We've replaced the fitted microwave in our Bailey Senator

[BigTim]

I'm feeling pleased with myself as we've just replaced the microwave in our Bailey Senator and I so thought I'd have a quick boast which might help others in the same predicament. I was "lead diyer" with Cary patiently assisting!!!

The original factory fitted model, a Daewoo, had died after only 3 years light use. I suspect that it did not like the bumping and jolting in received whilst travelling.

The original model was discontinued and so I looked around to get a replacement. My local Morrisons sold similar ones "on offer" for £25.00 but only in white and I thought it would be nice to have silver. The original was silver and matched the 'van's fittings. After looking around I found a little used Sanyo silver model on Ebay only 3 miles from us. The replacement was a better spec with electronic "touch" controls rather the originals rotary switches. The dimensions were slightly smaller than the original but I thought this not a bad thing as the original seemed to rather lacking in ventilation in its built-in, high, level cabinet - perhaps a contibutory factor in its early "demise".

The original model was secured at its base by being screwed to a rather "Heath Robinson" plywood and timber "plinth". This plinth was then secured by screws through the base of the cabinet.

The replacement did not have any suitable holes in its base and so with bated breath I had to drill some where I thought there were no interior parts to damage. I then had fashion a new plinth from timber and plywood and secured the microwave to that. It was a bit a pain getting the plinth to the correct fit but we finally succeeded. To try to protect the microwave from some of jolts of travelling I mounted the plinth on a piece of rubber carpet underlay, a left over from the recent new bedroom carpet!! I then secured the plinth through the base of the cabinet using the original holes.

The microwave is tested and working fine and Cary and I are pleased with a professional looking job. We can go back to having a pre-cooked meal to heat whilst we set up. Last trip the old microwave's light was on and we thought it was heating the fish and chips until we took it out and it was stoney cold, groan.

Thanks to all on here who advised me on replacements and the fitting of them - you did not waste your time.

Tim

Tim

 

[nrdonnelly]

Tim

Sounds interesting and as you say, may become an increasingly common problem to be solved over the coming years.

If you are interested, we'd love to see a couple of photos and of how you've completed the job. We might even be able to include it in the magazine's 'Reader's Workshop' section. We pay

 

[Robtel]

Hi Tim,

I was interested to read your post. I think you are correct in what you said about the lack of ventilation in the cabinet housing the microwave being a contributory cause in your microwave's failure. I too have a Senator and the microwave started to play up right from the start. It would work for a short period of time then stop, if left for an hour or so it would work again. My belief was that there was some form of cut off switch coming into play when the oven became too warm. Eventually after only a few months it stopped never to start again. It was replaced under warranty but it's replacement has started to do the same. Bailey apparently do recognise this as being a known fault and were offering a free of charge modification - another ventilation hole in the base of the cabinet. I put two hinges onto the previously permanently fixed wooden front above the oven and open that when using the microwave. It has helped but the oven did again cut out when we used it on our last trip. We don't use it very often but it does seem to suffer from lack of ventilation. I was thinking of fitting a small 12v fan to the back of the cabinet to try and solve the problem. Hope you have better luck with your new oven.

Robert

 

[xtrailman]

Also the siting of the microwave is all wrong, the warmest part of the van. Should be fitted lower.

 

[BigTim]

Hi Rob

I was interested to hear that you have had similar problems to me. I too had the microwave cutting out and then later working again. I suspected, like you, it had some sort of thermal fuse.

I would agree too that there was insufficient ventilation as the microwave was quite a "snug" fit in the cabinet, despite the fact that it had a ventilation grill on the left hand side of the m/w. The grill would have had no effect as it was against the side of the cabinet. There, was I discovered a "hole" in other side of the cabinet into the heater chimney housing but I'm sure if that would have had much effect.

As I said previously the replacement m/w is smaller in in both its width and height and so there is ventilation space above it and to the side. I placed the m/w so that their is a gap on the side where its ventilation grill is.

Having read around on the caravan forums it seems that these domestic type microwave may well not like being jolted around and so I hope the rubber insulation I put in may help with that.

I hope that this m/w lasts for a good while as it was a fiddily job. Like you we don't use the m/w that much but it is handy for quick meals particularly after a long journey to a site.

Regards

Tim

 

[DeliDave_]

we found the Daewoo digital version in silver in Makro was just over

 

[BigTim]

To Nigel - PC Editor

I did try using your "link" to email you but it did not work!!

I did try emailing you directly but I don't know if this reached you.

I would be very happy to send in some photos of my finished M/wave job and write a description of the process for PC. Please email me - you have my permission to get my email address from the moderators of the forum.

Regards

Tim

Tim

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Tim

Are you saying you drilled holes in the case of your microwave oven? If so, you could be exposing yourself to harmful microwave energy. Any holes drilled by the manufacturer would be beyond the wavelength cut off point and be safe, but you cannot guarantee your holes will be. I suggest you have it checked for leakage.

 

[BigTim]

Hi Woodland Camper

I drilled holes in the metal pressed out "feet" of the base of the microwave. There were other holes and cut out vents adjacent so I think that we should be okay.

Tim

 

[WatsonJohnG]

My friend had problems with his microwave cutting out in his series 5 Senator

I believe that Bailey issued a mod if requested invoving more grills(vents)

Our 2010 California is very similar to my friends Virginia as far as the microwave housing goes but The California has a lot of ventilation slots on both sdes and grills(vents) underneath and a slot above the microwave as well

 

[Zafiral]

The microwave in our Pageant S7 needs to be left to cool down between uses too. I have noticed that the Pegasus housing has vents above the microwave, hopefully this will help.

I share Woodlands Camper's fears re drilling the microwave case.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

If its like the latest(last)Senator its got vents inside the cupboards at aech side and underneath as well

Its not a problem drilling the outer shell

I managed to use existing casing screws with small L brackets and on one van where I removed the 2 drawers to fit the MW I had to have a slot at the back of the cupboard with an L bracket on the back of the MW that slid under it with 2 smaller Ls at each side

On the Ace Jubilee Statesman the only place I could find was under the fixed bed with a drop down flap on the bed front

That needed venting through the floor

Still safer to kneel down than reach above your head as is the fashion especially if of below average stature and/or if things are bubbling on the cooker rings!!

 

[xtrailman]

Any decent make oven should have a cooling fan, this will run on after the cooking has completed, and only stop when the temperature has reduced to the required level.

also a built in appliance should should have adequate air flow top to bottom, for the same reason, failure to do so will substantially shorten the microwaves life.

 

[Sedo]

Replaced our original microwave in Burgundy S6 withing a year.

I was convinced it lacked cooling air flow.

Fitted 'newer type' replacement which slighlty smaller.

I did question the amount of airflow around the m/wave, if you the instruction on any m'wave you'll see there are min. gaps for airflow given.

The new oven still tended to get a bit warm, did toy with fitting a fan to force air around it.

Our new Pegasus , has as stated, more access to air flow and ours has certainly seemd o/k. up to press.

Tom

 

[dave_374556290]

Hi.

I'm also looking at fitting a m/w in my bailey provence, and was just contempling vents. I'm just in the process of trying to source a 12v fan that wouldn't be affected by throughput of steam. Can anybody tell me, on new vans where m/w's are fitted, do they have a vent to outside the van?

Thanks. Dave.

 

[TopCat1]

I believe that the other important consideration is the weight of the replacement. Most domestic microwaves that I have seen have glass in the door. The microwave fitted in my Bailey has a plastic windw. As it is mounted high the weight of any replacement must be carefully considered.

 

[Icemaker]

Tim

Sounds interesting and as you say, may become an increasingly common problem to be solved over the coming years.

If you are interested, we'd love to see a couple of photos and of how you've completed the job. We might even be able to include it in the magazine's 'Reader's Workshop' section. We pay