Contrabasso - 16-8-2010 at 10:41
OK probably verging on elec eng, however....
I want a microwave oven that will run off a 500w invertor because that's all I have! However can a small cheap domestic microwave be turned down in
100% duty cycle? yes I realise that the controller is given a power equivalent, but it is time proportional so half power is full power for 50% duty
cycle. I want to drive half power into it for 100% duty cycle.
densest - 16-8-2010 at 11:54
No. The magnetron is a vacuum tube with a heated cathode. It requires a fairly narrow voltage range to work. The magnetron itself probably would put
out zero energy below a threshold voltage between the cathode and the "plate".
Either get a smaller oven (there are some low power ones), a bigger inverter, or a "inverter style" oven which actually regulates the power output
(though it probably just chops it at a high frequency.
You ---might--- (a big ---might----) be able to run the inverter at a higher power for ---a very few minutes--- if you then stop & let it cool.
Absolutely no guarantees. Some inverters are rated "500w continuous, 750W 10% duty cycle" or something like that.