For many, outdoor security lights are an indispensable addition to a garden or outside space. With the strategic placement of a few simple bulbs, outdoor lighting can add reassurance, deter unwelcome guests, and boost your home’s visual appeal. While outdoor lights can be activated by a switch, automatic and motion-detector options are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners.
So, if you’re looking to bolster your home’s security and add a little more atmosphere to garden gatherings, we’ve composed this guide to walk you through our tips and tricks to get the most out of your security lighting.
Why use security lighting?
There’s a myriad of reasons why security lights are such a popular investment.
Many homeowners find that installing security lighting around the exterior of their homes provides a sense of safety and protection from potential intruders and unwelcome visitors. Nowadays, many modern outdoor lighting solutions are equipped with motion detectors, meaning they illuminate upon sensing movement automatically.
A light positioned close to your front door, whether that be a PIR floodlight or a LED outdoor wall light, can add to a feeling of security when answering the door when it’s dark outside, or if your home is left empty for a period.
For even better efficiency, outdoor security lighting systems often make use of a light sensor that distinguishes between night and day. This type of light will come on when it gets dark and turn off again in the daylight.
Types of security lighting
Motion sensor lights
A Passive Infrared sensor (PIR) is an electronic sensor that measures the infrared (IR) light that radiates from objects in its field of view. PIR motion sensors and LED PIR lights each have a detection range and angle; if an object is detected by the PIR LED, the light will turn on.
Unlike other security lights that can be left on all day and night, motion sensors will only turn on once movement is detected. Depending on the type of light you are using, you can use any bulb as long as it’s suitable for outdoor use.