12 Volt vs 24 Volt Bowfishing Lights: Which Battery System Is Better?
When building a battery-powered bowfishing setup, one of the biggest decisions is whether to run your lights on a 12 volt system or a 24 volt system. While both can work, a 24 volt system offers major advantages when powering high-output LED bowfishing lights.
The biggest differences come down to amperage draw, wire size requirements, voltage drop, system efficiency, and overall lighting performance.
If you are looking to eliminate generators entirely and build a quiet battery-powered setup, check out our guides on generator free bowfishing lights and how to run bowfishing lights silently on battery power.
Why 24 Volt Systems Are More Efficient
Electrical power is measured in watts. The basic formula is:
Watts = Volts × Amps
This means that as voltage increases, amperage decreases for the same wattage output.
Example: 240 Watt Lighting Load
On a 12 volt system:
240 watts ÷ 12 volts = 20 amps
On a 24 volt system:
240 watts ÷ 24 volts = 10 amps
For the same wattage, the 24 volt system cuts the amperage draw in half. A 12 volt system pulls twice the amperage of a 24 volt system when powering the same total wattage.
Lower Amperage Means Smaller Wire
Higher amperage requires larger wire sizes. This is one of the biggest reasons 24 volt systems are preferred for larger bowfishing light setups.
With a 12 volt system, more amperage flows through the wiring. That means larger wire is required, wiring costs increase, heat generation increases, and voltage drop becomes more severe.
With a 24 volt system, amperage is reduced. This allows for smaller wire in many setups, cleaner wiring, lower wiring cost, and less energy lost through the electrical system.
This becomes especially important on larger bowfishing boats where wiring runs may be long. Many boats have long front deck runs, multiple lights, extension harnesses, switches, fuse panels, connectors, and distribution blocks. All of these can contribute to resistance and voltage drop.
If you are wiring a battery-powered setup, we also recommend reading our detailed guide on how to wire bowfishing lights to a battery system.
Voltage Drop Is a Major Problem on 12 Volt Systems
Voltage drop is one of the biggest causes of lighting performance issues on high-output LED bowfishing systems.
The higher the amperage, the more voltage drop occurs through the wiring. This can lead to dimmer lights, inconsistent color output, flickering, unstable driver performance, premature shutdowns, and reduced overall efficiency.
Because a 24 volt system cuts amperage in half, voltage drop is significantly reduced. This helps the lights maintain stable voltage, operate more efficiently, run more consistently, and produce better overall light output.
Why Some High Output Bowfishing Lights Should Only Run on 24 Volts
Many LED lights can technically operate on either 12 volt or 24 volt systems. However, that does not always mean both are equally ideal.
The higher the wattage of the light, the more problematic 12 volt operation becomes due to amperage demand.
Swamp Eye HD Bowfishing Lights
The Swamp Eye HD series is designed as an ultra high-output, wide-coverage bowfishing light.
Because of the higher wattage and intensity of the HD system, amperage draw on 12 volts becomes extremely high. While the lights can technically operate on 12 volts, Outrigger Outdoors recommends running Swamp Eye HDs only on a 24 volt system for optimal performance and reliability.
Excessive amperage on a 12 volt setup can contribute to voltage drop, flickering, inconsistent operation, reduced efficiency, and additional stress on wiring and electrical components.
A 24 volt system keeps amperage manageable and allows the Swamp Eye HDs to perform the way they were designed to.
For complete multi-light setups, mounting hardware, and wiring accessories, you can also view the Swamp Eye HD Bowfishing Light Kit.
Bowfishing Lights Compatible With 12 Volt Systems
The following Outrigger Outdoors bowfishing lights are compatible with 12 volt battery systems:
The Swamp Eye Silent Series lights are extremely popular for generator-free bowfishing boats due to their efficient design, low profile housing, and ability to run quietly on battery systems.
The Swamp Eye Gen 2.X Light Bars are another excellent option for battery-powered boats and offer a more focused flood pattern while still maintaining adjustable color technology.
If you are building a complete setup, Outrigger Outdoors also offers the Swamp Eye Silent Series Bowfishing Light Kit and the Swamp Eye Gen 2.X Light Bar Kit.
Bowfishing Lights Compatible With 24 Volt Systems
The following Outrigger Outdoors bowfishing lights are compatible with 24 volt battery systems:
- Swamp Eye Gen 2.X Light Bars
- Swamp Eye Silent Series Bowfishing Lights
- Swamp Eye HD Bowfishing Lights
For larger boats, higher-output setups, and customers wanting better electrical efficiency, 24 volt systems are generally the preferred option.
The Swamp Eye HD is especially ideal for 24 volt setups due to its extremely high output and wide beam coverage.
Battery Choice Matters Too
The type of battery you use can also dramatically affect runtime, overall boat weight, charging performance, and long-term reliability.
If you are deciding between lithium and traditional marine batteries, read our complete guide comparing lithium vs lead acid batteries for bowfishing boats.
Is 12 Volt Ever Better?
A 12 volt system can still make sense in certain situations. It may be simpler for smaller boats, easier to integrate with existing marine electronics, and less complicated for basic battery-powered setups.
For smaller lighting setups or lower wattage systems, 12 volt operation can work perfectly fine.
However, once you begin increasing total wattage and light output, the advantages of 24 volt systems become very clear.
Final Thoughts
If you are running modern high-output LED bowfishing lights, a 24 volt battery system is generally the better choice.
The benefits include lower amperage draw, reduced voltage drop, smaller wire requirements, improved efficiency, more stable light performance, and better reliability overall.
For lower wattage setups, 12 volt systems can still perform well. But for ultra high-output lighting like the Swamp Eye HD series, 24 volts is strongly recommended to prevent excessive amperage-related issues and help the lights operate at full potential.
To compare all available lighting options, browse the full collection of bowfishing lights from Outrigger Outdoors.
