There are a few articles posted or linked to by others here where someone has hooked up a device we electroincs types call a 'scope to a generator and looked at the output
Now.. Most all generators do output close to 50 or 60 cycles, I'd not think yours is doing 180 cycles
But the timer chip in the microwave is counting those cycles, and if it sees NICE CLEAN power, such as from a Honda 2000 or a Yahama 2400 or my Prosine 2.0 inverter or my Onan generator it counts at the proper speed
Some of those small direct drive "Contractor" types though... Well.. The trace on teh scope don't look much like a clean sine wave.. You see all sorts of "noise" on the signal.. Instead of a nice sharp line you have a big fat fuzzy worm full of harminoics going all the way up to the limit of the 'scope (30 meg on my scope) and your microwave is counting one of those
Bottom line
Dirty power
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
Definitely a problem with the cycles. I've been there. Now I run a Honda 3000 super-quiet unit and it's always right on the money. Clocks, computers - any sort of electronics - run perfectly. But it costs $2000+.
wa8yxm wrote: There are a few articles posted or linked to by others here where someone has hooked up a device we electroincs types call a 'scope to a generator and looked at the output
Now.. Most all generators do output close to 50 or 60 cycles, I'd not think yours is doing 180 cycles
But the timer chip in the microwave is counting those cycles, and if it sees NICE CLEAN power, such as from a Honda 2000 or a Yahama 2400 or my Prosine 2.0 inverter or my Onan generator it counts at the proper speed
Some of those small direct drive "Contractor" types though... Well.. The trace on teh scope don't look much like a clean sine wave.. You see all sorts of "noise" on the signal.. Instead of a nice sharp line you have a big fat fuzzy worm full of harminoics going all the way up to the limit of the 'scope (30 meg on my scope) and your microwave is counting one of those
Bottom line
Dirty power
Yup, after you buy that cheap generator, by the time you buy all the line filters, surge suppressors, new boards for the microwave so the timer works right, all the plywood, foam, vent fans, screws, glue and add-on mufflers to try and quiet the POS down (let alone all the time spent, I know MY time is worth money), you could have bought youself a quiet Honda or Yamaha in the first place and be done with it.
And...
The Honda or Yamaha will probably last ten times longer than the cheapo one. So the cheapo one would actually have to be 1/10 the cost of the good ones AFTER all the above "tweaking" to break even, and it will STILL be a loud clatterbox.
That is the overall, long term economics that the "bargain hunters" just don't understand.
Paul (Mouse)
2007 Flagstaff Shamrock 17 Hybrid (heavily modified for boondocking and winter camping).
2007 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4, 4.7L HO, factory tow, 3.92 gears.
Equil-i-zer Hitch, Prodigy.
Yamaha EF2400 Generator (quiet, cause I care!)
Its like everything else in life. You get what you pay for. Yes the quite generators are expensive. But it sure is nice to never have any problems with dirty power like the cheapie generators do. About the best that you can do with the generator that you have, is to just run the Microwave timmer for longer times. And also hope it doesn't ruin the Microwave in the end, or do any other damage to your RV. Dirty power can't be all that good for your circuit boards in your RV either. Good Luck. Happy Camping. Dan & Jill
1997 Ford F-250, H.D. Extended-Cab, Short Bed, 7.3 PSD, K&N Air Filter, 5000 lbs air bags w/on board compressor w/guage, SuperChips Tuner/Programer. 1996 Nash 24fter 5er, 15K "Lil" Rocker Hitch w/BedSaver, Twin EU2000i Gen's W/Kit. Nam-Vet, 33 Months.
Whoo boy... here we go again. The red & blue team against everyone.
I use one of those "POS" or "cheapie" generators as some of you have described.
I hate to tell you it works flawlessly, is quiet (meets all state park noise requirements), and has never given me any trouble. It is also warranted for 4 years... if I should have an issue with it, I can just drop it at my local store, no problem. Even the red & blue models breakdown, they are not perfect. All you guys who spent $2000 on a genny, good for you. I agree with you on how nice they are. I, like many folks, just don't need that. I would never spend that kind of money on a genny unless I was a fulltimer and needed such an expensive genny. Until then, for the amount we use it, my $300 genny is perfect for camping and home use.
It all comes down to what you will be using it for as to wether you need a $300 or a $2000 genny.
Respect,
Brent
TV ~ Cadillac Escalade EXT, Prodigy BC, Reese Pro Series SC Rigs ~ Starcraft Travelstar 21RBS, Alcan Traveler Tent Camper "Where ever you go, there you are"
HedoTravelers wrote: ...is quiet (meets all state park noise requirements),
Meeting state park/national park regulations and being quiet are two completely different and unrelated things. The park system set a MAXIMUM DB level that is anything but quiet. Most contractor generators fall within the limits.
It is yet another outdate law (like the greywater laws) that was written back before "quiet" generators were available. If they made the DB level any lower at the time, it would mean no generators at all.
The FAA also sets maximum noise limts on commercial airliners around airports, doesn't mean they are quiet either.
HedoTravelers wrote: Whoo boy... here we go again. The red & blue team against everyone.
I use one of those "POS" or "cheapie" generators as some of you have described.
I hate to tell you it works flawlessly, is quiet (meets all state park noise requirements), and has never given me any trouble. It is also warranted for 4 years... if I should have an issue with it, I can just drop it at my local store, no problem. Even the red & blue models breakdown, they are not perfect. All you guys who spent $2000 on a genny, good for you. I agree with you on how nice they are. I, like many folks, just don't need that. I would never spend that kind of money on a genny unless I was a fulltimer and needed such an expensive genny. Until then, for the amount we use it, my $300 genny is perfect for camping and home use.
It all comes down to what you will be using it for as to wether you need a $300 or a $2000 genny.
The fact of the matter is that I use my camper about 8 times/yr. I mainly need the generator for the a/c when it's 99 degrees in the Utah desert, I would be nice to have the microwave work perfect, but I'm fine using a kitchen timer. I can't justify $1500-2000 for a microwave timer. If there was a $50 fix, I would certainly look at that. Otherwise the generator does it's job, even if it only lasts 3-4 seasons.
Mousefart wrote: Most contractor generators fall within the limits.
I disagree... most "contractor" style gennys are far from quiet, and most do not meet noise level requirements. All gennys must be used in a way that follow the rules, and does not offend others. My friend has the Honda 3000i. He has heard mine and commented on how it was almost as quiet as his Honda... and we were in my garage where sound echos.
Nothing is totally quiet, even the red & blue team.
Mine has a Honda engine, if that makes you feel better.
As I said in my earlier post, even expensive gensets can cause a problem with microwave timers. Our genset, which is factory installed, quiet, green (in color), not cheap and causes our microwave clock to go bonkers.
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