Can headlights be powered off battery instead?

[Hossrod]

I just got a 1990 craftsman riding mower that has two headlights. They are powered off the engine rather than the battery, so their brightness varies with engine speed.

I would prefer them to stay constant, as well as to have them on with the engine off if needed. Can I run these directly off the battery instead?

TIA!

 

[reynoldston]

Should be no problem to run then off the battery. Make sure you install a fuse. Now as far as the lights dimming I am going to say you will have the same problem running them off the battery. What kind of shape is your battery in? I think you will find that they run off the battery now but from the ignition switch not the engine.