Establishing security lights around your home and yard is one way to make your property safer. However, planning the installation can be complicated, so here are some handy tips.
Secure House Entry Points
You will need to decide the location for the lights, and firstly, you should protect the entry points, such as the front and back doors and the windows. Motion-activated fixtures will light up if an intruder tries to break in. They won't then have time to fiddle with locks and openings while shrouded in darkness, and you will get an instant alert of their presence. The light must be placed to provide an adequate spread of illumination around the opening. Your installer can advise on the specific spot on your house's facade that may be best.
Protect the Garden
You should also consider protecting the garden with floodlights, which will help prevent trespassers from hiding in the bushes. You could connect a manual light or one you can control with a timer, setting it on and off at fixed intervals to surprise a trespasser. However, a floodlight with a motion sensor alerts householders that someone may be in the garden, so they offer better security in that sense.
Save Energy
Of course, lights need energy to run, and you should consider this when planning the installation. You can reduce energy costs with LED lights, which are typically more energy efficient than traditional incandescent globes. Another possibility may be solar-powered lights.
Install at the Right Height
You also need to consider putting the security lights at the appropriate height, which an expert should be able to help you with. If a light is too high, it could create dark, hidden spots, which an intruder could exploit. Sometimes lights can cause glare if they're at a high level. The appropriate height will depend on the size of the area you want to be lit and the brightness of the globes.
Conversely, you should avoid putting the lights too low, as this can reduce coverage. Additionally, trespassers may be able to tamper with lights they can easily reach by blocking the sensor or breaking the casing, thus making the lights ineffective. Remember not to angle the globes to shine directly into your neighbour's property to avoid being annoying.
Wireless or Hardwired
You will also need to decide whether to install wireless or hardwired lights in your home. The advantage of hardwiring the lights is that you don't have to rely on the Wi-Fi connection, so the system will be more reliable. An electrician can connect all the wires and lights.
On the other hand, the benefit of Wi-Fi security systems is that they're easier to set up because you don't have to connect the wires. A wireless system is also more flexible because you can set it up and move it around without being constrained by physical wires.
Contact a local security system supplier to learn more.
Share17 July 2023
When homeowners think of security systems, their minds tend to drift to blaring alarm systems that will make cacophonous noise when an intruder tries to break into their homes. While these systems are great at deterring potential crimes, what happens when burglars make their way into your home undetected? For this reason, it is advisable to deliberate on installing panic alarms in your home. However, panic alarms are not solely used to alert the authorities of a home invasion. Another benefit of panic alarms is they can signal the authorities if you are to acquire an injury in the home that renders you immobile. Alternately, you can also trigger the panic alarm when facing domestic violence in your home. For more on how these security systems work and whether they would be a good fit for your household, check out these posts on panic alarms and their features.