Generator Issue finally solved Erwin Hymer Sunlight V2

Thanks to Nations Starter & Alternator of Cape Girardeau, Missouri my Underhood Generator is finally working.

[@barbarajamilik9464]

Interesting! I took our Sunlight V2 to Beaver Motors in Beaver Springs, PA to address the same issue.

[@r.a.lafleur7248]

Great info. I've had my Carado Banff since November of 2018, no issues with the under hood generator until this month. Like your van, mine would only charge the batteries with solar or shore power. Referencing your video, I checked the fuses near the regulator and noticed the 10 amp was popped. Thankfully I took notes during my purchase at the dealership because the service tech told me to replace the 10 amp fuse with 15 amp and the 1 amp to a 10 amp if the under hood generator stopped working. Bingo!!! The under hood generator works like a charm again. If the issues continue, a call or visit to Nations might be in the making.

[@zzterri]

Enjoy your videos, keep them coming. :)

[@lenward474]

Part of the problem is it's not like a gas generator,it's an alternator and regulator. Any high qualified company can help. Obviously the company you used is best due to their involvement.

[@bikethetrails8155]

Exactly, many RV dealers have no experience with the U/H generator. Before going to Nations for help, I even went to one of the largest RV dealers in Vermont... and to their credit, they told me they had no experience with the E-H setup. Gave me a couple of names, but they weren't sure their suggestions would be helpful. Once Mindy & Rob told me their experience with Nations. It was a no-brainer to head to Missouri!

[@dennisthuler1553]

Glad you got it fixed bud

[@bikethetrails8155]

Thanks Dennis, Adam and Butch at Nationals were very helpful. You might know them? I guess they made a couple of trips up to E-H/Roadway. Hope all's good with you! -- Bob

[@365vacay]

Did they say anything about the location of the under hood generator? It seems to be in a bad location. I hit a parking block and knocked my cover loose.

[@bikethetrails8155]

Kevin, they didn't mention the generator location, just the regulator location. My feeling is though the generator is where it is because that's the only place available in the small amount of real estate under the hood. The fan belts have to line up with the existing belt shafts in the engine. But in reference to that, some companies do offer a total under chassis skid plate to protect not just the generator, but other components hanging down below Ram Promaster. Fit RV has a story about skid plates for the Promaster Van. I think Mindy and Rob (the commented a couple of times on my videos) had a skid plate installed on their RV Bob

[@danielcaserta7652]

Wow- what a great find. Thank you my friend. Can you give me some advice? I have spent the last two days tryign to plug my shore power cable into the side of my Hyumver Sunlight and i can't do it. Its always been tough but this time i simply cant get it to go. Before i take it to CW can yu give me any advice on this? Have you also had issues getting that thing plugged?

[@danielcaserta7652]

Hey ignore this. I finally took it down to a local mechanic and he found one of the prongs was bent a bit and was able to insert for me

[@bikethetrails8155]

Hi Daniel, at the very beginning I had trouble, but was I got the nich, I have no problem whatsoever. I don't even have to look anymore. The secret is the prong on the cable with the little do-hickey lines up to go on the bottom of the plug. It now seems to just fall in place for me, and then I just push it straight on. If it's just in my yard for a day or so, I don't even bother screwing on the sleeve... but it's a good idea to secure the sleeve out in the real world. I hope that helps, I really did have trouble in the beginning, but not now. Make sure the prongs are all straight, could have been stepped on at one time. Good Luck!

[@danielcaserta7652]

My friend- I have rarely used my Hymer Sunlight v2. I have stored in Houston in my driveway and i am in process of selling it and it appears one of the lithium batteries is no longer working. How did this happen (from being plugged in too long?) and what is the best way to keep it charged etc if you have it parked for a long stretch of weeks, etc. Any info on this on what is recommended?

[@bikethetrails8155]

Hey Daniel, My V2 also sits for long periods of time, but unlike Houston, it's extreme sub-zero temps here in NH (-20 F at times last winter). This year I have it stored in a local warehouse @ $100+ per month. At least it won't be covered with 4 feet of snow like it was last winter. I do recall reading somewhere that the best voltage to store the lithium batteries is somewhere in the 13.2-13.4 V range. One thing I would not do is leave them plugged into shore power all the time. When I don't use the V2 I simply make sure the voltages are at least 13.2 and just shut everything off. The one problem that I had in the past, and I now know not to do with these batteries, it is they do not like temperatures under 32F. In the spring I wait until a warm stretch of weather above 32F before fooling with the batteries. When I first bought the RV, I was attempting to start the batteries several times in marginally cold weather (I had to replace by Balmar voltage regulator because of this, I think!). Here in New Hampshire in spring we will still have temps in the teens & 20's overnight, and I'd try to start the batteries in a spring day of 40 temps... but they wouldn't start because the batteries are like a concrete brick that need to warm up over a longer time period. (I should mention once batteries are running, they do run fine under 32F). Of course this cold weather stuff doesn't apply in Houston. But one thing I would do, is take it out for a ride every few weeks for 1/2 hr or so, charge the batteries off the generator, let the engine run a bit, save the tires a bit so they don't have the weight on the tires in the same spot for months. And I would disconnect the long-term shore power if it's just sitting there. Bob

[@ethelmertz434]

You may already belong to this group, so if you do, ignore my comment. If you don’t, I would think they would be interested in your info. Enjoy your videos.