Mounting lights to awning rail??

[PHS79]

I bought some RGB LED strip lights to mount to the awning the lights that I bought are IP66 rated (basically they are fully encased in silicone). Today I tried to put them up but the 3M tape that I had from a previous project Two Rolls 3M Acrylic Foam Adhesive Automotive Industrial Double Sided Tape | eBay would not stick to the back of the lights.

Should I tape an aluminum channel to the rail and put the lights inside of it (for an extra $85)? I would rather just mount the lights to the rail with tape but I am not sure what will stick to the back of these lights, any recommendations??

[wahoonc]

Try using some silicone caulking, put dabs on the rail and bed the lights into it. The other option is to buy some tape rated for the silicone.

Aaron

[bob caldwell]

I used the alum channel.....screwed into rail and sealed screws....no mess to clean up when they burn out and changing led strips

[crunchman12001]

Did you clean the light strip with alcohol?

Edit: wahoonc, never new about silcone tape, thanks for learning me something new today.
PHS79, try that if alcohol wipe does not work. My LED's all ready had Chinese sticky tape applied. IP65's so my 3M tape worked.

[bob caldwell]

Originally Posted by crunchman12001

Did you clean the light strip with alcohol?

I bought the clear channel cover for the channel, cut it into 12" lengths, spread those out, inserted strip, done....leave the tape on the strip....it's an insulator..

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

I bought the clear channel cover for the channel, cut it into 12" lengths, spread those out, inserted strip, done....leave the tape on the strip....it's an insulator..

Sorry bob caldwell, alcohol cleaning was for OP.

[PHS79]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

I used the alum channel.....screwed into rail and sealed screws....no mess to clean up when they burn out and changing led strips

Good point about replacement in the future! What size and style of screws did you use? Also what channel? I found this on amazon, http://www.amazon.com/LEDwholesalers...+strip+channel

Originally Posted by crunchman12001

Did you clean the light strip with alcohol?

Edit: wahoonc, never new about silcone tape, thanks for learning me something new today.
PHS79, try that if alcohol wipe does not work. My LED's all ready had Chinese sticky tape applied. IP65's so my 3M tape worked.

I first tried without the alcohol, then with wiping it down. Unfortunately both had the same result.

I did not know anything about the silicone tape either, but I will look into it.

[bob caldwell]

What you found is what I used.....think I used #4 x1/2" sheet metal screws, I went with the ones that require a countersink...

[Swift 2]

I usually put contact cement on most serfaces before I put the LED strips down. Haven't tryed it outside yet.