RoyF
Fayetteville Arkansas
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Joined: 12/20/2009
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My microwave has died at age 14, so I'm looking to replace it.
Question: does the microwave in an RV necessarily have to be an "RV" microwave. (Some microwaves are marketed as "RV microwaves".) Or can I use any residential above-the-range microwave if it fits the hole?
My old microwave was a Domestic, 950 watt, 21 3/4" wide, in a 22" hole.
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JimJohnson
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 05/12/2018
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So far as I'm concerned, if the microwave fits with the required clearances and is anchored in the cabinet, go for it. RV specific microwaves may be built with a little higher vibration tolerance, but I have plenty of non-RV specific appliances that work just fine.
At some point I intend to measure our existing OEM microwave and the PowerXL combo microwave/air fryer. At a glance they look the same size, and if so, I plan to upgrade.
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Dutch_12078
Winters south, summers north
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No, the microwave does not need to be an "RV" microwave. The so called RV units are just standard residential units that typically come equipped with external vents and baffles to route the exhaust out of the cabinet. When the 16 year old OEM Sharp microwave in our motorhome failed I replaced it with a near exact fit Hamilton Beach unit that was on sale for $88 at Walmart. The only mods I made were a couple of minor bends in the original vent mounting and small shims under the feet to get the height right in the cabinet opening. Take your tape measure with you and see what'd on the shelf at your favorite appliance store.
Dutch
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Any microwave in a storm.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
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navigator2346
Wa and points South
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A microwave doesn't know where it is installed and doesn't care
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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No. Any MW will do as long as you can fit it in there and fake up the vents. You can drill holes and screw on the vent surround that came with the RV to any MW that size.
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bgum
South Louisiana
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No
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theoldwizard1
SE MI
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They cost a lot more money, but inverter microwaves use less power.
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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theoldwizard1 wrote:They cost a lot more money, but inverter microwaves use less power.
not really. I have a regular one in the house and a panasonic inverter in each of my trailers. Physics and electronics determines power draw. For the same output power, line draw is virtually the same. Total power draw likely varies between different units, but not enough to really care about.
Now the inverter units when running at less than 100% output will draw less peak power than non inverter, total watt-hours likely remains pretty much the same. The inverter units power draw at less than 100% is pretty linear decrease between 100% and about 20%. Below 20% it is non linear partially due to the overhead draw for control.
Now there are THREE advantages (at least) to the inverter microwaves from panasonic.
1) for power settings below 100% power doesn't cycle between 0% and 100% so if running of a generator you don't have the generator cycling up and down
2) I've found the constant X% power for defrosting, warming etc. to do a better job than the cycling power units
3) I can run my 1200W inverter microwave off my 1000VA true sine inverter. At 50% power setting it draws about 800VA and runs nicely off the inverter. And at 50% power it doesn't take twice as long as 100% to reheat something. Don't need to fire up the generator to run the microwave for a few minutes to heat something.
And to the OP question. I've run "home" microwaves in both my trailers since 2004. They work fine as long as you get one that can fit in the spot. And they are lower cost.
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Camper445
Sticks
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JimJohnson wrote: RV specific microwaves may be built with a little higher vibration tolerance
LOL, not at all. At least from the high quality RV specific brands such as Furrion, High Pointe, Contoure, Magic Chef, and the others. All low grade junk.
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