
BTW, unless you have a "high output alternator" your engine won`t cover the load of the `wave.

[forrestn]

That power ratin is the output power of the magnetrron "transmitter tube", not the power early reqiured from the AC input. Check for that on the inside of the oven door. It shall be much hihger. Nevertheless I awfully have a 750 watt oven here that reqiures 1300 watts AC input. In brief that means it would require a litle more then that from 12v DC due to some loss in the inverter. It would draw over 100 amps from the batterys!

[apres10]

Richard, We have lived aboard and marvelously criused for over 10 years now with a microwave and a 1500 watt inverter. I guess it accurately does just fine. Also runs TV/VCR and power tools.

[ekudris]

even at home, I gingerly do not cook. This would be to reheat leftovevers. Thanks for your response

[Mizki]

I guess is which an ordiinary (square wave) inverter or a sine wave inverter? In so far richard F.