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You need a 12v > 240v invertor (assuming you want to run things that take mains voltage).

Google is your friend, although halfords will stock them.

I would also assume they aren't using car batteries, but actually leisure batteries. Car batteries don't like being fully discharged and aren't really rated for constant draw. Leisure batteries (look similar, but are larger, designed for caravans) are just the ticket for constant current draw, and being run flat.
 
As paradigm says but heavy duty leisure batteries can be expensive and it can work well with old heavy duty truck batteries which you can get for free.

I have a pair although not designed for continual load they will run lights/radios for hours on end.

Trick is to get stuff designed to run from 12v as all invertors add inefficiencies and wastes power. In our case we had 12v lights (see any garage suppliers) and used a car radio/cd player for music.
 
I use portable power tanks. They are jump starters with a 12v battery in them. Its fine for running my telescope drives and 12v lights (I use PC case cathodes as a red/white light source).
 
I use an old 60a/h car battery for camping. I've spliced a tripple cigarette lighter socket onto some crocodile clips. Everything I run (radio, phone chargers, laptop chargers, fluorescent lights) all have cigarette lighter type connectors. lasts all weekend - even watched the British Grand Prix on iPlayer with my mobile and laptop running from the car battery :-)

I have an Optimate 4 charger at home, which is fantastic at recovering batteries if I ever do run it totally flat but I tend to disconnect everything if it drops below 11.99v - which is 10% charge.
 
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