Mount Aluminum Channel for LED Light Strip

[swampgator352]

I am in the process of adding some LED strip lights to my RV and am planning to mount them in an aluminum channel below the awning. I am quite hesitant to drill in to the fiberglass sidewall to mount the aluminum so was considering heavy-duty auto emblem tape instead. Does this seem like a reasonable alternative? Has anyone had any experience installing something similar?

[Lt Keefer]

I bought a replacement light strip for my coach and the plastic channel is held on with 3M brand auto trim two sided tape. It has lasted through one Texas summer and one extremely cold Texas winter. If you think about it, millions of automobiles have trim and moldings held in place with this stuff. I'd say go for it as long as you use 3M brand.

[Hugh.vines@att.net]

Just buy lights that are sticky on one side you wasn’t need channel

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Hugh.vines@att.net

Just buy lights that are sticky on one side you wasn’t need channel

Yup! If you're mounting a channel with "tape": keep it simple, and just mount the strips with that tape...

[AxialFlux]

I mounted my LED strip under the awning on the little ledge where the awning fabric mounts. Works great! Also, most of those strips have very bad adhesive on them. Replacing that with small strips of VHB/ trim tape guarantees they will not come off.

[Hugh.vines@att.net]

I bought mine from hi lites and they came with 3m

[Bob Denman]

I like the products from TricLEDs.
WWW.TRICLEDUSA.COM

[swampgator352]

Originally Posted by Hugh.vines@att.net

Just buy lights that are sticky on one side you wasn’t need channel

I thought about using the tape that came on the strip lights, but several reviews noted that the included tape was not very heavy duty. I can't get the picture out of my head of driving down the highway with my new light strips flapping in the breeze, so I opted to try and find something stronger.

[Bob Denman]

Buy the stuff that autonbody shops use to stick the side moldings on doors.

[MJC62]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Buy the stuff that autonbody shops use to stick the side moldings on doors.

3M emblem and trim adhesive. Comes in a tube for around $4.

[swampgator352]

3M emblem adhesive it is! Thanks all!

[Norrirn]

Originally Posted by Lt Keefer

I bought a replacement light strip for my coach and the plastic channel is held on with 3M brand auto trim two sided tape. It has lasted through one Texas summer and one extremely cold Texas winter. If you think about it, millions of automobiles have trim and moldings held in place with this stuff. I'd say go for it as long as you use 3M brand.

I've done the same except I didn't bother with the aluminum channel. The light strip has been in place under out awning for at least three years. Now I'm beginning to wonder how difficult it might be to remove that two sided tape.