MR2 Owners Club

Just finished getting the Solar Charging system up and running.

Really not what you call an economical project, cheaper to just buy a new battery but thats not really any fun is it? and I wanted to gain some knowledge on PV systems and have a play.

Panel is 50W and started with those cheap PWM solar chargers on E-Bay but they are sh*t when I actually bench tested it and saw what was going on with the way it was working, so I forked out for a decent full MPPT one.

There are significant differences between the two at a component level. The cheap PWM only chargers have only a switching device between the PV and your battery. The MPPT setup is a two stage with not only the optimization of power from the PV but its a stable supply to the PWM stage to charge the battery. The result is a stable Voltage at the PV and the battery. Simply not comparable in terms of performance or what its doing to your battery.

Charging current up to 3 Amps with the PV is strong sunlight. It promptly blew my 2A fuse that I was trying to use to get close fault protection the second the sun came out from behind the clouds

This is left connected and running 24/7. You just need to remember to disconnect the PV before you drive away !

Also makes for an expensive Voltmeter, last picture is with the PV disconnected and the car running at idle.

Sweet system dude. Solar panel looks awesome on that post. Neat install in the car also.

nice install.. very neat.
interesting Frunk liner too

That plastic liner is stock in the JDM cars, the front strut brace however is custom made, I designed it, got the steel CNC cut and I put it together and got a good welder to finish it off for me.

There's a few different liners depending on the vehicle spec and year - TRC cars have their own variant for example.