Hello all!

I have a quick question for my favorite horse trailer forum. When I go to multi-day barrel races, I typically stay in the gooseneck of my non-LQ trailer. And that is fine for just me and my dog. But, the problem I always run into is food. I would love to have a microwave in my trailer to heat up Ramen noodles or something (because cooking Ramen over a propane stove SUCKS!). The problem I'm running into is powering it. What would be the best way to power one? The microwave in my house (a small countertop model) is labeled as 850 watts. Is that the cooking power of the microwave? Or the amount of watts it is drawing? Would a small generator be best? If so, what size would I need? Or an inverter wired to the truck? Or get in the truck and go to McDonald's?

Help! I'm lost.

Thanks!!

A microwave oven converts only part of its electrical input into microwave energy. A typical consumer microwave oven consumes 1100 W of electricity in producing 700 W of microwave power, an efficiency of 64%. The other 400 W are dissipated as heat, mostly in the magnetron tube. Additional power is used to operate the lamps, AC power transformer, magnetron cooling fan, food turntable motor and the control circuits. This waste heat, along with heat from the food, is exhausted as warm air through cooling vents.

You decide... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven

I use a 3000 watt generator to run ours. So looks to me like a 1000 "continous watts", not surge watts, generator or inverter should run an 850 watt microwave oven. You'll really need to know what the wattage or current draw is on the microwave in question.

pssst... bring a 100 foot extension cord and plug in to somebody else's generator or trailer. (just kidding). 

Since I primitive camp and sleep in my non LQ GN... I much prefer the propane stove to cook things on. Takes a little bit longer, but hey.. it gives me time to drink a beer while the water's boiling. : )

LOL Don't tempt me! I'm waay too impatient for the stove. I have the little hiking burner that screws on top of the propane bottle and it took me the longest time to even get that thing lit. Oy!

So retento... something like this perhaps? This is my first foray into Generator-land (if you couldn't tell already)... http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200313480_200313480

Jessica... That may run a little microwave.... If you were ever able to get it started... That's got a noisy, stinky, 2-cycle engine, stay away from something like that. Go with the inverter of something like the Yamaha or Honda inverter generators. They are a bit pricey but then you are making those "Ramen" noodles!! Little LP Gas stove would be alot cheaper AND QUIETER!!

Yamaha EF1000iS

Type	Inverter
Maximum AC Output	1000 watts
Rated AC Output	900 watts
Rated / Maximum AC Current	7.5 / 8.3
Voltage Stability	± 1%
Frequency Stability	± 0.1 HZ
Engine	OHV MZ50, Air-Cooled, Four-Stroke, Single Cylinder
Displacement / HP	50cc / 2.2 hp
DC Output	12 volt 8 amps
Overall Length	17.7"
Overall Width	9.4"
Overall Height	14.9"
Dry Weight	27.9 lbs.
Fuel Tank Capacity	.66 gallons
Continuous Operation at 1/4 Rated Load	12.0 hrs.
Noise Level	47dBA - 57 dBA
Warranty	2 Years Limited Warranty

Honda EU1000iA

Get the Honda EU2000.  It's still very portable and quite and produces 2000 watts.  The jump to a 3000 is a LOT heavier and not needed unless you are running your A/C

A generator will allow you to run your microwave to warm up soup or chilli for dinner, pop some popcorn for a snack or heat up some oatmeal or a honey bun for breakfast.  You can also use it to keep lights on and maybe even run a portable DVD player or laptop computer to entertain yourself when not on the horse. I also keep a portable grill, ( Like the George Foreman grills) in my trailer, they don't take up much room. Then if I want something more than just some noodles, like a chicken breast, pork chop, hamburger, salmon fillet, I can cook it really quick on the portable grill.

Just remember, please, to turn off the generator by 10 pm. :)  (where's the sleeping person emoticon?)

Here's a nifty little propane stove/ grill. You can do your own MickeyD burgers and cook noodles for a side dish.

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=9922-A50&categoryid=2010

I have a Yamaha Ef1000is generator that I run in the evening (it actually runns almost all day on 2,5L of Gas - so is really economical- and quiet) It charges my batteries as well - then when we turn in for the night I change over to the inverter.... that keeps the Bar fridge (for the beers) cold the whole night and the next day....

It is a really neat, light weight unit - not much bigger than a briefcase, so it is easy to handle and store.

Works for me....

catapulted off a steep cliff or slung into the side a really hard mountain with a trebushae (sp) while video camera is in use.  (send deranger a cope of the video)

WAIT!  if you live near a large body of water, donate it to the aqautic life as a really small reef!

Get a Honda 2000eui.  I have the Honda 3000 and boy it is HEAVY.  It runs everything in my trailer, including the A/C if I need it.  The 2000 will most certainly work for what you are using.  You can also plug in a little RV heater to heat the Non LQ area before you go to be and first thing in the morning if you are ever camping and it's cold.  I did that with my old setup and it was nice to have some heat in the morning. 

Also, when I camp in the high desert and it gets below freezing at night, I typically heat up a ricebag in my microwave and put that in the bed before I go to sleep... it stays warm for hours.  I sewed a 10" x 16" bag out of old jeans, filled it with rice and sewed it shut.  Warm that up for 3 minutes and you have your own little bed warmer!  It's also great for sore muscles :))

I make these bags and fill them with dried corn kernels. Fantastic. And... smells like popcorn. : )

Nope. For about a 2 pound bag, I heat it for 5 - 6 minutes.

The best part about the rice  or corn bags is the moist heat. Very beneficial for owies. : )