Day-Viz strip holders

[Popeye]

Some of us want to mount the Day-Viz LED strips where there is a carpeted surface. Double sided sticky tape is not going to stick very well. Cutting out a piece of carpet is not really an option either. I have devised a plastic holder using the spare Plano 3700 dividers that can be srewed or pop rivited in place. The LED strips snap in place and can easily be removed and swapped out (more an option now that Mike has different colors to choose from).

Tools involved:
Tin snips, needle-nosed pliers, ball point pen, propane torch, bucket of cool/cold water (safety item)

Step by step:
1. Cut off the vertical ridges that go in the channels
2. Cut off the top part where the finger grips are. Trial and error I decided to cut on what would be the 4th finger grip ridge (If there were 4, mine had only 3 so I had to “imagine” where the 4th would be.
3. CAREFULLY heat the bottom of the divider. I heated the side with the part number.
4. Using the needle-nosed pliers bend the bottom ¼” just over 90 degrees. The top of the numbers should be just at the outside radius of the bend.
5. Place the LED Strip on the inside of the divider and scribe a line with the ball point pen along the free edge of the LED strip (should be about ¼” there too).
6. CAREFULLY heat the other side of the divider.
7. CAREFULLY bend the divider on the scribed line just over 90 degrees.
8. Snap the LED Strip in the clamp and press down on the edges to form fit it around the LED strip.
9. Drill a couple of holes in the back of the clamp and attach with pop rivets (that’s what I’m going to do) or screws. You could attach the clamp with strong double sided tape but I figure if you could use the tape you would just stick the LED Strip to that with out the clamp.

I started out using a hair dryer and it worked somewhat, but took too long to heat the plastic. The bucket of water is for when (NOT IF) you get your fingers too hot.

This picture is of the various completed steps.


Here is the 6 LED strip inserted in one of the completed holders.


Hope this helps someone besides me. As soon as the weather warms up a bit, I'll be out there tearing my boat up to run the wires and install my LED strips.

[Mike Daleo]

Very innovative Andy! Good thinking! Thanks to you, I think I will try to find something to stock for situations just like yours

[MsgMills]

What or where exactly are these lights attached to a boat trailer for? Are they just added for looks to light up your boat trailer? Need more input.....

[Popeye]

I didn't put them on the trailer. I installed them in the rod lockers, gear storage and under the seats. I wired them in with the nav lights system so they are on when the nav lights are on. I night and predawn fish and it sure makes it easier to get gear without having to hold a flashlight. I guess you could use one of those lights that clips to your hat, but personally I hate wearing hats and the light never shines where my bifocals focus.

[Mike Daleo]

We haven't done much with trailers, mostly compartment lighting like Andy said, however we are working on a remote controlled system that will allow you to run a couple of strips up the inside of the bunks on the trailer that will make putting the boat on the trailer easier at night for those with bad vision.

[MsgMills]

Sounds like a neat plan to me. Anything to help someone out and make loading their boat easier for sure.

Also in case anyone doesn't know about the neat trick I learned while at KY Lake a few weeks ago.

When you are ready to load your boat onto the trailer, go ahead and back the trailer all the way into the water so that both the bunk boards get totally wet. The water that is on them when your boat contacts them will help let your boat slide more easily onto the trailer. Much, much easier to load if this is done, instead of trying to load the boat onto dry bunk boards and the friction makes loading harder. I've done this now everytime I load my boat and it sure works easier.

[Nikon Man]

#3M Automotive Double Sided Tape works great too. Make sure surface is clean because once you put it down, it better be where you want it because it won't come back off without distroying the LED's. For irregular surfaces, BOAT LIFE MARINE silicone caulk work perfect and it's plenty strong. I used the silcone inside my battery compartment to place my LED's.

[SwatDawg]

Good Idea