There are several issues when considering outdoor security lighting. There are the practical aspects such as:
- Which lighting arrangement provides the best security?
- What is the most cost effective system, taking into account both installation and running costs?
- Which is the most visually appealing design that will enhance the appeal of your property?
One of the most common errors with outdoor security lighting is the overuse of floodlights. The assumption with floodlights is that because they are bright they are the safest. However they can actually create safety and security problems and are centainly not energy efficient (i.e. they are not cost effective to run).
The problem when you have a floodlight shining toward your house and you look outside is that all you can see is the glare from the floodlight. This can actually protect intruders from detection.
In addition, floodlights generally illuminate both the area where they are directed and adjacent areas, which can result in annoyed neighbors who have to endure the unwanted glare of a neighbor’s lights.
In terms of visual appeal, floodlighting does nothing for the aesthetics of a home (unless you are seeking the “prison camp” look!), because their intense light means the detail, color and texture of the home and yard is lost.
We recommend selecting outdoor lighting systems with:
- A series of energy-efficient, low-wattage lights strategically placed around the property, preferably with lights positioned on the ground, provinf background lighting and illuminating distinctive features, which creates an aesthetically pleasing effect, and
- For security, strategically placed floodlights combined with motion detectors. These floodlights are normally switched off, but are triggered by movement.
With this approach, the energy-efficient lighting provides visual appeal and contributes to safety, by providing sufficient light for navigating sidewalks and steps and enable you to walk safely without light spilling over into your neighbor’s yard.
The background lighting is supplemented by the motion detector switched floodlights that are normally off except when turned on by movement.
Outdoor Security Lighting Overview
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Statistics show that crimes are less likely to occur in well lit areas, because a well-lighted property is an excellent deterrent against criminals. Although nothing is guaranteed to prevent malicious activity or guarantee personal safety, outdoor security lighting is one of the most practical and effective ways to prevent crime in or around your home or office.
An outdoor security lighting system is a deterrent because it exposes the criminal, who looks for areas with little to no lighting. Well lit areas increase the risk of detection for criminals and makes them less confident about taking the risk of entering your property.
The main objectives of an outdoor security lighting system are to illuminate dark areas and detect and recognize movement in the protected area.
The best vision with outdoor lighting is obtained from downward directed and shielded security lighting that is constantly on, supplemented with instant-on lighting triggered by motion detectors.
Note: It is important to position security lights high up and well out of reach, so they cannot be disabled by intruders. Overall, the best position is mounted as high as possible on your property in a downward position for safe and reliable operation.
You can buy many different types of security lights and outdoor security lighting systems, so it is best to divide security lighting into two lamp categories:
- High Intensity Discharge (HID)
- Halogen or Incandescent.
High Intensity Discharge Lights
HID lights are energy efficient, long lasting and for this reason are commonly used in landscape lighting. The most popular HID lights are the mercury vapor types, which are blue-green colored. The other common types of outdoor flood lights are:
- high-pressure sodium
- metal halide
- fluorescent.
All of these sources require a warm-up period in order to return to full intensity if the power goes off. As such they are not designed for immediate use for example with motion detectors and should be therefore be used in conjunction with other sources for instant on lighting.
Halogen or Incandescent Lights
Halogen lights operate on standard house current and are often used as floodlights. They are ideal for instant-on applications because they require no warm up period. These security lights work well in combination with HID lighting as supplemental security lighting. They are not power efficient so are less suited to continuous use.
Motion Detectors
These devices sense movement and turn outdoor security lights on when motion is detected and are ideal for both security lighting and energy management. Because they switch the lights off and on constantly, they are designed to control halogen or incandescent sources and cannot be used to control HID lights..