How to Make Battery Powered Lights

Many lights are battery powered.

There are two methods which can be used to allow batteries to power lights. The first method is to use a battery with a low voltage light bulb. The second method is to use a battery, power inverter, and a high voltage light bulb.

Things You'll Need

• 1 Car battery
• 1 Power inverter (100 watt)
• 12 Gauge electrical wire
• 2 High and low voltage light bulb sockets
• Power cord

Instructions

Battery used with Low Voltage Lights.

1. Screw two 12-volt low voltage light bulbs into the low-voltage light bulb sockets. To give the light bulbs the rated amount of voltage, the bulbs will have to be wired in parallel. Label each light bulb socket S1 and S2.

2. Connect a jumper wire from terminal 1 of S1 to terminal 1 of S2. Connect a second jumper wire from terminal 2 of S1 to terminal 2 of S2.

3. Connect a third wire from the positive terminal of the 12 volt battery to terminal 1 of S1. Connect a fourth wire from the negative terminal of the battery to terminal 2 of S1. Both lights should come on at this time.

Battery used with High Voltage Lights.

1. Screw two 120-volt high voltage light bulbs into the high voltage light bulb sockets. To give the light bulbs the rated amount of voltage, the bulbs will have to be wired in parallel. Label each light bulb socket S3 and S4.

2. Connect a jumper wire from terminal 1 of S3 to terminal 1 of S4. Connect a second jumper wire from terminal 2 of S3 to terminal 2 of S4.

3. Strip 1/2 of an inch of insulation off of one end of the power cord. Leave the wall socket plug connected to the cord. Connect one of the cord wires to terminal 1 of S3. Connect the other cord wire to terminal 2 of S3.

4. Plug the lights into the power inverter socket. Connect the red positive power cable of the inverter to the positive terminal of the battery. Connect the black negative power cable of the inverter to the negative terminal of the battery. The lights should come on at this time.

Tips & Warnings

• Always be extremely cautious when dealing with batteries and electricity.

References

• Backwoodshome.com: Build a simple solar powered light