Microwaves

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xyz - 20 Jun 2005 01:53 GMT

Hi there,
Thought you folks in this group might be able to help me
out.

I'm heading out later this year on a 4 month photographic trip across
the US, and I was going to temporarily convert the interior of my
conversion van to let me camp out in it whilst on the road,
alternating every now and then with a decent hotel/motel for some of
the more civilized creature comforts!

As as woodworker I have no problems tackling the interior cabinetry,
but when it comes to the electrical side of things I'm not that clued
up. I wasn't really looking to do any cooking on the trip, but then I
figured that 4 months of fast food and/or restaurants might wear thin
after a while and it would be nice to even warm up the odd cup of
coffee in the mornings, especially if I'm in a national park.

An idea that occured to me is that perhaps I could take along a small,
low-wattage microwave that could heat up coffee for me, defrost frozen
meals at need, and warm up tinned food as well. Problem is I don't
know how low they go in wattage in terms of buying a suitable unit, or
how I could connect it up to the van's electrical system so that I can
use the microwave with the engine running. I have a 400 watt converter
which I use occassionally for my laptop on long trips, but I don't
think it will do the job for the microwave as the lowest wattage unit
I've been ably to find runs at 700 watts. I have an inbuilt TV/VHS
floor unit between the front seats, so perhaps there's someway I could
hook into its wiring as it must have a decent amperage?

Hope someone here can offer some advice, as I'm sure there must be any
number of RV'ers who've had to tackle a few wiring problems at some
point or another.

Thanks in advance............Tim

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GlennB - 20 Jun 2005 03:08 GMT

> Hi there,
> Thought you folks in this group might be able to help me
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance............Tim

I used to take short, 5 or 6 day, trips in my conversion van. I removed
the center seats and used the space for storage. I carried tent camping
gear. Camp stove, ice chest, etc. I folded out the couch and used a
sleeping bag. Sort of like tent camping in a hard top.
Look for the book Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon. He took a
trip of about 3 or 4 months in his converted cargo van. It was rather
primitive but if you have the wander lust it'll do.
Glenn

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Hunter - 20 Jun 2005 03:18 GMT

>An idea that occured to me is that perhaps I could take along a small,
>low-wattage microwave that could heat up coffee for me, defrost frozen
>meals at need, and warm up tinned food as well.

You could get a 12volt microwave at any truck stop. That said,
everything you want to do could be done on a propane stove... except
defrost. You could defrost in the morning.

Hunter
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh.t...what a ride!"

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Eddie - 20 Jun 2005 05:01 GMT

>An idea that occured to me is that perhaps I could take along a small,
>low-wattage microwave
>I have a 400 watt converter

You have an inverter. But I know what you meant. I don't think you
can run a microwave with that small an inverter. I have a 2000w
inverter in my boat and it will operate a microwave.
I have a smaller inverter in my van to run a small tv and dvd player
for the kids. I also use it to charge all electronics such as cell,
camera, camcorder batteries. For microwave ovens? Nope. Ya gotta
get a much larger inverter.
Eddie

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