[gregoryx]

@gregoryx I picked up the same microwave. I was wondering, is yours sitting on a shelf or is it wedged between the 80/20 cross members and then strapped down?

For your other compartments, did you inlay the shelves? What do the brackets look like that you used?

Thanks!

Set up the 8020 cross-bars to hit right where the oven feet are. Then strapped down around those cross-members. No other pressure anywhere - just pulling down against the cross-bars that meet the feet.

You can see the front strap in the photo above. Rear strap is same.

Not sure what you mean by, "inlay the shelves." ??

The panels are all flush with the fascia of the 8020 bars - fronts, and shelves. Is that what you mean? If so, it's done using "z-rail" that's cut into 1" pieces then the panels are held on to those tabs with dual-lock velcro.

In this photo, you can see the tabs that the panels mount to as well as the dual-lock on the back of a panel. Is that what you were asking?

 

[takedown]

Thanks for the details on the microwave. I just picked up some angle that I may try to use to provide a landing place for the feet, if not I'll give the cross members a try.

I was asking about how you attached shelves, and your method for the panels gives me enough to go on.

Thanks!

 

[gregoryx]

Thanks for the details on the microwave. I just picked up some angle that I may try to use to provide a landing place for the feet, if not I'll give the cross members a try.

I was asking about how you attached shelves, and your method for the panels gives me enough to go on.

Thanks!

Looking forward to seeing how you secure it.

 

[sovamind]

I've been using one of the Panasonic HomeChef 4 in 1 ovens for the last 50,000 miles. I've generally been very happy with it and got a second one to use at home. I picked up both on sales for around $300-$350 each. I also have an induction cooktop but since getting the oven haven't used it once. Instead I've been using the Panasonic "magic pot" which is a microwave absorbing pan that works great for stir-fry and grilling. The one issue I had with the one in the van was that the door latch broke and I couldn't open the door. I was able to repair it with a $7 part but it was annoying not having any cooking appliance and having to fix it during a trip. Mine is just sitting on top of the counter with 3" pieces of industrial velcro at the place where the feet used to be located. I saw that someone else noted that the oven is really deep, and I've had some concerns about where it will fit in a final overhead cabinet build-out. However, the back has an extra piece that is about an inch deep that can be removed. It is just an extra heat shield which wouldn't necessarily be necessary in a cabinet.

 

[akgirl37]

Has anyone installed a Convection Microwave in a van conversion?
We are drawing up our plans for our transit conversion and would like a convection microwave installed.
Has anyone installed one and did you install heat shields and fans? We are afraid it may get too hot for an installation above our frig unless we use fans to dissipate the heat. Also, we were wondering how long the Conv/Micro would work after being subjected to vibrations and bumps in the roads and not being rated as an RV microwave.

View attachment 185755 This is what we did

 

[sovamind]

Oh yeah, and when I had the door break on the Panasonic, I ordered this Toshiba 4-in-1 as a replacement. I got one for only $200 on Cyber Monday, but I ended up sending it back because it was even deeper in size. I did like how much simpler the design and operation was on the unit and how it seemed to be better engineered.

The Panasonic model is really a display/control panel and then four independent appliances in one case. I figured this out when repairing mine and found that one of the door latch sensors wasn't working. The microwave wouldn't work but the convection, broil, and air-fry modes did work. That was when I noticed that there were separate door latch sensors for each one and that all the appliances really were independently designed and then controlled from a common board. Also the air-fry and convection modes use the same fan at different speeds. You just can't set the fan speed or oven temp when it is used as an air-fryer. At home I use a dedicated air-fryer which works much better at really getting things crisp.

One nice thing about the Panasonic is being able to program multiple steps using all the modes. For instance, I love making blueberry muffins on camping trips with the convection oven mode, and then switching to 3 minutes of air fry to crisp up the outside. Everyone raves about hot muffins with soft insides and crispy outsides. I also frequently put frozen food in with microwave mode, followed by either the broil or air-fry mode to finish the food off. I even had to get a larger freezer because I started eating almost exclusively frozen food with this setup and my trying to avoid grocery shopping during the pandemic (home delivery of frozen food instead).

 

[NW_Freedom]

Looking forward to seeing how you secure it.

not secure at all

 

[NW_Freedom]

It sits there free floating. I gave up on worrying about some things.

 

[Smatties]

Frying anything in a van leaves a smell that stays in there a long time, I would stick to ovens.

Agreed

 

[rustythorn]

I've been using one of the Panasonic HomeChef 4 in 1 ovens for the last 50,000 miles. I've generally been very happy with it and got a second one to use at home. I picked up both on sales for around $300-$350 each. I also have an induction cooktop but since getting the oven haven't used it once. Instead I've been using the Panasonic "magic pot" which is a microwave absorbing pan that works great for stir-fry and grilling. The one issue I had with the one in the van was that the door latch broke and I couldn't open the door. I was able to repair it with a $7 part but it was annoying not having any cooking appliance and having to fix it during a trip. Mine is just sitting on top of the counter with 3" pieces of industrial velcro at the place where the feet used to be located. I saw that someone else noted that the oven is really deep, and I've had some concerns about where it will fit in a final overhead cabinet build-out. However, the back has an extra piece that is about an inch deep that can be removed. It is just an extra heat shield which wouldn't necessarily be necessary in a cabinet.

View attachment 185752

is this Panasonic "magic pot" substantially better than using plate or the items that came with microwave?

 

[sovamind]

is this Panasonic "magic pot" substantially better than using plate or the items that came with microwave?

YES! The pot is covered in a material designed to safely absorb the microwave energy and gets very hot. Hot enough to pan fry things, but it also has an insert and lid to steam things as well.

I also found this Toshiba "7 in 1" microwave that has a shorter depth (16.3") and height (11.8") that looks like a better fit for a camper conversion. I think I might go with this model if I had to start over.

 

[gregoryx]

YES! The pot is covered in a material designed to safely absorb the microwave energy and gets very hot. Hot enough to pan fry things, but it also has an insert and lid to steam things as well.

I also found this Toshiba "7 in 1" microwave that has a shorter depth (16.3") and height (11.8") that looks like a better fit for a camper conversion. I think I might go with this model if I had to start over.

That is a nice set of dimensions. I would've considered that as well.

 

[NeilHunt]

Mine is intalled in a floor-to-ceiling storage cabinet, one of the top shelves.
The cabinet is built from 80-20 framing with 1/2" bamboo panels, with lips on the front of the shelves, and zig-zag bungees to retain the contents while cornering.
I mounted the convection microwave by removing the plastic feet (m5 screws), and bolting it to the shelf, with m5 threaded rod using bolted through two rails of 1" steel box (1/8" gauge) between the plywood shelf and the screw mounts for the feet of the oven. to raise the oven above the shelf for ventilation, and so the door opens through the shelf opening.
For travel, I stuff the round glass tray into a padded plastic amazon shipping envelope that I happened to have, of exactly the right size, which tightly fits inside the enclosure without rattling.

 

[sovamind]

is this Panasonic "magic pot" substantially better than using plate or the items that came with microwave?

Well a plate shouldn't absorb microwaves and get hot. At least not hundreds of degrees like the magic pot. The baking tray, wire rack, basket, those are all for other modes of cooking. The magic pot is for pan frying, steaming, and heating things without much water in it.

 

[gregz]

what inverter size (watts?) are y'all running with such ovens? and what total battery Ah? or are you mostly using these on shore power like @BadWolf ?

 

[Bajabound]

Has anyone installed a Convection Microwave in a van conversion?
We are drawing up our plans for our transit conversion and would like a convection microwave installed.
Has anyone installed one and did you install heat shields and fans? We are afraid it may get too hot for an installation above our frig unless we use fans to dissipate the heat. Also, we were wondering how long the Conv/Micro would work after being subjected to vibrations and bumps in the roads and not being rated as an RV microwave.

It cost more than a standard Convection microwave, but it is intended for RV use. $339.95

RecPro RV Convection Microwave Stainless Steel 1.1 cu. ft. | 120V | Microwave | Appliances | Direct Replacement for High Pointe and Greystone

The convection feature is going to be a big drain on your batteries. The standard microwave functionality is also energy intensive, but this is typically not for extended time periods. The point being the convection feature may work well for cookies, but roasting a chicken could be an issue if you are not on shore power.

 

[BadWolf]

what inverter size (watts?) are y'all running with such ovens? and what total battery Ah? or are you mostly using these on shore power like @BadWolf ?

3kw 12/3000 Victron inverter and 10kw of batteries. (2x 12v 400ah)

It works fine off battery power. Once the microwave is at temp its runs around 40% duty cycle, to stay at temp. The inverter fan will kick on for a little bit at the end of each of the microwaves duty cycle.

Most things i bake in it take 20-25 minutes. Even at high altitude, it only takes 2-3 minutes to get to temp.

When im done cooking it usually consumed ~400w from the battery.

 

[gregz]

3kw 12/3000 Victron inverter and 10kw of batteries. (2x 12v 400ah)

It works fine off battery power. Once the microwave is at temp its runs around 40% duty cycle, to stay at temp. The inverter fan will kick on for a little bit at the end of each of the microwaves duty cycle.

Most things i bake in it take 20-25 minutes. Even at high altitude, it only takes 2-3 minutes to get to temp.

When im done cooking it usually consumed ~400w from the battery.

Ok wow. That is a big electrical system. i have 3kw Victron inverter with 300 Ah battery and 400w solar. Still building out this van, but had considered the electrical system "done". I did leave room to add 1 to 2 more 100 Ah batteries for expansion. System is based on very loose estimate of daily consumption. Had not originally planned a microwave or any oven, but this is a very tempting addition. esp. like the air fryer (on the GE you have).

also a Whovian from Denver metro

 

[bdosborn]

Our microwave was a total afterthought and it had to fit in a cabinet that I'd made months earlier. Luckily, the cabinet was a good fit for a dorm sized unit. I think it was Orton that pointed out the old school models with windup controls don't need electricity for LED displays so they use less energy if you forget and leave the inverter on. I found that we have pizza a lot on the road so the microwave was a must-have for leftovers. 🍕

Here's the power numbers while in use; ours is a low wattage unit at 600W delivered.

We have a cute little air fryer if we decide to go that route:

Bruce

 

[CO-kid]

3kw 12/3000 Victron inverter and 10kw of batteries. (2x 12v 400ah)

It works fine off battery power. Once the microwave is at temp its runs around 40% duty cycle, to stay at temp. The inverter fan will kick on for a little bit at the end of each of the microwaves duty cycle.

Most things i bake in it take 20-25 minutes. Even at high altitude, it only takes 2-3 minutes to get to temp.

When im done cooking it usually consumed ~400w from the battery.

Ditto... Same inverter. Same battery bank capacity. Same experience with convection microwave (.e.g., homemade pizza every Friday. 400ºF for 25 minutes). No problem whatsoever.