Power used by running lights

[Fisher Dude]

Hey FH'ers,

I have a 20hp 4-stroke that I pull start (no battery required). As a result, I run my fishfinder on a 12 volt gel-cell 7 amp. hour battery. Would my running lights (one bow red/green and one transom post white) run off this battery for any decent period of time as well? The fishfinder runs all day and much more.

Thanks,

FD

[Lunker Larry]

If you're going to try it, try making them LED lights. Takes way less juice than incandescent bulbs.

[Fisher Dude]

Thanks L.Larry - Question for you ... What do you do? Swap out the old bulbs for LED bulbs? Or do you mean you have to replace the whole light housing.

[1lastcast]

Just change the bulbs over to LED style. Im thinking of doing the same thing for a hunting boat that I have.

[Mr.J.]

I'll put this in writting

One day all bulbs will be LEDs, that's bulbs for your house, your car, your toys etc

We use LEDs in all of our technology in the military that requires lighting of one sort or another

In just the last few years I have seen the LEDs get less expensive, brighter and more power efficient

There was also talk about a defence contractor (not the one I work for) making a weapon out of LEDs

In the 13 years I have worked for a defence contractor I have seen many many many technologies evolve and eventualy one day become consumer products and LEDs are the next big thing

I write this to say one day we will ALL be replacing our boat lights with LEDs

[Lunker Larry]

Fisher Dude. For your application I'm not sure how the bulbs could be incorporated. You may have look at a new socket. They may possibly be a single self contained unit. I really don't know.
Ref what J said. You're seeing LEDs show up as replacements all over. I see a lot of truckers have replaced their lights with LED. Less power, cooler and brighter. Won't be long until the other bulbs are museum pieces. Sorta like how I'm starting to feel.