Winter is here and because of the sun going down much quicker, most homeowners come home from work after night has already fallen. You can install security lights around your home, however, to make sure you’re safe during these cold months.
Why Should You Install Outdoor Security Lighting?
Security lighting can serve a number of functions. Not only will you be able to see where you step, but it will help deter any intruders or visitors that come unwanted.
Which Security Lights Are Best?
This all depends on your personal situation. There are many options for you to choose from. These options include:
- LED Flood Lights or Solar Flood Lights — These two options are energy saving and take little power to function. They also both work via solar energy.
- Motion-Activated Lights — These lights only activate when movement is detected close by. This saves some energy, and can help spook intruders as well.
- Bulkhead Lights — These lights are wall-mounted, and usually are enclosed with glass covers, or perhaps polycarbonate. Many people use these for porch lights or lighting up outbuildings you may have.
- Halogen Flood Lights — These lights are some of the brightest on the list. They are a common option for security lights as their white light is very strong and bright.
How Should I Set Up My Lighting?
There’s a few requirements you need to consider before setting up your lighting. First, make sure that the lights won’t shine in your neighbor’s property. Also, don’t allow your lighting to cross the road, because you want to avoid blinding drivers and causing accidents on the street.
You need to also tell your local council that you’re setting up these lights if the set up requires new electrical equipment to be installed around your home.
When you go to work on installing the lights, turn off your power from your fuse box. Otherwise, you could get hurt. You can:
- Switch off the miniature circuit breaker and place tape around it so that someone else in your home doesn’t turn the switch on by mistake. Or …
- Switch off the main switch and remove the circuit fuse for the area you’re working in. This way you can have power in the rest of your home while installing your lights.
Make sure that your lights are mounted high enough to be effective. You may want to place them two metres off the ground. This will make them effective, and lower any risk of them being damaged. Make sure you also protect the cords from being cut.
If your security light is causing shadows by bouncing off large equipment outdoors, you can install another light to counteract this.
You may want to employ a professional to help you out, or install it themselves so that you can ensure that it’s done correctly. You’ll also want to remember that any new installations need to comply with IEE Wiring Regulations.
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