My solution to awning lights

[Adony]

I tried to cut a roll of 1" wide 3-M double sided tape into a narrower 3/8" strip while still on the roll using an exacto knife... While I could do it in 12 inch or so strips before the rubber table would not release the knife. I would prefer to have a full 15' on the roll ready to unwind and apply go when attaching the LED strip to the awning bracket underside. Has anyone found an easier method to do this (cut tape) or did you do it in a piece by piece effort?? Thanks

[LKicklight]

Try a local hobby store...they do make a narrow two face tap in a roll, its not 16'-0 long, think its only like 5'-0...at least you could get three and do it....If you are using LED's like the rest of us, they came with a sticky back...if that has come off for some reason, try something I found at Home Depot..It is in the countertop department, it is made by Fasade...It is used to hold a decorative product to the wall in a backsplash configuration...It is wider than 1", so I took and folded it over, it sticks to itself and still has two sides sticky...

Originally Posted by Adony

I tried to cut a roll of 1" wide 3-M double sided tape into a narrower 3/8" strip while still on the roll using an exacto knife... While I could do it in 12 inch or so strips before the rubber table would not release the knife. I would prefer to have a full 15' on the roll ready to unwind and apply go when attaching the LED strip to the awning bracket underside. Has anyone found an easier method to do this (cut tape) or did you do it in a piece by piece effort?? Thanks

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Adony

I tried to cut a roll of 1" wide 3-M double sided tape into a narrower 3/8" strip while still on the roll using an exacto knife... While I could do it in 12 inch or so strips before the rubber table would not release the knife. I would prefer to have a full 15' on the roll ready to unwind and apply go when attaching the LED strip to the awning bracket underside. Has anyone found an easier method to do this (cut tape) or did you do it in a piece by piece effort?? Thanks

I cut it on my vertical band saw and keep pulling it apart after the cut.

[papap]

Mine came with tape already on it. Then I went ahead a put a small dab of polyurethane on each end.

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by Adony

I tried to cut a roll of 1" wide 3-M double sided tape into a narrower 3/8" strip while still on the roll using an exacto knife... While I could do it in 12 inch or so strips before the rubber table would not release the knife. I would prefer to have a full 15' on the roll ready to unwind and apply go when attaching the LED strip to the awning bracket underside. Has anyone found an easier method to do this (cut tape) or did you do it in a piece by piece effort?? Thanks

I just ordered a roll off of Amazon 3M 03614 Scotch-Mount 1/2" x 15' Molding Tape
Good to go!
crunchman

[Cmmjmoore]

Originally Posted by Adony

I tried to cut a roll of 1" wide 3-M double sided tape into a narrower 3/8" strip while still on the roll using an exacto knife... While I could do it in 12 inch or so strips before the rubber table would not release the knife. I would prefer to have a full 15' on the roll ready to unwind and apply go when attaching the LED strip to the awning bracket underside. Has anyone found an easier method to do this (cut tape) or did you do it in a piece by piece effort?? Thanks

I made a jig that held a 3 ft section and used a aluminum yard strict held down with three clamps. Using a carpet knife I coupled cut 36" at a time. Then I would slide the tape up 36" clean the blade with Goop sticky remover and then cut
The next section. Whole thing took maybe 15 minute once a got the system down. My work service was an old piece of Formica counter top. Didn't have to press to hard. Good luck.

[aabshire]

I was able to find the 1/2" 3M tape at my local Autozone

3M/1/2 in. x 15 ft. molding tape

[SYE]

Use a band saw, Vertical one if you have it.

[PHS79]

Funny that the tape thing should come up again today. About 3PM I got a call from my dad, he walked past our TT which is parked under the lean-to on his shop, after just installing the lights about 10 days ago, after cleaning the surface with alcohol 2 times and only having moved the camper about 500ft total, dad said that about 2ft of my lights were hanging down from the camper. Our first trip is on the 17th, and this Sunday I am bring the camper into our house to start loading it up. But now it looks like I will be making to trip AutoZone to get 3M tape and reinstalling them on the rail with the new tape.

[jtstromsburg]

Mine sagged on the ends as well, until I used clear silicone to affix them. Just a dab on the last six inches seems to help. Pulled 60 miles or so and been 4 weeks and they still are there and feel solidly attached.

[LKicklight]

Originally placed mine directly on the Gel-coat just under the awning...probably about two inch's...pulling the lights back off next weekend and placing them directly to the awning attachment rail attached to the side. Think that will look a bit better to me....Purchased another set to replace the one that I take off, that way the adhesive back will be fresh..also have the 3M tape just in case I need it...I can use the old set that I take off somewhere else...like on the other side maybe???

Originally Posted by jtstromsburg

Mine sagged on the ends as well, until I used clear silicone to affix them. Just a dab on the last six inches seems to help. Pulled 60 miles or so and been 4 weeks and they still are there and feel solidly attached.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by LKicklight

...I can use the old set that I take off somewhere else...like on the other side maybe???

I used a set in the pantry and threaded it around to the bottoms of the shelves and put a microswitch on the door.

[ChooChooMan74]

Ran into my first issue. My silicone didn't set right around my hole. Well, I think it was the unexpected thunderstorm (should have watched the weather) less than an hour after applications. Should I try again with silicone or use something else.

http://campinglifewithmatt.blogspot....ng-lights.html

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by ChooChooMan74

Ran into my first issue. My silicone didn't set right around my hole. Well, I think it was the unexpected thunderstorm (should have watched the weather) less than an hour after applications. Should I try again with silicone or use something else.

Camping Life with Matt: Trailer Mod - LED Awning Lights

Pull them down, clean with alcohol and use 3m 2sided outdoor tape.

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Pull them down, clean with alcohol and use 3m 2sided outdoor tape.

OC, it was the silicone on my hole and wire grommet.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by ChooChooMan74

OC, it was the silicone on my hole and wire grommet.

My mistake, should have clicked on LKicklight's post.

[QCCowboy]

You all are causing me to spend way too much money Got mine most of the way completed today with the exception of finalizing the 12V connection.

I think I have learned from everyone on this thread though which has been a good part of me getting this on later. Too start with I have a 21 foot awning (had to put two sections together.) So I got to work on my soldering skills.



Next I decided to use some outdoor sprinkler low voltage wire to run from the lights, down the awning poles and into the camper. More soldering:



Finally I used the 3M tape that came with the lights, and also used silicone on both ends of the lights. I also used some to cover the small break/gap in the two sections and put a couple of beads of silicone about every 3 feet to help keep everything secure. Made sure to put enough silicone around the hole where the current power wires run through the camper after pulling the cable in.

Last but not least, run a quick test to make sure that everything worked (no solder yet, just some electrical tape.)

[RenoRock]

We had the same problem with the knife getting stuck in the tape when we first tried to split the tape width, and we didn't have a band saw. Our second attempt went much better - we cut pieces about 12" long (easier to work with that way anyway) and taped it to a piece of the "release" non-stick aluminum foil. From there we just used a utility knife and split the pieces. Came right off the aluminum foil without any problems.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by LKicklight

Originally placed mine directly on the Gel-coat just under the awning...probably about two inch's...pulling the lights back off next weekend and placing them directly to the awning attachment rail attached to the side. Think that will look a bit better to me....Purchased another set to replace the one that I take off, that way the adhesive back will be fresh..also have the 3M tape just in case I need it...I can use the old set that I take off somewhere else...like on the other side maybe???

I doubled my lights.

[awwall]

I have seen many of the posts in this thread asking about weather sealing. I think I found a good solution. It is called Liquid Tape. You make your connections, then coat with this. I turns into solid rubber and completely seals. Available in many colors.

White Liquid Tape 4 oz Container | eBay