I usually run them all the time after dark except when the bugs are really bad. They are really inexpensive and dont take a lot of juice to run them. I cant see the shore from about 50 feet away when I have them at 100%. I did buy a remote so I can dim them or turn then on and off from anywhere in the boat. I also have these same lights around the inside of my boat which are also on a remote so I can dim them down. I think I have about $50 into the whole set up which includes 5 strings of lights at 16.5 feet each and 2 remotes. Like I said fairly inexpensive.