Car bateries for lights??

Chrysto · Post by **Chrysto** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 10:59 am

Hello and DAMN its only a month away!! My question is...can you run christmas lights off a car batery?? I dont mean the one in my car but a spare I was thinking of bringing with me. Anyone have any ideas?? Please....not too technical......muchas gracias

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 11:09 am

Car batteries are 12 volts DC. 98% of Christmas lights are 120 Volt AC. If you hook up a strand of Christmas lights straight to your car battery, it won't work.

You could buy an inverter though that has alligator clips that clamp on your battery terminals. The inverter can have 1, 2, or 3 AC outlets built into it where you can plug in your christmas lights.

For basic use Sams, Costco, Target, and Wal-Mart carry small inverters for $30 that would work fine. Just don't think you can run a blender or microwave from it.

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 11:10 am

Regular christmas lights would require an inverter. 12v lights, often seen in rope light format made for cars, would not. How will you recharge your car battery if you run it down? Bring a spare battery, a solar trickle charger, a jumpstarter?

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 12:47 pm

If xmas lites are all your running. Then you can get a 72 watt inverter a wallie world for as little as $14. You can have other things also. Like a four foot cool light 48watts. Just stay inside your inverters limits. Inverters wattage go's up to how much money you spend. Heartland Has one at 5000 watt for $499øø. BUt you can have a nice generator for that price. I carry a 72w, 150w and 700 watt. Also three batteries with 2000 cca. As well as a generator to charge with.