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Old 06-26-2015, 07:44 AM   #1
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Running Microwave off generators

Can we run the microwave using two Honda 2000 generators? I know that we can't use the AC and the microwave at the same time.

Thanks for your help.
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Old 06-26-2015, 07:47 AM   #2
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Old 06-26-2015, 08:14 AM   #3
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One of those generators is enough. Look at the rating of your microwave, probably 800 watts, might be as much as 1000w.

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Old 06-26-2015, 09:14 AM   #4
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One of those generators is enough. Look at the rating of your microwave, probably 800 watts, might be as much as 1000w.

Larry
Agreed. Even a full sized "residential" microwave draws less than 2,000 watts. The mini microwaves in RVs draw less than 1,000 watts.
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Old 06-26-2015, 09:59 AM   #5
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One 2000i is enough for us also....by itself, without eco mode.

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Old 06-26-2015, 10:35 AM   #6
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A related question, hopefully not too much of a hijack. How many things in addition to the air conditioner can you run on a 30 amp service at a campground? I would guess that the AC, the microwave, the electric hot water heater, and the TV should not all be run at the same time. But how many of those things would be safe to run at the same time?


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Old 06-26-2015, 10:36 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by AnnArborBob View Post
Agreed. Even a full sized "residential" microwave draws less than 2,000 watts. The mini microwaves in RVs draw less than 1,000 watts.
Not true, many supposedly 700 and 900 watt microwaves need over 1000 watts initially! They will shut down the inverter or generator.
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Old 06-26-2015, 10:42 AM   #8
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We can run our convection microwave (whatever Airstream uses as the stock for recent trailers) with a 2000w generator. I do not do it very often but it works on our set-up (2011 25FB).
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Old 06-26-2015, 10:55 AM   #9
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A related question, hopefully not too much of a hijack. How many things in addition to the air conditioner can you run on a 30 amp service at a campground? I would guess that the AC, the microwave, the electric hot water heater, and the TV should not all be run at the same time. But how many of those things would be safe to run at the same time?


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Very few times we have been hooked to 30a shore power at a CG....when we are it's one high draw item at a time,(never the elec water heater), thru a PC30 portable.
I tend not to trust what I can't see.

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Old 06-26-2015, 10:58 AM   #10
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A related question, hopefully not too much of a hijack. How many things in addition to the air conditioner can you run on a 30 amp service at a campground? I would guess that the AC, the microwave, the electric hot water heater, and the TV should not all be run at the same time. But how many of those things would be safe to run at the same time?


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We don't hesitate to use all the appliances you listed when we plug into a 30 amp supply and very seldom trip a breaker. Many appliances cycle on and off and that evens out the demand. The A/C uses a lot more amps at startup, for example. The microwave is used in bursts of a minute or two usually. The TV is a small load compared to the others. And most breakers will take a BRIEF overload during appliance startups. If you add up all the breaker values in your house the total is more than the mains rating. Same principle.
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Old 06-26-2015, 11:00 AM   #11
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A related question, hopefully not too much of a hijack. How many things in addition to the air conditioner can you run on a 30 amp service at a campground? I would guess that the AC, the microwave, the electric hot water heater, and the TV should not all be run at the same time. But how many of those things would be safe to run at the same time?


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I've run them all. Worst thing that'll happen is to trip a breaker. I do also use a low voltage detection device in line with the 30 amp power cord to protect against brown out.
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Old 06-26-2015, 11:18 AM   #12
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The rule I give my wife, to keep it simple, when running the A/C only one other thing like the microwave, water heater. With that rule we have not tripped any breakers. I do not worry about the TV's, chargers, or the converter.

Larry
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Old 06-26-2015, 11:23 AM   #13
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I have small micro wave from walmart run it on 800 watt 2cycle generator from harbor freight, never problem or tripped a breaker.
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Old 06-26-2015, 12:47 PM   #14
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I routinely ran the microwave on my 07 AI with one Honda 2000 generator. Recently I tried doing the same with the convection/microwave in my 2014. Although the microwave ran it seemed to run slow and labored. running on low power cannot be good for them. In the future I will make sure the fridge is on propane as well as the water heater or just twin my generators.
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Old 06-27-2015, 12:15 PM   #15
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We tried running our convection microwave (not in convection mode) with one Honda EU2000 and it would not run normally. It would spit and make funny noises like something was wrong. At the time, we didn't try running the microwave on lower power. That would have probably worked.
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Old 06-27-2015, 12:49 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponyfvr View Post
Can we run the microwave using two Honda 2000 generators? I know that we can't use the AC and the microwave at the same time. Thanks for your help.

In answer to the original poster's question - yes. two 2000's will power just about any microwave - they may or may not power additional appliances at the same time.

I recently returned from two weeks in the rockies camped at 9000 feet.

Our single Honda 2000 was maxed out with our smallish MW. With the eco-throttle "off", AND the converter off (we found this to be important) the single Honda would struggle, but it would run.

Our two Honda 2000's have the jets set for use at sea level. There is a significant loss of power at altitude.

In addition, I try to run the gennies at least every three months. Most of the problems I have found with the Honda's can be traced to bad or old fuel. One failure that was not a fuel related problem was found last year at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - my seven year old 2000 lost the ignition magnet. I suppose the glue holding the magnet to the flywheel just let loose. After regluing the unit now works fine.
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Old 06-27-2015, 12:57 PM   #17
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A related question, How many things in addition to the air conditioner can you run on a 30 amp service at a campground? I would guess that the AC, the microwave, the electric hot water heater, and the TV should not all be run at the same time. But how many of those things would be safe to run at the same time?
Dave,

We fulltime in our '34 in a park with fullhook-ups. The rule we go by is, no more than 2 of the big 3 items at a time (AC Unit/Microwave/ Electric element Hot water heater)
Pretty much solved out electrical balance woes by just keeping the water heater working off the propane only, which completely removes it from the equation.
Now, with Summer in full tilt and all the fans & AC going almost 24/7 we have gotten into the habit of switching off the AC when we need to run the microwave. Then flip it back on when done.
Works out good.
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