Date:         Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:27:51 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: New Microwave oven
Comments: To: jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Maybe it has a low power setting for "cigarette lighter socket" operation.
660 watts @ 12 volts is 55 amps. Evenif it has a 180 watt seeting to allow
it to work on 15 amps, and the lighter socket is fused for that, the
original wiring to the socket will have a huge voltage drop. You will need
some special wiring for this thing. I would suggest #6 and yes, that should
be fused at the battery. Most likely, it will need to have the engine
running to maintain battery voltage whiel that thing is running so the
charge wiring and control must be designed to handle that current and
battery charging.

Dennis


>From: joel walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
>Reply-To: joel walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: New Microwave oven
>Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:31:47 -0500
>
>----- Original Message -----
>>Just found this little microwave for car use! runs on 12vt or 110
>>volts. I was wondering >if anybody has checked it out ????
>>Looks like a nice step in the vanagon camping direction.
>>www.thewavebox.com
>>If anybody can post the amp draw, etc please follow.
>
>i went to the www.cabelas.com and put 'wavebox' in the search keyword
>and found this:
>
>$200. for the unit, cabela's price
>660 watts cooking power
>  (which seems a bit strange to me. 660 watts = 12volts x 55 amps,
>right?
>  or are microwaves different from light bulbs? or my math is wrong?)
>requires cig lighters that are rated at a minimum of 12 amps.
>(which MIGHT be ok, the vanagon cig lighter is fused at 15amps.
>but that assumes that you are NOT using the radio and other stuff
>at the same time. it also ASSUMES that the cig lighter can take
>the whole 15 amps ... which i do not know for sure).
>
>however, on the downloadable .pdf, it sez that it works better on ac
>outlets or the direct-to-battery hookup. cooking times via cig lighter
>connections are two to three times longer than direct-to-battery or
>ac.
>coffee (cup?) is 1 min on ac or d-t-b, but 2.5 min on cig lighter.
>pizza (small enough to fit) is 1 min and 1 min, but 2 min on cig
>lighter.
>meat is 45 sec, 45 sec, and 1.5 min on cig lighter.
>so i guess it means we'd better hook it up to the battery directly ...
>but that means no fuse. or is the wavebox itself fused?
>
>size is 15"W x 10"L x 11"H
>
>on the www.thewavebox.com site, there seem to be different colors
>available,
>but www.cabelas.com makes no mention/choice of this.
>and the www.fleetfarm.com site is useless ...all i could find there
>was
>"all the brands are sold in our local stores. check for location".
>
>so i'm kinda sorta somewhat semi-interested. but i'll wait til i see
>one in person at some local truckstop or woods-and-water (similar to
>cabela's) or wal-mart. :)
>
>unca joel