[commodor47]

TMfor4ofus,

Filling the fresh water tank will not also fill the water heater. To fill the water heater you would need to connect to city water or fill it using the fresh water tank and the DC pump. The reason you don't hear the DC pump run long when operating from the fresh tank is due to air in the water heater preventing water from entering. Either that, or you already have water in the water heater. To fill the water heater, either by the city water connection or fresh water tank you need to open the nearest hot water faucet. That will allow the air to leave as water enters the tank. Once the water flow from the hot water faucet is constant, the water heater is full. In the past you may not have drained the water heater. It sounds like you may have turned on the propane source to the water heater before checking to make sure it was filled? If so, that could damage the water heater. If the water heater had water in it when you connected to shore power, and the electric heating element was turned on you probably caused no damage to the element. It is easy to test: fill the water heater using the city water connection, connect to shore power, turn on the electric heating element and test for hot water by opening the nearest hot water faucet. You should have hot water in about 20 minutes.

When dry camping I first light one burner on the stove; then the water heater on propane; then the refrigerator on propane.

Dick