LED Light strips

[debit.servus]

I am planning to acquire and install LED light strips in the van. Does anybody have above-basic tips & tricks relating to installing LED light stripping, and how do the lights perform regarding to enlightening a mobile space? These are the LEDs I am planning to buy: 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF65MC/&tag=cheaprvliving-20
I did about an hour of amazon.com browing balancing price and quality for LED light stripping, figuring out the 12v LED light product with the lowest cost per watt of light; so you don't have to. I am a poor boi with little money.

I found this for use with USB battery backups: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T4GPPD8/&tag=cheaprvliving-20

&tag=cheaprvliving-20

 

[VJG1977]

I am planning to acquire and install LED light strips in the van. Does anybody have above-basic tips & tricks relating to installing LED light stripping, and how do the lights perform regarding to enlightening a mobile space? These are the LEDs I am planning to buy: 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF65MC/&tag=cheaprvliving-20
I did about an hour of amazon.com browing balancing price and quality for LED light stripping, figuring out the 12v LED light product with the lowest cost per watt of light; so you don't have to. I am a poor boi with little money.

I found this for use with USB battery backups: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T4GPPD8/&tag=cheaprvliving-20

&tag=cheaprvliving-20

I got those same lights in the mail yesterday.  Have also received red, blue and green light strips and dimmers for each strip.  Tested each strip and was very impressed with the light output.  These will light my cargo trailer conversion.  I'm looking for some kind of reflector to attach the strips.  Considering a length of PVC pipe split in half and lined with mylar.

 

[FALCON]

I used LED light bars. I bought some along with rails that hold them and have a translucent (diffusive) cover, and some mounting hardware. All this ended up being a bit pricy compared to what is possible. I like them a LOT though. The nice thing about them is that because there are so many lights, the lighting is very spread out and you will have very few or no hard shadows from the lights.

These posts from my build journal are about my lights and may be helpful:

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-FALCON-S-Aventuremobile-conversion-thread?pid=135763#pid135763

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-FALCON-S-Aventuremobile-conversion-thread?pid=139123#pid139123

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-FALCON-S-Aventuremobile-conversion-thread?pid=140282#pid140282

 

[MikeRuth]

I am planning to acquire and install LED light strips in the van. Does anybody have above-basic tips & tricks relating to installing LED light stripping, and how do the lights perform regarding to enlightening a mobile space? These are the LEDs I am planning to buy: 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF65MC/&tag=cheaprvliving-20
I did about an hour of amazon.com browing balancing price and quality for LED light stripping, figuring out the 12v LED light product with the lowest cost per watt of light; so you don't have to. I am a poor boi with little money.

I found this for use with USB battery backups: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T4GPPD8/&tag=cheaprvliving-20

&tag=cheaprvliving-20

Best tip I have is use some additional adhesive about every foot as the adhesive on the strip is not the best. 
I just put a couple drops of 'Welder" glue and that does the trick for me.

 

[Mobilesport]

I have boxes and boxes of led light strips , wiring , switches , remote controls  and knowledge
I want to sale cheap

 

[Gigi]

I used LED light bars. I bought some along with rails that hold them and have a translucent (diffusive) cover, and some mounting hardware. All this ended up being a bit pricy compared to what is possible. I like them a LOT though. The nice thing about them is that because there are so many lights, the lighting is very spread out and you will have very few or no hard shadows from the lights.

These posts from my build journal are about my lights and may be helpful:

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-FALCON-S-Aventuremobile-conversion-thread?pid=135763#pid135763

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-FALCON-S-Aventuremobile-conversion-thread?pid=139123#pid139123

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-FALCON-S-Aventuremobile-conversion-thread?pid=140282#pid140282

Wow your lights look great!  I have them on my Amazon wishlist!  
Gigi

 

[debit.servus]

The led strip came, and figured the best housing was a 1/2 Inner Dimension clear vinyl tube. These lights were flexible and wouldn't go all the way into the tube. My sister had 10 semi-rigid fiberglass backed 4" LED strip lights, I traded the flexible strip for two of those and ended up installing those into the van. Wired the strips up utilizing the connectors the strip had, then Put the strips into 5' legnths of 1/2 inch ID clear vinyl tubing (anything smaller and it will be extremely hard to fit the strip into) with toilet paper stuffed into the ends to prevent dust from coming inside.

Installed it that night into the van, zip tying them to the ceiling bars parellel to the hightop. Took an 12v plug with exposed DC wires and connected it. Wow! The lighting is better than the 120v flourescent lighting installed in the van. Plan to install an on/off switch and fuse inline. Pictures coming soon.

Then they began flickering and I don't want the strip to burn out, so I haven't used them after that. Is flickering normal or what do I need to ensure long term use out of these lights?

 

[SoulRaven]

I cringed when I read this post!

If the lights are flickering, you have a problem.  Is polarity important on LED's?  I really don't know, but if it is, maybe that's your problem and you damaged something.

Never, EVER, use something like toilet paper around electrical connections or wiring that could get hot enough to ignite it.  TP also has the potential of collecting moisture, another thing you don't want around electrical connections.

In such a situation I was taught to use rubber balloons, rubber gloves, or plastic wrap, if no appropriate plugs or caps are available.

 

[bcbullet]

One thing to keep in mind, depending on brand and style etc. these little devils can be energy hogs...around 7-14 watts per yard of strip. I rimmed the ceiling of our extended Dodge van (about 10 yards total) and we only use them for (ahem, cough cough) "mood lighting" what with the changing colours and all. For main lighting we just use three dual lamp RV fixtures with standard LED's.