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Re: [RFI] "Inverter Technology" microwave ovens

To: rfi@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] "Inverter Technology" microwave ovens
From: Don Nelson <n0ye@comcast.net>
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2010 05:29:24 -0700
List-post: <rfi@contesting.com">mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
On 12/16/2010 10:40 PM, Dave Hachadorian wrote:
> I need to buy a new microwave oven.  I see many of the new ones
> advertise "inverter technology."  From an RFI standpoint, I am
> leery of anything that says "inverter."  Does anyone have any
> experience with these things as far as RFI goes? The particular
> one that I am considering buying is a Panasonic 778.
>
> I think what this feature does is , when you heat something at
> 50% power, the magnetron runs at 50% power for 100% of the
> cooking time.  The ones without this feature run at 100% power
> for 50% of the time.  Supposedly the cooking is more even in the
> inverter ones.
>
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> Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
> Yuma, AZ
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Dave,

I am not familiar with any microwave oven that has an inverter instead 
of a standard transformer based power supply. However that technology 
makes for lighter less expensive power supplies and I do have a light 
weight microwave oven of several years. It may very well have an 
inverter power supply. Inverter power supplies have a very high power 
oscillator that takes DC and generates AC at maybe 50 KHz. How this 
oscillator and surrounding circuit are designed will determine the RFI 
generated. (You probably knew this.)

Bottom line - you may have to CONDITIONALLY buy the unit and test it for 
noise. Yup we are forced to do incoming inspection on goods we buy.

As an aside. A friend does county hunting from a Honda hybrid. I asked 
about the RFI from the motor control. He said it is manageable. He does 
operate his HF rig while in motion.  I have yet to talk to a HAM who 
owns a Toyota hybrid or all electric who can operate an HF radio in 
their vehicle. It demonstrates that some car companies do better RFI 
mitigation than other companies do.

Don, N0YE
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