12v LED Lights. Best Way to Mount them in a CT?

[mrdenn1s]

What do you guys do?

I have some basic LED strips that have the standard sticky backing. I just place them on the spreader poles after setup, but they are losing their "stick".

Is there a better way?

[Marschy]

40mm clear heatshrink

[xcvator]

I got some small aluminium channel from the bgs, super glued the strip into that and the placed a rare earth magnet at each end of the back of the channel held on with heat shrink tube. These just stay attached to the tent frame all the time.
Heat shrink and magnets available from jkar stores
 

[paceman]

as marschy and xcvator have suggested, clear heatshrink and magnets are a good and flexible option.

here's mine, with rare earth magnets heatshrunk (white heatshrink) to some pvc pipe and then clear heatshrink over the top:

[Bird]

Nail gun.

[mrdenn1s]

I'm missing something.

What's with the magnets? Just a normal magnet?

[Marschy]

An alternative to the magnets, is velcro. You can buy 2 metre rolls of double sided velcro from Bunnings. Velcro can be wrapped around your spreader, and around your light, effectively giving you countless possibilities with regard where to mount the lights.

Wrap Adjustable Velcro 25mm 2m Black Vl25572 $10.39

Hook one side, loop the other, cut it to suit what length you need, very handy stuff.

[xcvator]

I'm missing something.

What's with the magnets? Just a normal magnet?

Not "normal" magnets. The ones I use are called rare earth magnets they are much stronger than normal magnets and will hold the lights in place on the tent frame through the canvas.
Tip handle with care, they can nip your fingers 

[neilsk]

zip ties to the poles. use the zip ties to keep the cabling tidy. this is for the inside of the tent. for the outside, i run a shock cord and led light strip.

[Azz]

If you give the poles a clean first with shellite, then use 3m Primer on the metal before attaching, it will stick like poo to a blanket.

[Lori]

We have recently upgraded our lighting, but our old LED lighting we bought as a 15mtr roll with gel coating over the LEDs and the sticky back.

We ran our wiring up the poles and ran the lights across the top poles, all held in place with cable ties (not to tight or it will sever through gel coating on the lights) It meant the lights were always in position and ready to turn on as soon as we opened to the tent.

The awning lights we cable tied onto a rope so then we just had to hook it upto the connection that permanently stayed in place and then hook the lights/rope around the poles. Easy.

Since upgrading our lights are now in their own hard casing and we use magnets to keep them in place, same setup for cabling on the inside using the cable ties and on the outside we use velcro strips to tidy the wiring into place.

[Hoyks]

I tried the supplied sticky backing but it lasted all of 10 minutes, even with a good scrub with metho before attaching to the camper. I then got some quality 3M automotive foam double sided tape and stuck it on with that. 6 months and 1/2 the Cape later and they are still attached.

[nackdog]

I use a piece of conduite with one side cut off, these clip very nicely over the tent poles. The LED tape then sticks to the conduite.

[tweed prado]

I found zip ties a bit harsh on the soft covering/wrap around the LED strip. I used velco strips which have worked well about 20mm wide. I bought a pack of small strips from bunnings, I think from memory it was in the lighting section with the zip ties and other cable mounting options.

[Mik01]

same as someone said earlier - 16mm ally channel from bunnys.

this is how to make your own led light bars -

make up your lengths of lights, and cut channel to suit. use sandpaper to smooth off edges at both ends, so there is no rubbing on the lights.
sikaflex or whatever down the channel - lay and lightly press light in channel so it sticks.

buy length of xmm (think I got 100mm) pvc pipe from said bunnys and ensure longer than your longest led length, with end caps - permanently stick one end cap on (sikaflex/tape whatever).
use this to store and carry around your new led light bars - can't be lost or damaged in the camper/truck/wherever.

go to fleabay - buy packs of 10 hook and loop Velcro strips - I paid just over $2 per pack of 10 delivered from hong kong phooey. yes, just $2!
mount the light bars wherever you please and when going home, simply pack away in your pvc storage pipe with Velcro strips for next time.

I've made up a fair few, some small lengths for the shower/toilet tent etc, and some longer for inside tent etc.  I have 10m extension power cables for mine, so I can easily pick up and take outside if needed.

[Mik01]

same as someone said earlier - 16mm ally channel from bunnys.

this is how to make your own led light bars -

make up your lengths of lights, and cut channel to suit. use sandpaper to smooth off edges at both ends, so there is no rubbing on the lights.
sikaflex or whatever down the channel - lay and lightly press light in channel so it sticks.

buy length of xmm (think I got 100mm) pvc pipe from said bunnys and ensure longer than your longest led length, with end caps - permanently stick one end cap on (sikaflex/tape whatever).
use this to store and carry around your new led light bars - can't be lost or damaged in the camper/truck/wherever.

go to fleabay - buy packs of 10 hook and loop Velcro strips - I paid just over $2 per pack of 10 delivered from hong kong phooey. yes, just $2!
mount the light bars wherever you please and when going home, simply pack away in your pvc storage pipe with Velcro strips for next time.

I've made up a fair few, some small lengths for the shower/toilet tent etc, and some longer for inside tent etc.  I have 10m extension power cables for mine, so I can easily pick up and take outside if needed.

sorry, I lied.
I actually paid $1.79 each pack of 10 delivered! 
if you're interested -
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10X-Nylon-Velcro-Cable-Zip-Ties-Wire-Strap-Wrap-Reusable-Hook-Loop-Cords-8-20cm-/141281157450?

[Tim - Stratford]

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=30053.0

I make different types of led covers. Let me know if that's what you are after.

Sarah

[#jonesy]

My version

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=32654.msg516574#msg516574