Apollo Half Time Microwave/Convection oven

It appears our 2012 PC2400 Sprinter was "blessed" with an Apollo Half Time Microwave/Convection oven which by all the reviews I have found online rates barely two stars.  I called Carol at the Mothership to see what it would take to replace it with the Sharp units they are using now; and she said 2012 was the only year Phoenix used the Apollo (turned out to be less than ideal), and today's units are full size residential microwave/convection ovens and would require extensive cabinet work and loss of cabinet storage over the sink.

We are researching better units (preferably Sharp) to replace this culinary disgrace and were wondering if anyone on the forum has done this and what microwave/convection oven did you use.  Inquiring minds and all that. . . .
   

Has your unit failed?  Ours did fail in 2016 and we couldn’t find a replacement microwave/convection oven that fit in that space.  We called Apollo and they gave us very good instructions on how to fix it.  Ours was a blown high temperature fuse that we ordered from them for $30.  All has been fine with it to this date.

If you need the instructions I can look for them and post them for you.

Ours hasn't failed (yet), but although it cooks some things well, it has a tremendous hot spot on the popcorn setting and we get burnt popcorn with any setting when trying to get everything popped.    Bread items come out tough even on convection.  Maybe we have a high temperature issue.  We are the third owner of "Fawkes", and we don't think the Apollo was used much if any by the previous two owners.

Yes, we would appreciate any instructions you can share.   

Here is a link to the owners manual that is in our 2012 https://manuals.heartlandowners.org/manuals/Appliances/Microwave/Apollo/AAC24_Half-Time_Oven_Apollo.pdf

When I get out to the motorhome I will post for you the instructions if your unit fails.

My wife uses the convection all the time.  She bakes cakes, pies, cookies, muffins and uses the oven for meals unless we are grilling outside.  We have used it for popcorn but never the popcorn button.  
I noticed in the owners manual you can actually change the time for the popcorn setting, never tried it but will do the next time we use the microwave.

On a side note, a friend of ours has the same oven in their 2012 Lexington.  Lo and behold, a few weeks ago the microwave started on its own and blew the door off.  It damaged their floor and some cabinets as well.  Apollo paid the entire cost of the repair (more than $5,000J and replaced the microwave/convection as well.

Two Hams,

Is your microwave the same size as the ones used in earlier model years?  Here is a picture of our 2007 model year micro/convection oven made by Sharp.  If yours is this size, maybe you can replace it with this type.  BTW: I always thought ours is a residential unit, not something marketed for a motor home.  But I could be wrong.

Since we are talking "Micro/Convection" ovens, Some here might be interested in reading THIS regarding the squeaking from our microwave when driving.

Here is our unit.

“My wife uses the convection all the time.  She bakes cakes, pies, cookies, muffins and uses the oven for meals unless we are grilling outside.”

mmmmm ......I cant stop thinking about all those good things Sue is cooking! LOL

Ron

Ron,

When we ordered our 2012 we asked if we could have the Sharp unit because we really liked it in the 2008, but the venting and installation on the 2012 models was totally different and would not accommodate the Sharp unit. The venting for the fan on our 2008 Sharp was in the back of the unit and in the 2012 models it is on the top.  There was no way to change this without reconfiguring that whole area.

It is also mounted totally different than the Sharp.  The Sharp was kind of built into a cabinet whereas the Apollo is attached via a wall bracket without any cabinetry.

The Sharp unit was specifically made for RVs and it was always advertised as being a rugged unit and could handle the rough roads.

We really liked the Sharp but Phoenix told us it was not possible with the new design.

I can’t stop thinking of all those good things Sue is cooking!
And I have a great bottle of wine to go with them LOL

Thanks again and I hope you and Linda find that perfect motorhome!

Barry-Sue,

  for the clarity on the situation with 2012 models.

On a side note, a friend of ours has the same oven in their 2012 Lexington.  Lo and behold, a few weeks ago the microwave started on its own and blew the door off.  It damaged their floor and some cabinets as well.  Apollo paid the entire cost of the repair (more than $5,000J and replaced the microwave/convection as well.

 

Glad Apollo 'made it right' ..... but not sure I would have another Apollo appliance in my coach after that. Definitely would not use it to store things!!

Thanks for all the inputs. I popped some Jolly Time last night on 80% power and viola!  No hot spot!  As for all the other cooking, SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) has adjusted her many recipes to accommodate the Apollo’s idiosyncrasies. We have had Fawkes for 1 1/2 years with much of that parked in the driveway due to SWMBO’s knee replacement. There will be more cooking in 2018-2019 as we snowbird in Mesa, AZ and Baytown, TX.

You may want to try the defrost setting for heating bread. It will not come out like a hockey puck.

Barry-Sue, do you still have the instructions on how to change the Thermal fuse and the part number? I think I have the same problem.
Grateful if you can post them.

https://forum.phoenixusarv.com/index.php?topic=2345.msg18746#msg18746

Here is the link on our fix.

Interesting, Our unit is a 2012 and it came with a Sharp, big unit. Our build date was 4/2012.
It works great and never had a problem.