I sell art at outdoor shows. I've seen people use a boat battery to power lights, but I need instructions.

Question

I know it can be done somehow, but I am electriclally challenged. From what I have seen you use little jumper cable-type clamps and split some wires, and then can power even a halogen light. I need specifics (what type of marine battery works best, etc). Help!

Answer 1

You could use a boat, car or truck battery depending how much power you need but it's best left to a mechanic to rig something up as these batteries can deliver quite a punch if you get something wrong.

I'd have thought a much better option would be to get a portable powerpack - these are basically car batteries enclosed in a carrying case, you charge the battery by plugging into a cigarette lighter or normal mains electric supply. They have normal plug socket outlets so you can just plug something in like you would at home.

Because they're portable you can run your lighting off it, watch TV in the middle of a field or microwave your dinner on top of a mountain. They're great when you're away from home as you can also recharge cell phones, laptops etc.

Flourescent lights and LED's use less power than a conventional light-bulb and even with a small powerpack you'd be able to run about 10 flourescent lights for many hours

A lot of the models come with useful attachments such as work lights, car starter cables, different outputs, hazard lights etc and they're not that expensive. A moderate one will probably be in the region of $100 to $150.

The one I bought was off eBay so you could try looking there but also contact caravan and boating suppliers.

Here's a couple of examples of what I'm on about...
http://www.caravantechnology.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=35
http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/pages/moreinfoa.asp?pe=BGEGJEEQ_+ring+powerpack+120+portable+power+kit+with+12+240v+inverter&cid=880

Answer 2

I'm with Trevor on this one. Use the LED lights. They're available in various wattages (and colors!) generate as much light as a halogen and consume almost no power to speak of. You can find battery-operated ones in any sporting goods department in the form of flashlights, or check with a lighting retailer for more sophisticated setups.

Alternatively, you can use a power inverter (usually available in automotive departments and not horribly expensive) to convert 12v DC to 120v AC. But without a way of keeping the battery charged, a nighttime show of several hours duration might leave you in the dark. If you do this often, an investment in a small gas generator might be a better idea. If you're only powering ordinary lights, you could get away with a VERY small model and probably be out no more than $200-$400 US, less if you can find one used. The only downside is they're somewhat noisy, though you can dampen the noise with sandbags (I've found that prepackaged bags of play sand make excellent sandbags with no filling required, and best of all no leaks!) Honda makes lightweight generators that you can actually carry with one hand, and I'm sure other manufacturers do as well. It doesn't sound like your power requirements are terribly high, so this option is well worth exploring.

Answer 3

Go to your local auto parts store and ask for a DC to AC converter. Its a small box about have the size of loaf of bread with a couple house hold outlets in it. They will provide house hold voltage with that will run off a car battery. Cost around forty to eighty dollars depending how much energy your going to use. Usually rate the power in watts just like light bulbs. 300 watts ( three hundred watt bulbs) are common. Just use regular extension chord and lamps.
Then you should also be able to purchase an inexpensive trickle charger to recharge the battery at home. cost around 20 dollars. Let the guys at the auto recommend the battery.

Be cheap cause a gas generator can be had for a couple hundred. and it will do lots more for a lot longer.

Answer 4

Lowes or Home Depot has outdoor lighting all of which operates on twelve volts DC, they have floods, spots and specialty lights available all for the low voltage, also most RV stores have the "STRING OF FROGS" or the like for the camper in low voltage, and there are even florescent fixtures available, with all this and a 12 volt laser or two you could have a Las Vegas looking booth run on a couple of old boat batteries, Quit cursing the darkness!

Answer 5

You need a deep cycle marine battery and a "Low Current Draw" inverter. I would not use halogen lighting because of the amount current it draws

Answer 6

Get any Marine battery becasue they are deep cell batteries and last longer. Go to Auto Zone and purchase several 12v lights and cases. then attache them where you want. It is very simple to do.