How to Convert a Low Wattage Lamp to Battery Power
- 1). Check the markings on the lamp to determine its wattage. Low-wattage lamps are usually in the 5- to 20-watt range. If the wattage is higher than 20, it's not really suitable to be converted to battery power because the energy consumption is too high.
- 2). Purchase a battery that produces an output to match the wattage of your lamp. It does not have to be exact, but too little output and the lamp will be dim, and too much and the lamp may blow. For example, if you have a 15-watt lamp, get a 12-volt battery that produces 2.5 or 3 amperes. The larger the size of the battery, the greater it's endurance. If you have an old car battery that still retains a charge, it's a great method for powering a low-wattage lamp.
- 3). Cut off the plug end of the wire from the lamp using a knife.
- 4). Strip off about 3 or 4 inches of outer plastic using wire strippers so you reveal the two internal wires; lamps do not have a ground wire.
- 5). Strip off half an inch of the plastic from the two internal wires to reveal the copper metal.
- 6). Attach one of the wires from the lamp to a battery terminal. It doesn't matter which one. Use a strip of insulating tape to hold the wire on the terminal.
- 7). Attach the remaining wire from the lamp to the other battery terminal using tape.
- 8). Turn on the lamp switch.
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