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Topic: LED Florescent Light replacement  (Read 3920 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #50 –
Chuck, same thing happened to me when I was putting in my led strip lighting.  The leds were crossed and when I uncrossed them, voila', worked fine.

 I had some issues with getting them to stick.  Last time I changed some out, I used an alcohol wipe to attempt to clean the aluminum surface and allowed time for it to dry before applying.  I also think the non waterproof led strips stay put a little better.  I think the reason is that they just don't weigh as much.  I got the waterproof ones to stay in place with zip ties.  Anyway, I haven't had the issue of them dropping down over time with the non waterproof ones and wiping with alcohol prior to application.  I also got better results with the non waterproof ones when soldering the wires to the strips.  I put the strip on the light and left about an inch loose.  I soldered to the loose piece and after the solder finished placement.  The idea of sticking it to the fixture base was to hold that thing still whilst soldering. 

I heard a neat trick that maybe others have tried.  I got another roll of waterproof leds, I am going to apply that to my main awning (aluminum) along the length.  I plan to run a wire from the leds to the porch light.  Mine had a push button that I removed.  I thought I would put a female on the porch light fixture and then run a male to the led strip on the  awning.  It has a female attached to the strip.  Soooo... 2 male ended wire to plug into the porch light and also to the awning when I have it unrolled.  Put it up when not being used.  That wasy if the porch light was on and awning out, I could have lights on the awning.  Led's would probably not be too much of a draw either? 
Best of Travels

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #51 –
I hit the areas starting to come loose and sag with superglue. Usually at one end. So far, so good.

Wear strong glasses and watch for the - and + when soldering and use wires color coded accordingly.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #52 –
I too had the light strips coming loose even after cleaning the aluminum very well.  I am now trying some very heavy duty double sided carpet tape and then stick the LEDs to that.  We'll see how well they stick.  So far (about 3 weeks) things are holding well.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #53 –
I found my problem with the porch light. My initial solderjoint at the first LED strip. It was fine on the bench, and fine when I tested it again on teh wall, but all 3 times I switched it over to the coach wiring it must have wiggled the lead just enough to make it not work. Figures... revising solderjoint now. I am finding that hot melt is a great way to both hold the errant strips down, and to immobilize teeny finicky homebrew wiring and solder joints.
Jay
1989 U280 SE, 36', 3208T Cat, build 3292

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #54 –
I have found that hot glue eventually deteriorates enough to let go and stickyback tape unsticks under heat. My solution was to smear some Shoe Goo and then brace the parts together for a few hours. The parts will never come apart until you take them apart and the Shoe Goo is easily removed. Shoe Goo is found in the shoe department at your Walmart store, is clear and dries clear. When dry it has a rubbery feel to it. I first discovered how effective it is when the shoulder pad on our old landline phones kept coming off. I Shoe Goo-ed it and never had failure again.

I did Shoe Goo the ends of some of my 18" LED light strips when we were down in TX this last winter and they are still holding.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #55 –
I have not had any issues with my LED strip lighting. I cleaned the surface with acetone before I applied the LED strips, so far they are holding very well.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #56 –
I cleaned the surface well and 95% stuck securely with a tiny bit at the end with the wires sagging a little. I used some superglue on a toothpick to apply some to the backing in the problem area and have had no trouble since.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #57 –
My super sticky double sided carpet tape also seems to be holding OK.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #58 –
Lee Valley has some very nice surface and flush mount LED strip light channels and diffusers at what seems to me to be pretty agreeable prices.  You can make your own light fixtures, protect the LED strips and have a really professional look.  Perfect for the closets and the insides of those cabinets where you want light.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=71702&cat=51&ap=1

LeeValley.com has very high quality tools, nice bargains at times,  wide variety of hardware and  huge catalog of gardening stuff.  Request catalogs just to look at the pictures.  They are one of my favorite suppliers for lots of stuff.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #59 –
If you can't find shoe goo, goop is the same thing and it is sold everywhere
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #60 –
LeeValley.com has very high quality tools, nice bargains at times,  wide variety of hardware and  huge catalog of gardening stuff.  Request catalogs just to look at the pictures.  They are one of my favorite suppliers for lots of stuff.

Roger
[/quote]
You cost me a lot of time ;D (went through their online catalog) and if I still had my woodworking shop you would have cost me a lot of $$$$$ :)) . What a great site, added to my favorites. ^.^d

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #61 –
@Roger Great find! I've made up light strips from 3/4" aluminum angle iron for my bays but it's not near as professional looking as the surface mount ones from Lee Valley. May have to use those in my closets. Thanks for posting.

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #62 –
I look, make my list and wait for a free shipping offer by email.  They usually last a week.  Good time to buy.  Probably have to get on their email list first. Even if you have to pay shipping it is pretty reasonable relative to many others.  And their shipping is prompt.

Happy shopping.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #63 –
Quote from: Home2fromHastings –
I look, make my list and wait for a free shipping offer by email.  They usually last a week.  Good time to buy.  Probably have to get on their email list first. Even if you have to pay shipping it is pretty reasonable relative to many others.  And their shipping is prompt.

Happy shopping.

Roger

Roger,Lee Valley great site, I'm just getting started thinking about LED lighting. I take it as our systems are already 12V DC one does not need to install a power supply for the LED strips.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: LED Florescent Light replacement

Reply #64 –
You are good to go with the 12v as it is.  You can get 110v to 12v dimmable transformers if you want to have variable lighting.  They draw very little power.

Shop around for LED lighting on a roll.  The very high quality, high density, warm white strips can cost $8/ft +.  I have bought LED strip lights on a spool at EBay for closer to $2/ft.  The EBay lights don't seen quite as bright but they seem to be lasting.  Just use as many as you need to get the light level you want.

I have replaced all of the fluorescents and most of the 10w halogen lights now with LED.  I have not found a good replacement yet for the small round ceiling lights.  The LED bulbs that fit are not bright enough.  I have to see what FT is using in the newer coaches.

Use warm white inside I like the look better than cool white.  I used the cool white LEDs that I got to compare with warm white in the basement.  They work fine there.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN