LED strip lighting - falls down..

[Mac26Mpaul]

I recently (finally) got around to installing some LED strip lighting in the boat. I just wired it into the galley cabin light switch and ran it down the deckhead port side. I was sceptical about this stuff but it is bloody great, fixes the poor light in the cabin problem very nicely
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/330955322011 ... 1439.l2649

There is just one issue with it, The sticky backing stuff is crap, it starts all falling down in less than a day, and this is mid winter, in summer, I'm sure it wont last an hour...

Now if LEDs actually lasted the hundreds of thousands of hours they claim, I'd just glue the strip up there, but in my experience, they don't last that long, so I certainly won't be gluing it - Has anyone come up with a decent way to keep this LED strip light stuff up because other than this problem, it is bloody great stuff and cheap as chips?

[DaveC426913]

Yep. We bought lots of sticky-hangy things before realizing that they don't stay put.

[Y.B.Normal]

I had the same problem when I tried to attach wiring attach pads in my bilge. Did you make sure the fiberglass was absolutely clean before you attached the strips? If not, use Acetone to remove all the wax or mold release where you're attaching the adhesive strips. Best to use rubber gloves so you don't get the Acetone on your skin.

[Russ]

I had the same problem when I tried to attach wiring attach pads in my bilge. Did you make sure the fiberglass was absolutely clean before you attached the strips? If not, use Acetone to remove all the wax or mold release where you're attaching the adhesive strips. Best to use rubber gloves so you don't get the Acetone on your skin.

+1

I have some of that stuff in my boat. Can't get it off it sticks so well. There are some places where it has started to come down, places where it wasn't super clean and/or smooth. On clean smooth fiberglass, it's on like a rock.

I've used it all over the place at home. I have a long strip under a railing illuminating the dark steps. Have some under cabinets and I installed some for backlighting a projector screen in my home theater.

You should give it another try, or another supplier. Perhaps you got some bad stock. It's all made in China, but mine came with very sticky stuff.

I will say the life expectancy of these is not thousands of hours. I've seen some burn out already. The lights I have under the hand rail on my steps are dimmed about 50% because they are too bright. They run 24/7 for the past 2 years and are all functioning. I think because they are not full power.

I use this dimmer
http://www.amazon.com/LEDwholesalers-LE ... led+dimmer
I may install one on the boat as well.

Here it is in my aft berth. Dark in there normally.

[mastreb]

3m double sided foam tape. You can tear it off and remove the residue with Goo-gone.

[mastreb]

Here it is in my aft berth. Dark in there normally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKPoHgKcqag&feature=kp

[Russ]

Here it is in my aft berth. Dark in there normally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKPoHgKcqag&feature=kp

LOL

You should see the disco ball in the V-Berth

[Crikey]

You're killin me!
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/3393 ... lows-.html

[Mac26Mpaul]

Ooohhh, that purple pizza oven looks so inviting, groovy man

I got one of these remote controls for dimming and for the kids to get excited about the strobe light mode (me and misses don't get to do anything on the boat that involves getting excited about anything )
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261457184996 ... 1439.l2649

Okay, I did give the deckhead a bit of a wipe down with a rag but that was about it, so maybe I should have cleaned it properly first mmm

I have used 3M tape for a few things in the boat and it is great stuff. Its survived a few summers here and our summers are hot. So I guess that would be simplest:

Price is right!
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3M-Auto-Acry ... 3f158056c1

cheers

[Matt19020]

Mine have been in for 2 years 8 degrees to 101+ degrees...None have fallen ...my adhesive tape was labeled 3M..The colors are no longer accurate... wipe surface down with alcohol or acetone...still the talk of the dock....
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... it=+lights

[Mac26Mpaul]

That looks great

yeah, the sticky backing on mine deffinately don't have the sticking power of 3m tape which I'v had great success with elsewhere - anyway, I'v ordered some 8mm stuff on fleabay and confident that will fix the problem.

cheers,
Paul

[81venture]

I have LED lights in our VN23...I also used "Sticky back" cable squares for running all my wires. They are little squares with a sticky back, and then you zip tie your wires to them. Used a lot in the Alarm industry, and my buddy gives me a new bag of em from his Company when I run out.

Knowing full well the sticky back will eventually fail here is how I have always dealt with it.

I use the sticky back to run my wires/lights....then as they slowly over time come loose get a tube of 5 min epoxy from walmart...mix up a little, apply to the back of the light or the cable tie pads and hold it there for a few min....

epoxy dries, and it stays put for good.

Epoxy tube is about $5 and comes in that "dual syringe" style container