Last updated on September 16th, 2023 at 05:50 am
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An RV microwave is a tool that makes traveling in a camper van, or living full-time in a rig that much easier! However, like any appliance, sometimes things seem to go wrong without much explanation. It’s frustrating when your RV microwave stops working, but there are usually a few points to check before panicking too much!
So, why is my RV microwave not working?
There are a few different causes of an RV microwave not working, such as the magnetron in the microwave, an RV electrical problem, an issue with the microwave vents, or simply a blown fuse. Most commonly, an RV microwave won’t work because there’s little or no power going to it.
While an RV microwave not working isn’t much use on vacation with the whole family, getting to the bottom of the issue hopefully shouldn’t be too difficult! RV microwave problems tend to be fairly simple to identify and troubleshoot.
Why Is My RV Microwave Not Working?
An RV microwave not working when you’re about to get dinner on the table is far from ideal. These pieces of equipment are life savers, but they’re frustrating when they suddenly stop working without warning. Thankfully, there are a few main causes of RV microwaves failing to work, so let’s explore some now!
Faulty RV Microwave Magnetron
No, it’s not a transformer! The magnetron is part of an RV microwave responsible for heat production. Microwave magnetrons are very complicated pieces of equipment; they don’t heat your food by simply blowing hot air. They use complex chemistry instead to produce radiation to warm food up.
Magnetrons have a heated metal rod in their center called a cathode. When you turn on your microwave and the cathode begins to heat up, electrons begin to fire from it and interact with other parts of the magnetron. The ensuing reactions produce microwave radiation which is responsible for heat production.
As you’d expect, a system this complicated can quickly malfunction, even if only one thing goes wrong! Use a multimeter to test the electricity the magnetron is using. If it’s barely using any, then you know something’s wrong and the magnetron may need replacing.
RV Microwave Power Consumption
Another potential problem with your RV’s microwave is its power consumption. This is less of an issue with the power supply of the microwave or rig itself, but more of a situation where the microwave simply requires more energy than what’s being provided. When it comes to cooking and power, ovens and stoves are usually the first things that come to mind but microwaves take substantial power as well.
If your microwave needs more power than your outlets or rig can provide, it likely won’t work at all. Using a multimeter again, check the output of the outlets the microwave is plugged into and see if they are providing enough power. If not, check nearby outlets and plug the microwave into the one with the highest voltage.
Additionally, your microwave’s wattage will undoubtedly be too high for your rig if the power station you’re hooked up to only provides 20 amps or less. At an absolute minimum to keep most appliances running you’ll need 30 amps, with 50 amps being optimal. You may have similar issues when running an RV microwave on a portable generator that’s simply too small or doesn’t have enough power.
This is why knowing what size generator you need for your RV and the appliances inside is so important. If you’re running many appliances on a single generator, turn off the others and see if your microwave can work again. If it still won’t work, the likelihood is that your generator isn’t substantial enough. Generally, you’ll want at least 1000W to comfortably run the microwave.
RV Microwave Vent Problems
Overheating will quickly stop your microwave from working correctly. Your RV’s microwave has a venting system in place to keep it cool and prevent any excess radiation from seeping out into living spaces. Routinely checking your microwave venting is vital in ensuring there aren’t any issues. This means your microwave will work safely, and you’ll be able to spot any problems quickly if they arise.
There are many reasons why an RV microwave may not work, and hopefully, you’ve been able to spot which problem you may be facing! Getting comfortable with the appliances in your rig is key to being able to spot problems more easily, and confidently troubleshoot like in the video below:
Any persistent problems or long-term damage may be too severe to fix. If you’re faced with an RV microwave that’s refusing to work no matter what you’ve tried, it may be time to look into replacement options.
Why Does My RV Microwave Have No Power?
An RV microwave might not work for a few reasons, but the most common issue appears to be RV microwaves not having any power. If your oven is still in good shape and hasn’t been damaged accidentally, you may be faced with a rig that’s struggling for power. If everything in your RV seems to run fine other than the microwave, this is an indicator the problem is with the oven and nothing else.
Internal Fuse
Using either your microwave owner’s manual or an online guide for your specific oven, locate the internal fuse and replace it with one that has the same rating. If your microwave has power again after replacing the fuse, then congratulations, you’ve solved the problem! If not, there might be an issue with a section of your rig’s electricity.
AC Unit
One of the best indicators of a widespread or isolated electrical problem is the AC unit in your rig. In an RV, the AC and microwave run on the same power section. Try running your AC unit and see if it turns on. If you don’t encounter any issues with turning the AC on, there’s most likely a problem with your microwave. If it’s not the internal fuse, there might be a power cord or outlet issue. On the other hand, if your AC doesn’t turn on, you’ll know for sure the issue is with your RV’s greater power supply.
Rig’s Power Station
After exploring many different reasons for your RV microwave not working and coming out empty-handed, check the RV power supply. When staying at a campground, the first thing you’ll want to check is your outdoor electrical hookups. We’ve all heard it a million times before, “just turn it off and on again.” Well, we’ve heard it so much because usually, it’s true! Doing this alone can give your rig’s power the small boost it needs to run smoothly again.
Head outside to the small power station your RV’s electrical cord is plugged into and flip the breakers off and on again. If this is what your RV needs everything should be back in working order again. If unsuccessful, you’ll need to troubleshoot further and maybe take a look at your RV’s power converter/breaker box.
Power Converter/Breaker Box
The power converter/breaker box is typically located under one of the main pieces of furniture in your rig. The most common places are under the rear bed and the main dinette set. Once you’ve found it, identify the breaker for your microwave and all related appliances and make sure it hasn’t tripped or been burnt out.
A burnt-out breaker will need replacing, but if not, simply flip the breaker off and on again and see if it jumpstarts everything. If after taking a look at the breaker box you don’t find any obvious issues, the concern probably isn’t with the power station, breakers, or fuses. Therefore, the next thing worth checking is the outlets near the microwave.
Electrical Outlets
The outlets near your microwave are ground fault circuit interpreter (GFCI) outlets. This is because they are built with the ability to immediately shut off if they detect any potential issues. Typically, the outlets near any source of water, like the ones in the kitchen or bathroom, will be GFCI as they can easily come into contact with water and potentially short circuit.
So how do you know if the outlets your microwave uses are GFCI?
GFCI outlets are larger and easier to identify than regular ones. The biggest tell is the two prominent buttons in the center: “test” and “reset.” Simply push the reset button to start up the outlet if it shuts off due to contact with water. This will immediately send power through it again and get your microwave up and running instantly.
Sometimes though, the issue is with your microwave, but it is not necessarily a problem with its power source. Let’s discuss why your RV’s microwave may not be working despite both the microwave’s power and your rig’s power being totally fine.
Replacing An RV Microwave
There are a few things worth knowing and considering before choosing a new RV microwave to make sure it’s the best fit for you and your camper van. When replacing a microwave, you’ll want to measure the old unit and be aware of how much space it takes up in your cabinetry before purchasing a new one. It’s not wise to spend money on a new RV microwave only for it to not fit in the existing space!
Alongside this, you’ll also want to be aware of the power demands of your old microwave and find a new one to closely match it. This way, you can avoid the problem mentioned earlier of not being able to sufficiently power the new appliance. If the microwave you want requires more power, it won’t be a problem as long as you are prepared. Either ensure the hookups you use in the future have high amperage or use a generator able to power your microwave.
Once you’ve chosen and purchased a replacement microwave, the installation process is fairly simple. While it can never hurt to have one installed for you, just follow the instructions that come with your new microwave to successfully do it yourself. A good tip to keep in mind, however, is to keep any leftover screws from your old microwave. They may come in handy when installing the new one on any custom mountings you might have in your cabinetry.
Microwave And Outlets Not Working In Camper?
Power onboard an RV is only useful if it works! Experiencing problems with RV electrics happens to all RVers, from beginners to pros. When faced with the problem of the microwave and outlets not working in your camper, there are a few potential causes.
Overall Power Issue
An RV microwave requires considerable power to run, but if there’s an issue somewhere in your electrical system, you may be faced with an overall power issue. Various components might be causing your microwave and outlets to not work such as low battery power, a problem with the inverter, an insubstantial external power supply, or damage somewhere in the system.
Tripped GFCI
As we talked about earlier, GFCI is a specific outlet found in areas of RVs where an outlet and water may come into contact. Within the GFCI is a small fuse, and if water touches the outlet, the fuse will trip and break the electric circuit to prevent a potentially even bigger problem. If this is the case with your RV, reset the GFCI, after first ensuring everything is dry and free of water.
Fuse Or Breaker Problem
A simple tripped fuse or breaker is an easy fix in an RV! If the outlets in your rig aren’t working, it’s worth heading to your circuit panel and seeing if any breakers or fuses have tripped or burned out. Replacing the fuse or flipping the switch should resolve this problem.
Battery Corrosion
Over time, batteries can corrode and start to malfunction. If you’ve owned the battery in your RV for some time, it’s worth checking to see if there’s corrosion on your battery. Power supply can be interrupted by a corroded battery, and therefore can be a cause of outlets and an RV microwave not working.
Faulty Shore Power Connection
When plugged into shore power, an RV relies solely on an external power source. If there’s an issue with the shore power connection, anything electrical in your rig will struggle to work. Whether you’re plugged into a campground hookup or a generator, check your external power supply isn’t faulty, as this may be the root of your microwave and outlet problems!
Burned Out Outlet
A burned-out outlet is easy to spot in an RV, and if you’ve checked all other potential causes of your electrical problems, take a closer look at each outlet across your camper van. Burn or scorch marks, a strange burning smell, or loosening on the bracket can all indicate a burned-out outlet. If you have one of these in your rig, finding the causes is vital, so switch off the power until you’ve found the root of the problem.
RV Microwave Not Working But Has Power?
Sometimes, an RV microwave may show signs of working such as the digital display working. This doesn’t mean, however, that the microwave is working, and often they can show digits on displays but not have any power. If this is the case with your RV microwave, you may have a line fuse problem, a main control board problem, or a faulty thermal fuse.
These can be checked using a multimeter to see if they’ve blown. Any blown fuses will need replacing, and then the microwave should work as normal once again! It’s also worth having a close inspection of the microwave wiring, connections, and other visible parts where wear and tear is easy to miss.
Closing Thoughts
Owning a microwave in an RV is a game changer and makes things far easier when out on the road with the whole family. However, if you’re always asking yourself ‘Why is my RV microwave not working’, it’s time to find the cause and appropriate solution or replace the unit with a new one. It always sucks to have your microwave malfunction, but as we’ve established, there are a ton of things you can do to get it up and running again before even needing to explore replacement options.
Being in tune with your RV electrics is essential in avoiding situations such as not being able to power your microwave despite nothing being wrong with it! Doing so will save you wasting time and stressing about wasting money on repairs. Plus, you’ll be able to have your kitchen up and running again in no time when you’re trying to prepare your next best meal or simply enjoy some delicious leftovers!