SuzukiSavage.com - Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount

Digger

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Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How?
11/15/12 at 11:53:37

Hello all,

I'm in desperate need of good advice here and I'm hopin' that one or more of you can help me out.

I'm making a display for use on a motorcycle that involves some LEDs. The build info on this project bike is here. You need to register to get into this site, but no worries, Glenn (the Admin) will not spam you.....

The LEDs in question are mounted on a section of PVC pipe that has been filed flat so that the LED mounting collars will sit flush with the exterior surface of said pipe. Here is a closeup of one:

I need ideas on how to make this LED mount waterproof.

My original idea was to smear some RTV inside the section of pipe, over the bottom part of the LED, but that will not work because there is not enough room for me to get inside the pipe and smear said RTV around. I tried smearing some of the same RTV around the outside of the mount, hoping to waterproof it in this way, but the RTV did not adhere well to the subject surfaces.

Please keep in mind that the mounting collar must be sealed to the PVC pipe and that the LED lens needs to be sealed to the inside diameter of the mounting collar.

These are my requirements:

1. The sealing method must be waterproof, weatherproof, UV resistant, and very durable (lasting 10 years or more under savage conditions).

2. The sealing method must not damage the LED lens in any way.

3. The sealing method must be strong enough to keep the LED and its mount from moving around (note that the hole I drilled in the pipe was the smallest I could get away with - the fit is fairly snug already).

4. The sealing method must not obscure the LED from being viewed.

I'm thinkin' that some type of glue will work, but which one? I had a notion to try super glue, but I don't think that that stuff holds up well to moisture over the long term - I could be wrong, though.

FWIW, I found these:

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/A-LED8-1RBAS-MR7-1-R/AE10577-ND/2295...

However, they are much too spendy for me!

FYI, here is the package that the LED and its mounting collar came in:

I'm lookin' forward to your expertise, wisdom, and experiences!

TIA!

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28905 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How? Reply #1 - 11/15/12 at 12:09:29 I think my 1st choice would be to ditch the snap in collar and start afresh. drill the hole in the pvc to be a tight fit with the led, press it in with a dap of duco. but there must some purpose built adhesive for led's.
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Dave YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 18138 Camp Springs, Kentucky Gender:	Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How? Reply #2 - 11/15/12 at 12:11:39 Can you secure the LED onto the pipe temporarily with tape or nylon ties.....the fill the entire tube up with the expansive sealing foam? That stuff is very sticky and will secure and waterproof anything.
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Serowbot

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Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How?
Reply #3 - 11/15/12 at 12:11:40

Not saying it's the best thing,.. but, I'd probably do rubber cement...
That's what I put my tank pads on with...
The good thing is, you can rub off the excess,.. and when you want to disassemble it will come off...
So far, my pads have held in place,.. been a couple of years now...

There's PVC cement,.. but that stuff will never come off.. it sorta' melts the pieces together... Huh

...

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Ludicrous Speed !... ... Huh

...

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rfw2003 Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1108 Yantis, TX	Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How? Reply #4 - 11/15/12 at 12:21:57 The way I would seal it to make it last the longest time and totally waterproof it, is to use a good UV resistant epoxy then snap the LED and mount into place. R.F.
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ToesNose Serious Thumper Offline Pardon me, do you have Hot Sauce? Posts: 1993 Mooresville, NC Gender:	Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How? Reply #5 - 11/15/12 at 13:20:44 I'm onboard with RFW, exterior UV resistant epoxy is the first thing that came to my mind too. I've used it on kayaks with good results that lasted many years.
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Digger

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Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How?
Reply #6 - 11/15/12 at 14:06:09

verslagen1 wrote on 11/15/12 at 12:09:29:

I think my 1st choice would be to ditch the snap in collar and start afresh.

drill the hole in the pvc to be a tight fit with the led, press it in with a dap of duco. but there must some purpose built adhesive for led's.

Ver,

Good idea on ditching the collars, that gives me a good backup plan if I can't find a solution....

Hmmmm, purpose built adhesive for LED's. A quick Google search came up dry....

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
I don't own a cage.
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Digger

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Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How?
Reply #7 - 11/15/12 at 14:07:52

Dave wrote on 11/15/12 at 12:11:39:

Can you secure the LED onto the pipe temporarily with tape or nylon ties.....the fill the entire tube up with the expansive sealing foam? That stuff is very sticky and will secure and waterproof anything.

Hi Dave,

Good idea, but I need to be able to access circuitry that I've got inside the pipe......

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
I don't own a cage.
www.astronautbiker.com

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Digger

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Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How?
Reply #8 - 11/15/12 at 14:10:25

Serowbot wrote on 11/15/12 at 12:11:40:

Not saying it's the best thing,.. but, I'd probably do rubber cement...
That's what I put my tank pads on with...
The good thing is, you can rub off the excess,.. and when you want to disassemble it will come off...
So far, my pads have held in place,.. been a couple of years now...

There's PVC cement,.. but that stuff will never come off.. it sorta' melts the pieces together... Huh

...

Hey bot,

Thanks for your input. I tried ABS/PVC cement (the stuff plumbers use), and found that the LED collar and the LED body itself did not adhere to this glue.

By rubber cement, are you talking about the stuff you use for patching an inner tube?

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
I don't own a cage.
www.astronautbiker.com

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Digger Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Ya gotta be tough to ride singles! Posts: 1604 Colorado Springs, CO Gender:	Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How? Reply #9 - 11/15/12 at 14:12:51 rfw2003 wrote on 11/15/12 at 12:21:57: The way I would seal it to make it last the longest time and totally waterproof it, is to use a good UV resistant epoxy then snap the LED and mount into place. R.F. Hi rf, Yeah, I'm thinkin' that a good two-part epoxy may be the way to go on this......
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Digger

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Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How?
Reply #10 - 11/15/12 at 14:15:59

ToesNose wrote on 11/15/12 at 13:20:44:

I'm onboard with RFW, exterior UV resistant epoxy is the first thing that came to my mind too. I've used it on kayaks with good results that lasted many years.

Toes,

Cool....any stuff that holds up in the kayak world will surely be good enough for my application.

Can you recommend a particular brand of epoxy?

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
I don't own a cage.
www.astronautbiker.com

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28905 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How? Reply #11 - 11/15/12 at 14:28:47 There's this stuff called conformal coating. meant for water proofing circuit boards. comes in spray can for sure, not sure if you can get in a brush on can. check with electronic supply houses. that stuff is water proof and non conductive. a little dab on the base of the led and shove it in a tight hole.
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Digger

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Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How?
Reply #12 - 11/15/12 at 15:01:23

verslagen1 wrote on 11/15/12 at 14:28:47:

There's this stuff called conformal coating.
meant for water proofing circuit boards.
comes in spray can for sure, not sure if you can get in a brush on can.
check with electronic supply houses.
that stuff is water proof and non conductive.
a little dab on the base of the led and shove it in a tight hole. Shocked

Ver,

Thanks!

Did a quick search of that stuff....there are some that you can brush on, but none of them claimed any UV resistance.....

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
I don't own a cage.
www.astronautbiker.com

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28905 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How? Reply #13 - 11/15/12 at 15:16:11 well don't coat the wires with that epoxy, I think most are conductive.
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Digger Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Ya gotta be tough to ride singles! Posts: 1604 Colorado Springs, CO Gender:	Re: Need To Weatherproof An LED Mount - But How? Reply #14 - 11/15/12 at 16:06:50 What does everyone think of using something like Liquid Tape or Plasti-Dip?
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