What Size Inverter Do I Need To Run A Microwave? Our EASY Guide

The last thing you want to do is set up your off-grid system only to find that your inverter isn’t powerful enough to run your trusty microwave.

All microwaves are different, but the average 1,000-watt microwave requires at least 1500W of power to run properly. To make sure you end up with the right inverter, let’s take a look at how to determine what size inverter you need to run a microwave. It’s quick, easy, and it’ll ensure you don’t waste your money.

Determining What Size Inverter You Need to Run a Microwave

At some point, many of us who enjoy off-grid living have asked, “What size inverter do I need to run a microwave?”

Fortunately, it’s incredibly easy to figure out what size and power sine wave inverter you need to run a microwave. Naturally, you’ll start by taking a look at the microwave itself.

Figure Out the Microwave’s Continuous Wattage Rating

The first thing you’ll need to figure out is how many watts the microwave uses while running, which is usually as easy as finding where it’s noted. This can be on:

• The inside of the microwave door
• The serial number tag on the back
• The user manual
• The manufacturer’s website

If you’re unable to find it after looking in all of these places, you can get a pretty good idea using the USDA recommended method – “Time-to-Boil Test.” Here’s how to do it:

1. You will need to put 240ml of water in a 2-cup glass measuring cup.
2. Add ice cubes and stir until the water is cold.
3. Remove the ice cubes.
4. If the water is more than one cup, pour the excess.
5. Put the container inside the microwave
6. Set the microwave to high for at least four minutes
7. Monitor the water and check if it boils

If the water boils in less than two minutes, you have a 1000 watts microwave. If it took around 3-4 minutes for the water to boil, you have a slow oven. (1).

Now you should have a pretty good idea of your microwave’s continuous wattage rating. Note that, this refers to the ‘cooking power’ of the microwave (as we explain below). Hence, there are other factors to keep in mind when answering the question “What size inverter do I need to run a microwave?”

Power Consumption Versus Cooking Power

When choosing an inverter, your microwave’s actual power consumption is what matters, and not the cooking power.

It’s important to note that a microwave’s cooking wattage is lower than the wattage it consumes, so take that into account when choosing an inverter size. This is often referred to as ‘Input Wattage’ (for actual power consumption), and ‘Output Wattage’ (for cooking power).

Most microwaves use energy with about 60-70% efficiency (2). So if you’re unable to find your microwave’s actual power consumption noted anywhere, you can use some simple math to figure it out.

Let’s assume a working efficiency of 65% for your microwave (on average).

Say you have a microwave that cooks at 700w. Let its actual power consumption be X.

X * 65/100 = 700W
X = 700 * 100/65
X = 1076 ~ 1100W

That means your actual power consumption is around 1100W.

You can apply this technique to almost any microwave and estimate the actual power consumption, if you already know your cooking power.

Here’s a simple table that shows input power vs output power of common microwaves with 65% efficiency (3):

Input Power (Power Consumption)	Output Power (Cooking Power)
1100 W	700 W
1350 W	900 W
1700 W	1100 W

Interestingly, even though they require more power to run than they use to cook food, microwaves are still one of the more energy-efficient cooking methods, making them ideal for off-grid living. Scientific American states in a recent article (4):

That said, your microwave’s actual power consumption is what you need to worry about when choosing a sine wave inverter size, not the cooking power.

Conversion Formula

If you’re not able to determine your microwave’s wattage but know how many AMPS (current) it uses, there’s an easy conversion formula that will help you figure it out.

Just multiply the amperes by AC voltage, which is generally 110-120V for US citizens. The product is your wattage.

So if your microwave uses 12.5A of current, the formula would be: 12.5A * 120V = 1500W

Factor In the Microwave’s Peak Wattage

Now that you know everything there is to know about determining your microwave’s continuous power usage, which is the power it consumes while running, it’s time to take a look at its peak wattage or the maximum amount of power it utilizes during a surge.

Peak wattage, or surge wattage, usually occurs during startup and lasts for less than a second, but your inverter needs to be able to handle this sudden surge in power. The process should look something like this:

Your microwave’s peak energy requirements should be listed on the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website. If not, it’s a good idea to choose an inverter that can handle three to four times its continuous wattage just to be on the safe side.

As a reference, the surge power of a microwave can be as much as FOUR times the listed continuous power (so a 1000W microwave may have a peak rating of 4000W).

Ultimately, when you’re looking for sine wave inverters, you’ll notice on the specs sheet that both continuous and peak capability are listed, so it should be easy to tell if it’s large enough. To be on the safe side, you should have an inverter with a higher continuous/peak power rating than that of your microwave (by a factor of about 20%).

The Bottom Line: How To Pick The Correct Inverter For Your Microwave (In 4 Easy Steps)

So, if all that was a bit too much for you to wrap your head around, don’t worry. We’ve wrapped it up in a few, simple steps:

1. Find out the actual input power consumption (both continuous and peak rating) of the microwave from the inside label, user manual, or manufacturer’s website.
2. If you can’t find that, then find out the cooking power. You may estimate it using the ‘Time-to-Boil‘ test.
3. Once you have cooking power, you can use this guide to estimate the power consumption.
4. Choose a sine wave inverter that fulfills both the ‘continuous watt’ rating and the ‘peak power’ rating. Preferably, go for a slightly higher-rated model to ensure smooth performance.

We recommend getting a good pure sine wave inverter for this purpose, as it’ll maximize the power efficiency of your microwave, keep it running smoothly, and prevent any electrical malfunctions from occurring. For more tips to get the most out of your home’s appliances, check out our Homepage.

FAQs

• Will a 1500-Watt Inverter Run a 700-Watt Microwave?

  Yes, a 1500-watt power inverter should be able to run a 700-watt microwave without any issues. To be sure, check that the surge power rating of the microwave is also within the inverter’s limits. You can use a pure sine wave inverter or modified sine wave inverter, but the modified sine unit may cause your microwave to run less efficiently.

• What Kind of Inverter Do I Need to Run a Microwave?

  You can use a modified sine wave inverter or a pure sine wave inverter to run a microwave, as long as they have a large enough capacity, aka battery power. When you compare pure sine inverters vs modified sine inverters, modified sine models tend to shorten appliances’ lives, so that’s important to keep in mind. Pure sine wave inverters always offer better performance and efficiency, albeit at a higher cost.

• Is my Inverter Big Enough to Run my Microwave?

  Your inverter is big enough to run your microwave if it can handle its startup surge, and continuous wattage draw while it’s cooking. If your modified sine wave inverter or pure sine wave inverter can handle both successfully, you’re all set for your next road trip!

  To help all this sink in, you can check out this guide that shows how to size an inverter to run a TV for a similar example.