Bout some LED bulbs from eBay. The 3m tape isn't keeping the panel stuck. What can I use to keep the panel from falling? Can't say I'm too impressed with the panels. The contacts are soldered very well and some go out and some stay lit. Oh well, got what I paid for I guess.

Silicone sealer (RTV). Put a dab on the back of the panel (right on the 3-M tape is fine), and stick in the appropriate position in the receptacle. Take a folded paper towel or something, and put between the cover lens and the panel to hold the panel in position (OBVIOUSLY don't turn the light on while the paper/whatever is between the panel and the lens), and snap the cover lens in place. After a few hours, the RTV will be cured, and the LED will stick in place. Remove the paper. I've done 10 LED's in my RV this way, and it works EVERY TIME.

I had some that had double sides tabs with a red backing, that stuff didn't stick well at all. So I turned on all the lights to allow the tape to heat up and make it easier to remove. Then I used actual 3M double sided tape and have not had any of the panels come off and it's been over a year.

I tie-wrapped mine to the reflectors.

Due to the differences in light fixtures, a one size fits all solution may not be possible.Here's what I did.My fixtures had a white reflector/heat shield that sort of bowed out from the under lying plastic. This made it impossible fotr the LED panels to lay flat and for the tape to have any chance of holding.I removed the reflector/shield as it really isn't needed with LEDS.At 12 volts they run much cooler than the incandescent bulbs they are replacing.I was then able to stick the panels on the flat plastic surface that was underneath. The tape isn't real 3M. I wasn't confident in it, so I put a dab of silicone (because I had a open tube handy) on each corner.Been on quite a few trips an miles of rough roads. Not one has fallen.I did have one out of about 20 that had a failed solder joint. It was easy to resolder it. Even it I had replaced it, at the low cost, I wouldn't have minded.One thing to keep in mind. Although the panels run cooler than regular bulbs at 12 volts, at higher voltages they can get hot.So there is potential for over heating when on shore/generator power.To prevent this I installed voltage regulators on the two circuits that I have LEDS on. Cheap enough and not too hard to do.

LED bulbs not sticking | Good Sam Community

DarthMuffin
Explorer
Jun 13, 2013
As my light panels fall off (about half of them now) I'm sticking them back with 3m auto trim tape. You should be able to get a roll from any auto store or even Walmart. Great stuff and a permanent solution as far as I'm concerned.
bdpreece
Explorer II
Jun 13, 2013
I had heard of the tape problems so I also used Amazing household Goop Just a little on the edges seems to hold well.
tvman44
Explorer
Jun 13, 2013
Have not had any problems with the 3M tape sticking, but I do clean the surface real well with rubbing alcohol first. Love my 48 LED panels from E-Bay. :)
sherpaxc
Explorer
Jun 13, 2013
Thanks for the tips. I was worried it would melt the lens. Maybe I'll just leave it and see what happens.
Pauljdav
Explorer
Jun 13, 2013
Hmm. Mine all fell off and are held in place by the "lens" I did not even notice until I was showing them to my dad. Since I did not even notice they get to stay held up by the "lens"
downtheroad
Explorer
Jun 13, 2013
I did this:
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Jun 13, 2013
mguay wrote:
Did you clean the surface first? Rubbing Alcohol and a cotton ball. Let it dry for a bit and you should be good to go.
I second that!!! And the dabs of silicone on the ends.
ScottG
Nomad
Jun 13, 2013
I had the same problem. The two sided tape came off both the LED light and my fixture. I had some 3M double sided tape that I bought at an auto-body supply place that I replaced it with and they've stayed stuck for three years now.
It's expensive but it works great - it's the same stuff they use to adhere plastic emblems to cars.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Jun 13, 2013
SAR Tracker wrote:
Silicone sealer (RTV). Put a dab on the back of the panel (right on the 3-M tape is fine), and stick in the appropriate position in the receptacle. Take a folded paper towel or something, and put between the cover lens and the panel to hold the panel in position (OBVIOUSLY don't turn the light on while the paper/whatever is between the panel and the lens), and snap the cover lens in place. After a few hours, the RTV will be cured, and the LED will stick in place. Remove the paper. I've done 10 LED's in my RV this way, and it works EVERY TIME.

x2, or just pop out the metal reflector, and use rtv to stick it down while on it is on a workbench.

BTW, many of the ebay chinese arrays don't appear to be using the real and correct VHB from 3M and second, if they are on when the converter is in bulk charging mode (14.6V) and are un regulated, they arrays get to hot and are at a LED junction temp that can lead to premature failure of the LED's. Been there, done that. We dry camp a lot and my first ones did as you've seen, and the LED's gradually got dimmer and dimmer.

switched to current regulated arrays and not only are they much brighter than the ebay units I had, but they work and stay bright.
mguay
Explorer
Jun 13, 2013
Did you clean the surface first? Rubbing Alcohol and a cotton ball. Let it dry for a bit and you should be good to go.

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LED bulbs not sticking

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