Does filling fresh water tank fill the water heater?

[Padgett]

Does putting 10 gal in the fresh water tank fill the hot water tank automagically ? If not how do you tell if it has water in it please ?

ps I can remove the rear bumper cover from my TM with it shut & I have an '06.

[LoveToCamp]

No, water does not magically flow from fresh tank to water heater. You have to put water in the fresh tank, then turn on the water pump, then open the hot water faucet. This will bleed the air, and eventually you will have water coming out the faucet.

DO NOT turn on water heater until you have water coming out of the faucet, or bad things will happen.

If you are hooking to city water, again, turn on the hot water faucet until you have water flowing (not spurting) out of the faucet. Then, you can turn on the water heater.

[Padgett]

Thank you, that is important to know.

I added a label on the shore power cover to remind me to shut off the elect hot water switch when I disconnect shore power. This way the next time I plug into shore power the water heater does not come on without filling the hot water tank.

[ArkyDoodle]

I use a long bright red ribbon that I hang outside of the compartment when I switch on the electric hot water. That way when I'm closing it down, I see the ribbon hanging down and flip the electric switch on the hot water tank......

I cannot forget it or overlook it.....

[tentcamper]

When we know we are going to a CS that does not have water hookups and we will fill the water tank when entering the CG. We then travel with the hot water tank full, which adds the weight of about 7 gallons of water. This allows us to start with a full tank and not need to fill the water heater from the holding tank and deplete our supply.

[scrubjaysnest]

For the hot water heater I have a simple mod in progress. Add a lighted wall switch inside the TM. The switch goes in series with the hot wire to the water heater (note it may be easiest to wire the switch between the breaker and and hot water heater). After your done with the switch mod use it to turn on/off the water heater. Just turn on the outside switch and leave it on.
The inside switch when turned on lights the red lite as a reminder the hot water is turned on. This is a pretty standard feature on newer RV's and I'm surprised that TM hasn't started doing so. I did this mod years ago to the Outback because you had to remove a panel to get at the heater mounted switch.

[Bill]

Padgett -

If you are really feeling adventuresome, you can install my water heater power relay mod. It protects the water heater from inadvertent application of power, without having to remember what position I left a switch (inside or outside) in.

I leave the outside water heater switch on all the time, but when I plug the TM into shore power, the water heater power does not come on, ever. To get it come on, I have to push a button on the apron in front of the sink. This pulls in the relay and sends power to the water heater. (So far, same as scrubjaysnest solution.) However, the neat thing is that I don't have to remember to turn the switch off when closing down. When I unplug the TM from shore power, the relay drops out, and the next time I connect shore power, the water heater will not come on again until I push the button again. For me, the fact that I have to push this button is a fail-safe reminder to be sure that the heater is filled.

It basically does what Scrubjaysnest solution does, except that it turns the switch off for me. I don't have to remember to do it. When I close up and leave a campground in a hurry, I might forget to turn off the switch, and at the next campgrond that could be a problem. This mod makes sure I don't.

It's fun, and provides absolute protection to the water heater. Try it!
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...php?albumid=74

Bill

[oldstick]

Originally Posted by Bill

Padgett -

If you are really feeling adventuresome, you can install my water heater power relay mod. It protects the water heater from inadvertent application of power, without having to remember what position I left a switch (inside or outside) in.

I leave the outside water heater switch on all the time, but when I plug the TM into shore power, the water heater power does not come on, ever. To get it come on, I have to push a button on the apron in front of the sink. This pulls in the relay and sends power to the water heater. (So far, same as scrubjaysnest solution.) However, the neat thing is that I don't have to remember to turn the switch off when closing down. When I unplug the TM from shore power, the relay drops out, and the next time I connect shore power, the water heater will not come on again until I push the button again. For me, the fact that I have to push this button is a fail-safe reminder to be sure that the heater is filled.

It basically does what Scrubjaysnest solution does, except that it turns the switch off for me. I don't have to remember to do it. When I close up and leave a campground in a hurry, I might forget to turn off the switch, and at the next campgrond that could be a problem. This mod makes sure I don't.

It's fun, and provides absolute protection to the water heater. Try it!
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...php?albumid=74

Bill

Now that is an excellent idea!! I was thinking of adding the inside switch at first, which is an improvement over the outside switch, but then I figured I am just as likely to forget either one before connecting power on the next trip out.

[tentcamper]

I like the mod Bill. Nice design!