Adding a microwave and inverter help

[flyhigh123]

I have a 2012 Yamaha F250 engine. 3 Standard size batteries, size 29. I was thinking about adding a 1100 watt inverter and a 600-700 watt microwave.

Any issues you can see with that? The microwave would probably run once or twice a trip at the most 5 minutes to warm up some food.

Can the battery's handle this type of power and will it affect the engine any? Do you see any issues if the microwave is about 15 feet away from the inverter?

 

[bruceb58]

Just be aware that the inverter is going to to draw close to 70A. The distance of the microwave from the inverter is not the issue. It's how close the inverter is to the battery. You are going to need a hard wired connection with a significant sized cable to run it.

 

[flyhigh123]

I'm going to keep the inverter as close as possible to the battery, about 1-2 feet running 4 awg wire.

Drawing 70A, what does that impact or affect the system? Is this something i should not do or will it work fine but just not run the microwave too long?

 

[gm280]

I'm going to keep the inverter as close as possible to the battery, about 1-2 feet running 4 awg wire.

Drawing 70A, what does that impact or affect the system? Is this something i should not do or will it work fine but just not run the microwave too long?

Sounds like a lot of investment to heat up some food. Why not go with a Coleman Stove with propane cylinders or even a duel fuel setup. A heck of a lot cheaper and the food will taste better was well. JMHO

 

[dennis461]

Your engine stays running during microwave use, correct?
Or do you have switchable starting battery and running battery?

The outboard alternator (Yamaha F250 with 44 amp alternator) does not have the capacity to power 700 watt microwave through an inverter, if 70 amps discussed above is a good number.).
Which means simply, if you left the Microwave on for an hour, your batteries could go dead even with the engine running.

I suspect, if the microwave is on for 5 minutes, the batteries would recharge in 10 minutes.

I do think a microwave is a better (safer) choice than liquid or gas cookers for a boat.


Read all about microwaves vs inverters here.
it...http://blog.donrowe.com/2014/08/20/power-inverters-and-microwaves/

 

[Scott Danforth]

I used to use my I/O for warming food. Wrap in aluminum foil and set on the valve cover next to exhaust manifold.

Now have a new grill

 

[flyhigh123]

A grill is the best option and i do have a portable one. But when i'm running offshore chasing tuna, no one wants to cook and a warm meal is heaven. Even if its a hot pocket.

The Yami amp output is 46 amps, so it would NOT be able to run the inverter direct and yes would kill the batteries. I normally run the microwave for about 10 minutes max and that really is max.

My last boat had a inverter and microwave and never had an issue, but i had larger batteries and a larger alternator. It was the one thing i really loved about that boat.

 

[bruceb58]

You will have no problem.

 

[JoLin]

You will have no problem.

Agree.

 

[flyhigh123]

Thanks guys! Just making sure.