Carpoon, I started out with a battery set up. I used 5 -12 volt lights that I got a walmart. Don't remember the wattage that they put out. I had two large marine batteries in Parellel. It worked ok. Was great as being quite, but just did not have enough power in murkey water. Plus about 4 hours and the batteries were dead. They do work good down in ky after big heads. The water is clear there and you do not have the lights on much. You just turn them on and off as you need to to shoot fish. After a year I bit the bullet and got a genny and halegon lights. but it is a nice cheap way to get your feet wet.