Rudolf....12v or 120v ???

banjoman09

Well-known Member
Let me make this a "tractor post" by saying "if I/we can figure this out- I will pull this trailer with my Farmall "H"! Now , my question is this ; I would like to pull my hay trailer behind my Farmall H in the Christmas parade....I have found a 12' Rudolf- lighted- but 120v...can I make this work with 12 volts? I'm not good at the conversion...go ahead and laugh - its the Christmas season (after Thanksgiving!) Thanks!
 
really dont want the "noise"....and forgot to say my tractor is 6v.....so cannot run it off the generator. I could put a 12v battery on the trailer.
 
That would be the way I would go, a 12v battery on an inverter.

You'll need to find out how many watts Rudolph pulls, then size the inverter slightly larger. Small inverters are cheap.

If you start with a fully charged battery, it should run long enough for the parade. Might give it a test run first, just to be sure.
 
Steve...until I hear back from the guy- Im looking on Ebay...do you think this will work? #122759183870
 
I have a 200 watt inverter that will run the twinkle style Christmas lights. I made a display by the road years ago. There is no electric handy so I just used a deep cycle battery to run the inverter. The battery would last 3-4 nights.

The link is to a 400 watt inverter. Just as an example. You can get them smaller and cheaper.

You need to see what the wattage draw the display needs and get an inverter big enough to run it. Do not get too large of an inverter as they will draw more amps and run your battery down faster.
400 watt inverter at Target. 39.99
 
rent a small generator or go to Harbor Freight for inverter or generator. Have used generators on my floats for years and the small one are very quiet.
 
I see there are several there to choose from, go with the 2000 watt just to be sure.

I notice this is coming direct from overseas. I generally veer away from those because of longer shipping times, and difficulty with warranty and communications.

If you click North America or US only on the left, it will not show overseas sellers.
 
great! Still waiting to hear from the seller - would this be a cheaper/better way to go than a generator? I guess for sure cheaper! Thanks.
 
The only other thing you could do (that hasn't already been mentioned here) is to replace the 120v lighting with 12v lights, preferably LED's. Then you could run Rudolph off of a 12v battery. You might even consider leaving the original lights while adding 12v lights so that in the future, Rudolph could be used with more versatility.
 
There is LED lighting out there that will run on EITHER 12v or 120v. Check out the link below. The LED's are actually 12v, but also come with a 120v adapter. Offhand, I don't see that they have a ready method for connecting the lights to a 12v source, but would not be difficult to do.

Can get clear or multi-colored. Can also get single lights (like for Rudolph's nose).
 
ok....makes sense.....BUT- the Rudolf I want to buy- and the other 12'-15' float blow-ups already come with lights- have no idea
how but must be inside...would be a real pain to change the bulbs; makes sense though; easy is my middle name....easy and quick!
 
I run my Farmall H in numerous Christmas parades, with numerous 120 V lights. Walmart inverter takes care of it. BUT DO NOT RUN AN ELECTRIC MOTOR or drill or like that, or you'll b e buying another inverter. Get the big-in.
 
I'd got with a small inverter generator, will only run at idle to power the lights on your display and I suspect you could find 3-4 Hundred other uses for it. SON bought a 5000W Champion at Northern Tool, they make 1000w & 2000w also.
 
I have done this before. Pick up a decent sized inverter and run the lights plus accessories with a 12v deep cycle if you have it. A regular battery will work also just not as much run time. Afterwards you will find other uses for the inverter. Mine stays in the truck so I can run drills, charge cordless drill batteries, and such with it. A very handy tool.
 
The folks who run your parade will know what the other floats are using, or they can get you in touch with them.
 
According to Red Green when he mounted a ceiling fan under a K car and used it for a lawn mower,all you have to do is use one of those convertors and wire it up backwards. LOL
 
JD Seller, can you explain to me why my 300 watt inverter will not run a 75 watt incandesant light bulb.? and it was that way from new. A 300 what invertor should run 3 75 watt bulbs with no problem with capacity to spare. It is in my junk pile now.
 
I purchased cheap inverter (15 amp built in breaker) Wired to 2 12V batteries for parade longevity. Used for lightded golf cart parade. All lights where 120 volt. Parade about 45 minutes. Still on at end of it.
 
We built a float several years back with the main feature being Santa's sleigh,lots a lights, borrowed a small quiet generator and put in the sled. Worked great plenty of power and couldn't hear it over the tractors.
 
I run lights plus an inflatable polar bear with a little 1250 watt Powermate generator. It is about the same level of noise as a push mower 3 or 4 houses away. I tried an inverter, and it would run it along with the several strings of lights with no trouble, but the blower on the inflatable pulled enough current it would take a very large battery, which I do not have. So if just lights an inverter and good battery will last through most parades, but add one or more inflatables and you need a portable generator.
 
#63024 in Harbor Freight- could you look and see if this is sufficient for one blowup- with lights and fan motor. It is 700
watts....thanks.
 

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