I was using my old housing to test fit the magnets and it seems like it was easier to keep them in place if they were the same polarity wise. I used some duct take to hold them in place until I got them all on and tightened the hose clamp.
If the were alternated polarity, they wanted to jump to each other.
I could be wrong as to same or alternating polarity, but flipping them around made a difference to attract or repel.
IIRC, same polarity repels and opposite attracts
BTW, I bought a 2.25-3" clamp and it is fine