Forum

battery for lights

Posted by David Kolasky on November 19, 2010 at 4:48pm
I have been in a few fairs where there is no electricity.  I a have begun to look for a battery I can use at these fairs to light my booth in the early evening.  I anticipate using several lights (maybe 6-8).  Secondly, I thought I might have to recharge the battery in the evenings (at the motel).

Anyone have experience with this type of setup?  Any advice is appreciated as to type, capacity, portability, etc

Thanks.

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Replies

  • lori kay January 27, 2011 at 9:35am
    Hi David, a couple of helpful tips (I've tried everything). Go to Batteries Plus for your battery, and charger, you tell them what you will be running and they'll fix you up with what you need. They also warranty their marine batteries, Walmart doesn't anymore, and the cost is the same. Invest in a rapid charger thay cost about 30.00 more but they can bring a dead battery up to full charge in 8 hours as opposed to the 24 for a trickle charger. I buy my invertors at Harbour Freight make sure you get an invertor with a fuse so when you accidently reverse polarity all you have to do is change a fuse, not buy a new invertor, I speak from experience. I run 6 compact flouresant spotlights, two turbo fans and I'll get 9 hours out of the largest marine battery. I know this is an older post, but perhaps someone else can benefit from it.
    • David Kolasky > lori kay January 28, 2011 at 10:31am

      Hi Lori

      Thanks for the advice.  Spoke with the folks at Battery Plus (on your advice).  Will order soon.  I'm a regular at harbour Freight, so the next time I'm there I'll look at their invertors.

      Good luck this season with shows.  And thanks again!

      David

  • Bill Sargent January 26, 2011 at 9:01am
    We carry two marine batteries and I connect them in parallel for more light time.
    I would highly recommend making a small cart for them.
  • Caroline Kwas November 21, 2010 at 5:31pm
    I use a Sears multipurpose battery/ inverter. It's the best 100 bucks I've ever spent. You can jump start a car, it has an inverter built in, use it as a battery up to 400 watts and plug fans/lights/cell phones into it. Then you go home and charge it up! It also has a built in air compressor and light. It saved us a couple of times, when we left the interior truck light on and needed to jumpstart the truck; when our dolly's tire went flat; when my dead cell phone went dead I plugged into it to call my merchant service provider! I run 450 watts of halogen light off it when I need to.
  • linda billet November 20, 2010 at 10:56am
    I use a Xantrax power 1500....it might be a bit pricier than a marine battery and inverter but its a self contained unit on wheels. We run 8 LED batteries (also pricey) and a credit card machine up to 8 hours if needed. It charges overnight in the hotel room. Or you can charge it in your car while driving. You can add more batteries to it if you need to.
    I searched on line for quite a while and found prices anywhere from $350-over $500.
    You also have to look at shipping cost.
    • Gary Haynes > linda billet November 20, 2010 at 10:37pm
      Linda, where did you find your LED lamps? Brand? Think you meant LED lights not batteries :)
      • linda billet > Gary Haynes November 21, 2010 at 7:36pm
        OOoops, yeah, lights. Got them at Home Depot and they were the only brand they carried that would fit my lights. Don't remember what brand but it was in blue packaging.
  • Cindy Ketchersid November 19, 2010 at 5:32pm
    We use an inverter with a marine battery. Purchased both at Walmart. We also have a charger we take in the hotel room to charge up the battery at night. The battery powers the credit card machine (when needed), 2 fans during the day (hot days) and still have enough to power lights at night.
    • David Kolasky > Cindy Ketchersid November 19, 2010 at 6:12pm
      Thanks Cindy. Any recommendation on the size to buy?
      • Cindy Ketchersid > David Kolasky November 20, 2010 at 10:20pm
        We use the 750 watt inverter. This works greats for us. We are seriously leaning to use solar panels. We saw a jeweler have the panels mounted (looked very professional ) It ran his cash register, fans and lights in his displays and he was in a shady area under the trees.
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