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..
Related Posts
Outdoor Security Lighting GuidelinesThere 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
Improve Security & Save Power With Lighting ControllersMost landscape lighting systems now use a lighting controller with a timer that shuts your garden lights off at night (to save power and avoid disturbing neighbors). Some systems will also let you select an option to maintain your lights at a reduced power setting, so you have a soft glow rather than full illumination. Many systems also include a motion sensor in the control system. When the motion sensor is activated, it fully illuminates the lights for a pre-selected amount of time. This performs 2 functions: It either advises you that there is someone on your property. In this situation the motion sensor fully illuminates the lights to alert
Outdoor Solar LightingAlmost all outdoor solar-powered lighting now uses long-life LED technology to provide the lighting. There is an idea that one day we will all be able to use free electricity from the sun. This is a seductive promise that is harder to put into practice, but solar powered outdoor lights are a step in the right direction. On a bright, sunny day, the sun's energy generates approximately 1,000 watts of energy per square meter of the planet's surface. The goal is to find an affordable technology that enables us to collect all of that energy so we can get power for free. The
Landscape Lighting Planning and Design - Part 2When you start landscaping a property or installing outdoor lighting, the urge to begin planting or placing outdoor lights immediately is almost overwhelming. However, whether you are landscaping or installing outdoor lighting for a newly-built home or redesigning an existing landscape, the results will be much more satisfying if you plan first. The Basic Plan A landscape and the associated landscape lighting is a picture, with a great opportunity for artistic composition. In home grounds the central feature is the house and to just scatter trees and bushes all over the area surrounding the house defeats the fundamental purpose which is to make
Landscape Lighting Planning and Design - Part 2When you start landscaping a property or installing outdoor lighting, the urge to begin planting or placing outdoor lights immediately is almost overwhelming. However, whether you are landscaping or installing outdoor lighting for a newly-built home or redesigning an existing landscape, the results will be much more satisfying if you plan first. The Basic Plan A landscape and the associated landscape lighting is a picture, with a great opportunity for artistic composition. In home grounds the central feature is the house and to just scatter trees and bushes all over the area surrounding the house defeats the fundamental purpose which is to make
Leave a Reply