Outdoor Security Lighting

Outdoor Security Lighting

When a would-be intruder is scoping out a potential target, they look for any home that provides an advantage to their escape. Proper exterior lighting around homes has a big effect on home security. Shadows and darkness enable burglars to sneak up to a home virtually unnoticed. Homeowners assume that any kind of exterior lighting will do the trick, which is not always true. Certain characteristics make some lights better choices than others. The following is a brief overview of certain things to think about when purchasing exterior home security lighting.

The first choice for anyone in the market for exterior home security lighting is choosing how the light is triggered. The two available types are motion sensing and heat sensing lights. Motion sensing lights are triggered to turn on by any movement that is detected within sensor range. The intruder is likely to be startled when this light comes on, so it does aid in home security, but there is one setback with this type of light. Since it is triggered by motion, anything that moves or walks by within sensor range will set it off. This includes tree branches that may blow in front of it, as well as any animal that walks by. Homeowners can avoid the risk of having the light turn on and off all night, by choosing heat sensing lights. Heat-sensing lights are triggered when human body temperature heat is detected within sensor range. Since they are only set off when a potential intruder is around, heat-sensing lights make a much more efficient choice for homeowners.

The next factor to think about with exterior home security lighting is high and low wattage. It is assumed that bright lights, or high wattage lights, are capable of illuminating more surface space surrounding a home and therefore, would be the best choice for home security. Even though higher wattage bulbs have no problem keeping porches and driveways well lit, any negative space that the light does not hit is covered in dark shadows. Dark shadows create hiding places, so higher wattage lights actually make it easier for intruders to make their way into the home unnoticed. Using lower light levels to illuminate a home's exterior is often the smarter choice. Exterior home security lighting that uses lower wattage bulbs, such as those used for landscape lighting, illuminate porches, paths, and driveways enough to walk up to the home without being blinded and prevented from seeing someone hiding in other places around the outside of the home.

The last option to think about is timed or un-timed lights. Lights set on a timer or, timed lights, automatically turn on and off at the times programmed by the homeowner. Lights that are not set on a timer have to be manually switched on. Timed lights are much more effective when it comes to home security. Since the lights switch on automatically at the set time, homeowners do not have to worry about being out late and having to walk up to their home in complete darkness.

Even though there are pros and cons with the different types of exterior home security lighting, ultimately, the homeowner should choose the lighting that they feel will suit the needs of their home and family the best.