Decorating Golf Cart with Lights for Halloween - Question?

[NMK62303]

Hello, we are looking forward to heading to the Fort 3 weeks from tomorrow and last year at Halloween we decorated our golf cart but not with lights. This year we would like to power some lights for the cart. From those of you who have done this before, do you use an inverter on the cart battery, use a different battery, a small generator, or some other strategy? (saw a long extension cord recommended on an older post ha ha ha ). We aren't pulling much power, most of the lights are LED's string type lights.
Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[ElementCamper]

I have seen all of the above and then some. Simplest is to find a string of LED lights with their own battery (doesn't take much and the battery lasts a long time). There are usually available in Halloween at most major dept and party stores.
Some use an inverter off the golf cart batteries and use 110V lights. I don't like mixing line voltage and outside stuff but this is certainly possible. Requires some knowledge of where to hookup to get 12 volts, most carts are 24 or 36 volts.
You could do a small generator, would not have to be big but...then you have fumes, noise, have to bring gas etc. Not recommended unless you want to light up your cart like Spectromagic!

The flashlight battery LED is the way I would go.

 

[luckycharm19335]

They have great solar powered string lights now.
If you can't find them in a brick and mortar, you can always use QVC.

 

[ElementCamper]

They have great solar powered string lights now.
If you can't find them in a brick and mortar, you can always use QVC.

Forgot about the solar ones! Been looking at those to put on my awning for Bonnaroo next year (no plugins there, yet).

Google Bonnaroo to see what it is if not familiar.

 

[luckycharm19335]

Forgot about the solar ones! Been looking at those to put on my awning for Bonnaroo next year (no plugins there, yet).

Google Bonnaroo to see what it is if not familiar.

I did google it.
Sounds like alot of fun.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Personally, I have an old battery that I attached a 400watt inverter onto the top of as well as a small float charger. When we want 110 power on the cart I just throw this battery setup into the area under the rear seat and plug in the lights or radio etc. I use it for a lot of different stuff, I had all the items laying around anyways. Tonight I am going to use it to keep my crock pot going in the back of my truck so we can have hot chili while tailgating at the races.
I put a similar setup minus the inverter on Mrsgus's cart for their 12v radio, that way they arent running down the cart batteries with the radio.

 

[NMK62303]

Thanks everybody! We will keep an eye out for battery powered lights but already have some stuff bought we want to use Scott, thanks for the tips -- that is most likely what we will do, bring a separate battery/setup for the lights!

 

[MandMLUVMMandDVC]

I bought a portable power battery thing at Sears, a Diehard, it is supposed to jumpstart a car or keep lights (using inverter) on for 20 hours. Wouldn't start a car and the lights stayed on for 6 minutes. So the other day I returned it & got a second one. Don't know about starting a car, lights stayed on for 34 minutes. I returned it and got my money back. Now I have a different power source on order. It better work so I can put up Halloween lights on my cart too. If not I might see about inverter that hooks to battery on golfcart.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

If you plan on renting a cart be careful about using the batteries for an additional power source, I have seen rental agreements (IIRC the off site place that used to compete with Kenny) had a paragraph about not adding or modifying anything on the electrical system.

 

[luckycharm19335]

If you plan on renting a cart be careful about using the batteries for an additional power source, I have seen rental agreements (IIRC the off site place that used to compete with Kenny) had a paragraph about not adding or modifying anything on the electrical system.

Good point!

 

[luckycharm19335]

I was in Target today and they are starting to put out their Christmas stuff.
They have a great selection of battery operated string lights. Many colors and configurations.
For all of us computer geeks, check at the USB powered Christmas trees. Pretty cool.

 

[NMK62303]

Thanks everyone - points well taken - we are going to bring our own battery source to put in the back of the cart. Halloween here we come!!

 

[luckycharm19335]

Have fun!