The winter months mean that many UK homeowners leave for work when it is still dark and return at the end of the day long after the sun has gone down.
As a result, installing security lighting outside of your home will enhance your safety and assurance when the days are shorter. Here, hosted security solutions specialist UMIX provides their tips on how to correctly install the technology throughout your property:
The case for installing outdoor security lighting
Security lighting is effective in that it works to illuminate your home and garden, meaning potential intruders and unwanted visitors are easier to spot.
These lights also act as a deterrence for would-be intruders, due to it removing the cloak of darkness around the exterior of your property.
Choosing the best security lighting for your home
There is plenty of choice available if you do decide to install security lighting around your home. The main types are as follows:
Bulkhead lights — Wall-mounted lights which are usually enclosed within glass or polycarbonate covers. Often the go-to choice when you’re in the market for a porch light or a solution for illuminating outbuildings.
Halogen flood lights — Lighting that contains halogen bulbs that can emit a strong white light, brightly illuminating the exterior of a property.
LED flood lights — An energy-saving option which uses a low-voltage light source and feeds very efficiently from a solar-charged battery. As a result, they require very little power to function.
Solar flood lights — Another energy-saving option which works by charging batteries during the day.
Motion-activated lights — Lighting which only activates once movement is made close to where they have been positioned. As such, they are often placed above doors or gates.
Setting up your security lighting
When it comes to actually installing your security lighting, the first thing that you should consider is that the glare of the lights will not shine into the property of your neighbours.
Be sure to check that the light doesn’t shine across any roads surrounding your home either, as the dazzling effect can distract drivers and cause accidents.
Do your security lights require new circuits or electrical equipment outside of your house? If so, you must inform your local council about it before hand.
Once these checks and approvals have been made, it’s time to move on to the actual installation. Begin by switching off your home’s power supply at the fuse box so that all electrical work can be carried out safely. There are two options available to you here:
1. Switch off the miniature circuit breaker for the circuit where you will be carrying out work around and then place insulating tape over it so that no-one else in the house accidently switches it back on.
2. Switch off the main switch and proceed to remove the circuit fuse for the area of the home where you will be carrying out the work. Doing so means that you can turn the main switch on to deliver power to the rest of the home while at the same time being able to safely install your new security lighting.
Ready to install your security lighting? Be sure to mount them high enough to prove effective — at least two metres off the ground is recommended for flood lights.
Installing your lights high off the ground also helps protect them from being deliberately damaged by intruders. Another tip when it comes to shielding your new technology from damage is to place a sheet of mesh or screen around the bulb. You can also protect the wiring of your new lighting by either using a conduit or burying any wires underground.
If you don’t feel comfortable with any part of the installation, it is recommended that you employ a qualified electrician instead.