Look for a rocker switch right inside of the door. It's probably between the drawers and the door. Make sure it's on. If you are plugged into shore power or house power, you will probably hear the fan in the charger come on if the battery is low and the switch is on. Also check the fuses in the power converter below the A/C. Might try wiggling them (the 12 volt ones) to see if power comes on or check them and see if anything is "blown". Suggest that you keep the 12 battery and not change it to 2 6 volt batteries. I believe the Mojo used a "smart charger" and it probably won't overcharge the battery. This is going to be a simple fix... hopefully =)
THANK YOU for that specific information. With no manual (and they never made one for the Mojo) figuring it out is not so easy. Prior to this I camped in tents.
There is a switch by the door. Whatever position it is in, I will flip it the other direction and see if that works. I think I figured out the other switch is the pump back when I had power. I had thought the one by the door was lights or something.
I had found the fuses before and none looked blown, but when I plug it in again in the morning I will double check.
So since the battery is completely dead, any ideas how long it takes to completely charge if flipping the switch works (well presuming the battery isn't trashed - it did work before).
Carolyn
There is a switch by the door. Whatever position it is in, I will flip it the other direction and see if that works. I think I figured out the other switch is the pump back when I had power. I had thought the one by the door was lights or something.
I had found the fuses before and none looked blown, but when I plug it in again in the morning I will double check.
So since the battery is completely dead, any ideas how long it takes to completely charge if flipping the switch works (well presuming the battery isn't trashed - it did work before).
Carolyn
JIM L-HILO
Senior Member
HI Carolyn; There are a number of questions you need to answer in order for us to help you. Has the dead battery been outside in freezing weather, this will trash it? Have you taken the battery to a auto parts store to have them test it? Have you purchased a multimeter to check both AC and DC voltages and do you know how to use it? Do all of the lights and receptacles work when plugged into house power? Do you know if the RV has both AC lights and DC lights? What city and state do you live in. There may be knowledgeable forum members living close-by who could help you. This should not be a difficult problem to work thru. I will try to send you a email or private message thru the forum. Hope this helps.
When plugged in everything works
Battery was outside but I live in only 2 hours from the gulf of mexico (in MS) so below freezing weather is rare and this winter has been especially warm I hadn't thought to disconnect the battery to bring inside. Instead I had plugged it into my house once a month - but stupidly not checking anything else to see if things were actually charging.
I have not yet bought the battery checker or taken the battery in to be checked. I had that feels like the flu but isn't the flue for 6 weeks and have just been too tired on top of working. Dealing with this and the leak where the hinge is to lift the top (have a tarp over it, someone smeared it with caulk, which is cracked and so it is leaking at those cracks. I think the solution is to find a 6" strip of something flat to attach on the uphill side - is a mojo - that will cover the downhill side, presuming it won't blow up with air catching under it and then tear it off while driving down the road) is on my to do list in the next week or so.
Carolyn
Battery was outside but I live in only 2 hours from the gulf of mexico (in MS) so below freezing weather is rare and this winter has been especially warm I hadn't thought to disconnect the battery to bring inside. Instead I had plugged it into my house once a month - but stupidly not checking anything else to see if things were actually charging.
I have not yet bought the battery checker or taken the battery in to be checked. I had that feels like the flu but isn't the flue for 6 weeks and have just been too tired on top of working. Dealing with this and the leak where the hinge is to lift the top (have a tarp over it, someone smeared it with caulk, which is cracked and so it is leaking at those cracks. I think the solution is to find a 6" strip of something flat to attach on the uphill side - is a mojo - that will cover the downhill side, presuming it won't blow up with air catching under it and then tear it off while driving down the road) is on my to do list in the next week or so.
Carolyn
RichR
No haven't done anything about it yet. Been too busy along with have been dragging for ages with that feels like the flu but isn't disease going around... Hoping to get to it this week or next.
Carolyn
So where is the brake disconnect block? This thing has microscopic clearance under it (like 6 or 7 inches tops) and I am not sure I will fit under it very easily - not that I am big, I am not, rather it is so close to the ground - so hopefully it is within arm's reach from an edge. I called the guy who still has parts and he says they make a think to lift it several inches which I want to do since it is really easy to bottom out even entering store parking lots.
Thanks,
Carolyn
PS greater Jackson Ms area. All lights that ran off the battery run when plugged into the house so those are all DC, correct? I could plug a light into an outlet while plugged in to see if the wall plugs work.
Carolyn
Yipee it was the switch
Not sure if it was turning on the switch by the door or the one on the side of where the sink is (not the one that is for the fridge) - think it was the one by the door think the other one turns on the water pump - but the battery is charging!!! Yipee!. Now I need to buy one of those things to check to see if it gets high enough (had to unplug due to it starting to rain and the plug on the side of my house is not in a protected area) that I haven't trashed the battery in terms of running it to dead. And get a trickle charger. And make sure it is a smart inverter on it if I am trickle charging.
Anyone have a solar one they'd recommend to trickle charge? Also am I right in thinking that you lose a significant amount of the energy in a solar panel (eg most of it) if the sunlight isn't direct? I thought I had read even 5% of the panel in shade cut the amount of power available dramatically more than 5%.
Also anyone suggest a regular trickle charger for bringing the battery inside in the winter (mild winters here, but still that would make sense to do).
I want to thank everyone for their help. As a newbe with no manual (they didn't make one) who has never had anything like this, it makes it harder not to do something stupid/ignorant.
Carolyn
Not sure if it was turning on the switch by the door or the one on the side of where the sink is (not the one that is for the fridge) - think it was the one by the door think the other one turns on the water pump - but the battery is charging!!! Yipee!. Now I need to buy one of those things to check to see if it gets high enough (had to unplug due to it starting to rain and the plug on the side of my house is not in a protected area) that I haven't trashed the battery in terms of running it to dead. And get a trickle charger. And make sure it is a smart inverter on it if I am trickle charging.
Anyone have a solar one they'd recommend to trickle charge? Also am I right in thinking that you lose a significant amount of the energy in a solar panel (eg most of it) if the sunlight isn't direct? I thought I had read even 5% of the panel in shade cut the amount of power available dramatically more than 5%.
Also anyone suggest a regular trickle charger for bringing the battery inside in the winter (mild winters here, but still that would make sense to do).
I want to thank everyone for their help. As a newbe with no manual (they didn't make one) who has never had anything like this, it makes it harder not to do something stupid/ignorant.
Carolyn
Glad it worked.
That switch just takes the battery out of service. With it off, you can't use it to power lights, water pump, fridge, heater etc. You also can't charge it from the built-in charger with it off. If the big power cord is not going to be plugged in for a really long time, you may want to switch the battery off as there is probably a propane detector running all the time which may pull it down a bit. I'd go with getting a digital multitester of some sort just to have if you ever need it. Harbor freight and places like Walmart should have them for less than 10 bux (7 Function Multimeter). As far as the trickle chargers and solar chargers, you may want to put the money you would spend on those into a cigar box for when that battery finally goes kaput. Remember that it's not a regular car battery. It may be called a marine battery or something similar that's made to be drawn down and recharged. Car batteries don't like that. I'd leave the battery in the box and hooked up if you are in a warmer climate. Sooner or later, you'll be taking it out and drop it on your foot and end up with a much larger bill than whatever a new battery would cost. I'd trust the on-board charger to be a smart charger that won't destroy the battery from overcharging. Keep it as simple as possible and have fun
That switch just takes the battery out of service. With it off, you can't use it to power lights, water pump, fridge, heater etc. You also can't charge it from the built-in charger with it off. If the big power cord is not going to be plugged in for a really long time, you may want to switch the battery off as there is probably a propane detector running all the time which may pull it down a bit. I'd go with getting a digital multitester of some sort just to have if you ever need it. Harbor freight and places like Walmart should have them for less than 10 bux (7 Function Multimeter). As far as the trickle chargers and solar chargers, you may want to put the money you would spend on those into a cigar box for when that battery finally goes kaput. Remember that it's not a regular car battery. It may be called a marine battery or something similar that's made to be drawn down and recharged. Car batteries don't like that. I'd leave the battery in the box and hooked up if you are in a warmer climate. Sooner or later, you'll be taking it out and drop it on your foot and end up with a much larger bill than whatever a new battery would cost. I'd trust the on-board charger to be a smart charger that won't destroy the battery from overcharging. Keep it as simple as possible and have fun
If you want to use the on board charger plug the trailer into a timer after you get the battery charged up. Have the timer set to charge one hour or less per day. That way the battery will get a short daily charge and it won't get over cooked.
The battery maintainer chargers are most ideal in my opinion, they can be hooked on and plugged in and left without danger of overcharging.
If you have to invest good money in a new battery you want to make sure not to overcharge it. So the layout for a small charger may save you money in the long run. Actually, if you have a good battery, you should only have to plug in the trailer once a month for a half day or so to keep the battery up to snuff.
The battery maintainer chargers are most ideal in my opinion, they can be hooked on and plugged in and left without danger of overcharging.
If you have to invest good money in a new battery you want to make sure not to overcharge it. So the layout for a small charger may save you money in the long run. Actually, if you have a good battery, you should only have to plug in the trailer once a month for a half day or so to keep the battery up to snuff.
sam-HILO
Senior Member
Battery care
Carolyn, Just wanted to let you know even after owing our Rv for 12 yrs. we are still learning and make an occasional goofs. Over the years we left the trailer plugged in at our house and fried the battery. Ony add distilled water to just cover the battery plates. Second battery we fried touching the terminals taking it out of a too tight storage compartment. Hubby rerouted battery to tongue. This was a bad design by HiLo. We are here to help you and answer all your questions.If you decide to store the battery in your house you can just mark your calendar for the same day each month to check your battery with the multimeter. If it tests a little low just put it on a charger. Our stays good most of the time. The guys are good with the more technical advice. Your MoJo is oh so cute!!
Carolyn, Just wanted to let you know even after owing our Rv for 12 yrs. we are still learning and make an occasional goofs. Over the years we left the trailer plugged in at our house and fried the battery. Ony add distilled water to just cover the battery plates. Second battery we fried touching the terminals taking it out of a too tight storage compartment. Hubby rerouted battery to tongue. This was a bad design by HiLo. We are here to help you and answer all your questions.If you decide to store the battery in your house you can just mark your calendar for the same day each month to check your battery with the multimeter. If it tests a little low just put it on a charger. Our stays good most of the time. The guys are good with the more technical advice. Your MoJo is oh so cute!!
Battery tender
Here is a link for a very inexpensive method to maintain your battery once you determine it is good and is at full charge. If you look around you can usually find a coupon to get it for around $5-$6 Best money I spent on my trailer so far. I just take the battery out and keep in my garage on this tender works fine.
Good luck
Automatic Battery Charger - 12V
Here is a link for a very inexpensive method to maintain your battery once you determine it is good and is at full charge. If you look around you can usually find a coupon to get it for around $5-$6 Best money I spent on my trailer so far. I just take the battery out and keep in my garage on this tender works fine.
Good luck
Automatic Battery Charger - 12V
RCREYES
Senior Member
That is the exact one I use. You can usually find them on sale with an ad coupon for $4.99 with a limit of five or so. I bought extras in case one burned out or got stolen or something. They were cheap enough. I cut off the alligator clips and crimped a terminal lug and just attached it to the battery on the wingnut post. I'm still on my first one after about two years. Works great.
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