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The McLane's View Drop Down
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Joined: 17 Aug 2012
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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: hotwater heater
    Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 4:19pm
Feel real dumb but could someone give me directions for the hotwater heater. Especially what the button inside is for.
Thank you
Pudderpod
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The McLane's View Drop Down
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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 4:39pm
Oh, I have a 2010 RP-175
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Posts: 1003 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 4:45pm
The switch on the inside is for heating with propane, if you want to heat with 110 power, you need to turn on the switch outside. It is on the bottom left corner of the hot water tank. Make sure you have water in the tank or you burn out your burner.
If you want something done right, do it yourself.
2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.


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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 5:52pm
So should I always leave the electric off unless I'm planning on using electric and how do you know there is water in the tank, do you turn on the hot water faucet? I'm sorry for sounding dumb but I don't want to ruin anything. Our 5th wheel was gas only, you went outside turned the gas on and lit it with a match if you wanted hot water. The tank always filled auto if the water was on.
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2012 at 9:33pm

The best thing to do is at the beginning of the season, hook up the city water connection and open the hot water valve on the sink until all of the sputtering stops.  If the tank is empty you will probably get absolutely nothing for a minute or three, then sputtering, then steady water.  Then don't drain the water heater for the rest of the season to be sure you don't burn out the electric element.

I try to remember to turn off the electric switch after each trip since I often plug the pod back in at home and leave it that way until I put the pod away - more than once I've discovered that I've been keeping that water hot via electric for a week or two after coming home.  Censored
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 466 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2012 at 7:10am

Just my opinion, but I always only use propane to power my HWH in the Pod.  Doing so, lessens the potential damage that could be done to the heating element.  It also exercises the gas lines/pipes, keeping the cob webs out of there.  It's become a personal preference for me and it's served me well.

If you decide to use electric exclusively, I'd suggest using propane every once in a while to be sure that your gas lines are clear and working.
"Ray & Connie"

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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2012 at 8:26am
Personally I use both when I have hookups, since that shortens the recovery time.  The electric element will maintain the temperature since its set point is slightly higher than the gas, but once you start taking a shower the gas burner will kick on.  Nice when two or four of us have to take showers back-to-back.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 3990 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2012 at 10:24am
I have yet to run my Hot Water Heater by electic but as I was running lines for 12 Volt Circuits I was looking at the line that went to the Hot Water Heater.  I was thinking about cutting it and putting a switch on it mounted under the stove with the rest of the control panels that would light up if it was on.  Would not be too hard of a mod and then you could leave the outside switch on all the time and just worry about it from the inside.  I would place it right next to the water pump switch.
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2012 at 11:07am
Others have done that and I've considered it.  I have a spare switch so I really should!
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 3990 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Aug 2012 at 12:56pm
I'm not in a hurry to do that as I dry camp a lot but throwing the idea back out there again.  It might help to remember to turn it off when you are done camping.
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