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Outdoor Holiday lights powered with boat battery

How to Power Christmas Lights with Marine Battery

Print Recipe
Holiday hack to power outdoor lights without an outlet using a marine battery.
Keyword Christmas Lights, Hacks, Holiday, Holiday Hacks, Holiday Lights, LED Christmas Lights, LED Holiday Lights, LED Outdoor Lights, Outdoor Lights
Cost $150-200

Ingredients

  • 1 15+ gal Storage Bin
  • 1 12V Deep Cycle Marine Battery
  • 1 Power Inverter with alligator battery clamps (red + black)
  • LED Outdoor String Lights IMPORTANT: Use LEDs, they use +90% less energy than incandescent allowing your lights to stay lit longer on a battery.
  • 1 12V Battery Charger I use a trickle charger. Make sure voltage matches batter voltage.
  • 1 exterior Extension Cord

Instructions

Connect Inverter to Battery

  • Connect inverter to marine batter using battery clamps (red + black). Connect Red to Red, Black to Black

Prepare Storage Bin

  • Cut a small hole in the side of the bin for pulling power cords into the bin
  • Put Battery and Inverter into bin
    How to power christmas lights with marine batter

Put up Holiday Lights & Plug into Battery Power Source

  • Plug lights into inverter via an extension cord.
    Note: You can directly plug lights into inverter if you don't mind the bin next to your lights, but I'd recommend using extension cord.

Charge Battery as needed

  • Depending on how many lights you use, you'll need to charge your battery.
    I charge mine nightly since my display runs 3000+ lights.