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[Vamps]

Our combination microwave had bitten the dust, need a new one.... Need it to do the usual stuff, plus pizza and crispy crumb....

What are the differences between a microwave combi oven and an inverter oven......?   

[Kevin Wood]

An inverter is the device used to generate the high voltage supply used to power the magnetron which generates the microwave radiation that does the cooking.

It used to be the case that a large transformer was used to step up the mains voltage to a high enough voltage to run the magnetron. An inverter is simply a more modern, solid-state circuit to do the same with a much more compact transformer.

Inverter ovens are usually lighter and smaller than conventional microwaves, a little more efficient and have better power control when running less than flat-out. (with an old-fashioned oven the magnetron could only be driven at full power so lower power levels were achieved by switching it on and off periodically during the cooking time).

There is much greater complexity of course. Reliability? Well, the old fashioned transformer setups were hardly unreliable, provided the components were generously rated.

Kevin

[Marks DTM Calib]

Inverters seem pretty good (Panasonics anyway), the old transfomer monsters used to belt the hell out the high voltage caps so the reliability was dependent on how good the self healing of them was.

Sanyos used to gobble the caps and take the HT fuse with them

[Vamps]

Thanks guys, Micowave it is then.....

[Marks DTM Calib]

Thanks guys, Micowave it is then.....

Er, think we concluded that you wanted the inverter

[Mr Skrunts]

Thanks guys, Micowave it is then.....

Er, think we concluded that you wanted the inverter

Poor lad is probably on the whisky and 2 replies at once will have confused him.   

[Vamps]

Thanks guys, Micowave it is then.....

Er, think we concluded that you wanted the inverter

That's what I told swmbo, just typed the wrong thing and that's before I have a drink..

swmbo is going shopping tomorrow for a new one...