Help needed with Solar charging please.

[fordsabroad]

Some advice please.
I am at the Shepton show with the motorhome fun group in my Swift Rio 310 at the moment. I have a new leisure battery and a solar panel. I currently have the power switched to off on the panel above the door. The sargent EC400 power unit in the wardrobe says that my battery is 12.3 volts and batt amps is -0.4 amps. It is a little overcast but I would have expected a positive reading from the solar input. The solar regulator is showing a flashing green light.
It may be a simple problem but it is all new to me. Any advice would be appreciated

 

[monzer]

What kind of regulator is it? Any chance of a photo?

 

[fordsabroad]

Sargent 150 watt

 

[monzer]

If you've the manual there I'd double check what the flashing green light means. I've a different make and a flashing light means there's power at it but it's not supplying the batteries (meaning it's turned off).

 

[Itsmcb]

Depending on the size of your solar panel, the weather conditions and the items you currently have switched on in your van you could be using more than your panel is supplying hence the - figure. Your battery could be down to 12.3v if you have been using power all night.

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[GeoffnDee]

If the flashing green light on your Sargent controller is the lower one (panel output) it is indicating that a battery is being charged, the charge status led above it will illuminate red for bulk charging and green when on float charge , it should turn off when the batteries are fully charged or if no power is being generated.(if it is working as it should )
Your Sargent PSU has smart charging built into it and if the solar controller is connected into it may have been set to charge the starter battery instead of both starter and leisure batteries (or just the leisure battery)