This page was the original hook-up on the web for battery Christmas lights! Way back in the 1990s this page showed readers how to re-wire Christmas lights to run off batteries, since battery-powered Xmas lights were extremely rare.The article also turned readers on to LED Xmas lights, which were new and extremely rare at the time.
Lighting your vehicle is fun, but check laws and stay safe. Alina Bradford/CNET Each year, the family and I deck out our F-150 with Christmas lights to participate in the holiday light parade. Last year, we won second place in our division, so I know a little something about decorating vehicles for the holiday season.
Whether you're in a parade, or just like to show off your holiday spirit at your tailgate party, you can add lights to your vehicle easily. And without killing your battery. Here are some tips to get you WIP lit this holiday season. If you're planning on adding lights to your vehicle for everyday use, it's probably not a great idea. It's more than likely illegal in your area. You can always call your local police department to find out the laws in your area, but to be on the safe side, only decorate for events where you'll take the decorations off afterward.
When lighting your vehicle for a parade or when lighting up a tailgate party, you shouldn't have any problems. Police can be more lenient in these cases, especially if it's a nighttime light parade. Just make sure to turn on the lights after you get to the event to be on the safe side.
Start small Snowflake lights. Alina Bradford/CNET Before going all-out, start with a simple decoration and go from there.
I suggest starting with a wreath you can attach to your car's grill using zip ties. When you're done, the ties can be easily removed without damaging your vehicle. Light the wreath with battery-powered lights instead of the kind you plug in. The lights come with their own small battery pack.
All you need to do is switch them on before you go out.You can get battery-powered lights at most home improvement stores and some department stores and they come in a variety of shapes and colors. My favorite are the ones shaped like snowflakes. Battery-powered lights can also be wrapped around the grill for a little more bling. How to get big-time lit OK, so maybe going small isn't your style. Drenching your vehicle in bulbs is a little more difficult than just adding a wreath or some battery-powered lights.
Invert First, you're going to need a power inverter to produce enough power for lights that have a voltage more than 12V. Most Christmas lights are 110V AC (alternating current). That's no good for car use because your vehicle can typically only power 12V DC (direct current). The inverter allows you to use normal Christmas lights by changing the DC current to a useable AC current.
All you do is hook it up to your vehicle's battery by following the manufacturer's instructions, then plug the lights into the inverter. You can get inverters at your local auto supply store or online. The or the are good choices. Attach Now, you're going to want to attach the lights really well so they don't fall off or drag the ground.
I like to use large zip ties to secure light strands to my vehicle's running boards, mirrors, bed hooks, grill, bumper and other spots where a zip tie can easily be looped.
Finally We ordered this item with another order of over $400 worth of lights. When we opened the box, the adapter was the only thing that did not get shipped. As a result, for the first time in decades we were not able to turn our lights on Thanksgiving Night; our tradition. It finally arrived YESTERDAY, a week later and we have lights. The lights are beautiful, however the disappointment of the item not being in the original order, then taking over a week to be sent to us when I explained how important it was for us to have it, dims the brightness of the new lights in our hearts.