Adding decorative lights

syandoa · 10-05-2009, 07:01 PM

I want to add some decorative lights to my '91 for Halloween. It has six 6V batteries. Is the best way to do this with a power inverter? I am guessing I will have to add a cigarette lighter adapter to it, and then wire the CLA to two batteries. Does this sound feasible?

Regards,
Scott

SpoiledRotten · 10-05-2009, 07:16 PM

I added a 12v marine battery to mine. I have a dual plug 12v and a dual plug inverter in mine. I have a set of rope lights sort of permanently mounted under mine and have it ready for decorating for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and any other occasion that comes up.

syandoa · 10-05-2009, 07:18 PM

So I guess you bought a charger for it, and charge it from time to time? Does it have to be a marine battery?

syandoa · 10-05-2009, 07:25 PM

And if I wanted to go cheap, and use a plug that I found that has alligator clips that can hook to my existing batteries, don't I have to pick two batteries next to each other?

SpoiledRotten · 10-05-2009, 07:28 PM

Yes, you need to get 12v across two of your 6v batteries.
I did buy a seperate charger for mine and I charge it about once a week, whether it needs it or not. It really takes a lot to bring down the power on that marine/RV battery I have.

I doesn't have to be a marine battery. One guy here uses a small lawn tractor battery and says it does just fine. I just didn't know how much I wanted to add to mine in the future and wanted to be sure I had enough juice to run anything I wanted.

syandoa · 10-08-2009, 07:22 PM

I am going to repost this as E=IR because I have heard two different schools of thought on this and I don't want to fry anything, including me.

gornoman · 10-08-2009, 07:57 PM

Get a multimeter in there, find 12v, and hook up the invertor. Make sure the alligator clips have wire attached that is correct for the amp load. Done.

syandoa · 10-08-2009, 07:59 PM

Okay, so the gauge is pretty light on this radio shack cig lighter adapter. What you estimate amp load on it?

gornoman · 10-08-2009, 08:02 PM

The invertor should have a label listing loads from input as well as output.

syandoa · 10-08-2009, 08:06 PM

I'm worried about melting the wires on my adapter.

the invertor has a fuse that shows what it can do, but I would like to be able to plug in other things that aren't stamped with what they can hold.

Tell me what I can't do, I'm most worried about frying myself.

10-05-2009, 07:01 PM	#1
syandoa Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 31	Adding decorative lights I want to add some decorative lights to my '91 for Halloween. It has six 6V batteries. Is the best way to do this with a power inverter? I am guessing I will have to add a cigarette lighter adapter to it, and then wire the CLA to two batteries. Does this sound feasible? Regards, Scott

10-05-2009, 07:16 PM	#2
SpoiledRotten Conservatively Wild Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Below the Mason Dixon Posts: 3,610	Re: Adding decorative lights I added a 12v marine battery to mine. I have a dual plug 12v and a dual plug inverter in mine. I have a set of rope lights sort of permanently mounted under mine and have it ready for decorating for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and any other occasion that comes up.

10-05-2009, 07:18 PM	#3
syandoa Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 31	Re: Adding decorative lights So I guess you bought a charger for it, and charge it from time to time? Does it have to be a marine battery?

10-05-2009, 07:25 PM	#4
syandoa Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 31	Re: Adding decorative lights And if I wanted to go cheap, and use a plug that I found that has alligator clips that can hook to my existing batteries, don't I have to pick two batteries next to each other?

10-05-2009, 07:28 PM	#5
SpoiledRotten Conservatively Wild Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Below the Mason Dixon Posts: 3,610	Re: Adding decorative lights Yes, you need to get 12v across two of your 6v batteries. I did buy a seperate charger for mine and I charge it about once a week, whether it needs it or not. It really takes a lot to bring down the power on that marine/RV battery I have. I doesn't have to be a marine battery. One guy here uses a small lawn tractor battery and says it does just fine. I just didn't know how much I wanted to add to mine in the future and wanted to be sure I had enough juice to run anything I wanted.

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10-08-2009, 07:22 PM	#6
syandoa Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 31	Re: Adding decorative lights I am going to repost this as E=IR because I have heard two different schools of thought on this and I don't want to fry anything, including me.

10-08-2009, 07:57 PM	#7
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,286	Re: Adding decorative lights Get a multimeter in there, find 12v, and hook up the invertor. Make sure the alligator clips have wire attached that is correct for the amp load. Done.

10-08-2009, 07:59 PM	#8
syandoa Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 31	Re: Adding decorative lights Okay, so the gauge is pretty light on this radio shack cig lighter adapter. What you estimate amp load on it?

10-08-2009, 08:02 PM	#9
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,286	Re: Adding decorative lights The invertor should have a label listing loads from input as well as output.

10-08-2009, 08:06 PM	#10
syandoa Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 31	Re: Adding decorative lights I'm worried about melting the wires on my adapter. the invertor has a fuse that shows what it can do, but I would like to be able to plug in other things that aren't stamped with what they can hold. Tell me what I can't do, I'm most worried about frying myself.

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