Why must RV microwave OTR units cost so much?

[Ray,IN]

Wife wants to replace our 22" Dometic OTR microwave. A new one costs $447! A standard 30" home model is <$200. Problem-not enough room for a larger unit. ARRG!

[PNWGirl]

Hey Ray,

I did find some 22" models for less than $300. Don't know if you'd be interested but here is the search: 22" OTR microwave oven - Google Product Search

Sheila

[Lorna]

R1210 Sharp 1.5 Cu. Ft. 950 Watt Over The Counter Microwave

[RV Wizard]

Ray, as you know by now, it does not have to be an RV microwave. In fact it is only recently, that Dometic has contracted the microwave manufacturer to put their name on them.

[HD4Mark]

I am curious why microwaves supposedly designed for an RV have a clock. Our current one is pretty easy to set but the last one not so much fun. They must know that every time you unhook from shore power the clock goes out and needs to be reset.

Although easy to set the one we have now will not even let you cook until the clock is set so we just set it to the anything while traveling and quick cooking something while runny the generator.

[wa8yxm]

The Dometic in my coach is a standard LG home unit.. All Dometic did was replace the door benzel with one that said Dometic on it (And I'm sure LG made it that way)

Now.. I won't give you my real opinion of LG products.. I will only say that I think the name changed from Goldstar to Lucky Goldstar cause you got to be much Luckier than I am if you expect a Goldstar product to work as advertised..

To date the total number of Goldstar products I"ve been 100% pleased with (That to say that I've had that worked as advertised) = Zero.

I've had quite a few of them. Still have 2 now.. One is no longer 100% goldstar though (That's the microwave) and thus works much better than when it left the factory.

I do not know if ALL dometics are Goldstar's

Panasonic makes one about the same size. So do several others.. The panasonic I looked at had issues though

You may need to so some sheet metal work to properly vent the unit.. That is another mod that Dometic made on my LG unit.. they added a hot air exhaust duct.

[RV Wizard]

Microwaves are not specifically made for RVs. We just use what is available in our industry. I would recommend since you have an inverter that when you are using the coach you keep the inverter on so if you loose power the inverter will kick on and you will not loose the correct time. I have done this for many years; inverter on 24/7.

[wa8yxm]

Re the Clock.. As I said. When you "Peal back" the Dometic door (Open it normally in this case) I find an LG manufacturers name and model plate on the main chassis, It is a very common house hold Microwave, one of the worst made. (in my not very humble opinion since like every other LG product I've ever owned it had issues.. However unlike the others I was able to fix this one.. Took a bit of re-engineering and one parts swap with a superior quality GE part)

But it's a standard off the shelf at best buy home/office Microwave. NOTHING special about the unit.. Only special stuff is a bit of added ductwork, about 5 minutes work if you get the same model (And most of that finding a drill)