bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Lets us discuss the types, placement and benefits of exterior lights.
Exterior lighting
- Thread starter bikerdoc
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I'll start. I bought a couple of solar powered security lights for my house. They were $40ish each purchased from Lowes or Home Depot.
Good points:
No wires to run- easy to install.
Should work even if the zombies cut my power on their way in.
Bad points:
You have to have a location that allows the panel to get sun. The panel can be mounted up to 20ft from the light, but it's still limiting.
When it's cloudy for several days, it's a dark walk to the back door.
The batteries seem to have crapped out after a couple of years.
I regret buying these. I'll be running wires and getting dependable lighting on my next effort.
Good points:
No wires to run- easy to install.
Should work even if the zombies cut my power on their way in.
Bad points:
You have to have a location that allows the panel to get sun. The panel can be mounted up to 20ft from the light, but it's still limiting.
When it's cloudy for several days, it's a dark walk to the back door.
The batteries seem to have crapped out after a couple of years.
I regret buying these. I'll be running wires and getting dependable lighting on my next effort.
I have motion flood lights over the garage and the back yard for the front porch I have a dusk sensing light.
The benefits and placement of the lights are as follow for my situation.
The flood light on the garage illuminate the whole driveway and front porch. The sensor is set to initiate at my property line. The switch is always left on so the lights turn off in the day and can be activated even when noone is home giving the appearance of occupancy.
The flood light in the back yard illuminates my whole backyard with one beam focusing straight out and the other beam hits the rest of my property. The sensor is set to intiate within an undisclosed amount of yards from my home. The switch is always left on so the lights turn off in the day and can be activated even when noone is home giving the appearance of occupancy.
The dusk sensing front porch light was mainly purchased to give the appearance of occupancy during vacation or absence. The switch can be left on and the light will turn on at dark and turn off automatically in the morning.
To sum up my goals for my exterior lighting strategy is that I wanted to illuminate my property only specifically the front and rear entry ways including windows. I wanted my motion lights to turn on within a certain distance to my home so it would appear if a sound was heard and the occupant turned on the light to see what was going on. My most important goal was for the home to look occupied even when not.
The benefits and placement of the lights are as follow for my situation.
The flood light on the garage illuminate the whole driveway and front porch. The sensor is set to initiate at my property line. The switch is always left on so the lights turn off in the day and can be activated even when noone is home giving the appearance of occupancy.
The flood light in the back yard illuminates my whole backyard with one beam focusing straight out and the other beam hits the rest of my property. The sensor is set to intiate within an undisclosed amount of yards from my home. The switch is always left on so the lights turn off in the day and can be activated even when noone is home giving the appearance of occupancy.
The dusk sensing front porch light was mainly purchased to give the appearance of occupancy during vacation or absence. The switch can be left on and the light will turn on at dark and turn off automatically in the morning.
To sum up my goals for my exterior lighting strategy is that I wanted to illuminate my property only specifically the front and rear entry ways including windows. I wanted my motion lights to turn on within a certain distance to my home so it would appear if a sound was heard and the occupant turned on the light to see what was going on. My most important goal was for the home to look occupied even when not.
If evil approaches in darkness, deny darkness to evil.
Corner mounted motion sensor triggered flood lights are wonderful at lighting up the approaches to a house. A lamp facing in each direction at the corner with a sensor facing in the same directions help ensure no one skulking along the side of the house will go undetected. A similar light above doors triggered as someone approaches a door further puts a barrier of light up.
These also help when pulling up to your house in the dark since the lights will turn on to light the area for you due to your passage.
Make sure to position lights so that there are no deep shadows or pools of shadow that someone can hide within. That's another reason I like flood lights over spot lights. Move wood piles and equipment so they don't cast shadows that can be used by BGs OR mount lights to flood those pools of shadow with more light.
Make sure that your sensor cones overlap so that there's no way to slip between monitoring areas and under the lights. Over lap your light cones as well so that the diffuse boundaries can overlap and reinforce the light from other floods.
Light can be one of your barrier to intruders. Lights facing the perimeter that force someone to walk across well illuminated open ground with the light facing them is intimidating. Well marked walkways and drives with lights that allow you to see who's approaching help you identify people before they reach the stoop or porch. Lights on your porches and at your doors that are bright enough to make it difficult for the person standing at the door to actually see inside the house when the lights are turned on and are positioned so that there are no pools of shadow for an accomplice to hide within will help you detect danger before it can enter.
If a would-be intruder can't cross from the property boundary to your house in the dark without having the lights snap on and if they can't stand at your door without being fully illuminated then they've lost much of the element of surprise.
Corner mounted motion sensor triggered flood lights are wonderful at lighting up the approaches to a house. A lamp facing in each direction at the corner with a sensor facing in the same directions help ensure no one skulking along the side of the house will go undetected. A similar light above doors triggered as someone approaches a door further puts a barrier of light up.
These also help when pulling up to your house in the dark since the lights will turn on to light the area for you due to your passage.
Make sure to position lights so that there are no deep shadows or pools of shadow that someone can hide within. That's another reason I like flood lights over spot lights. Move wood piles and equipment so they don't cast shadows that can be used by BGs OR mount lights to flood those pools of shadow with more light.
Make sure that your sensor cones overlap so that there's no way to slip between monitoring areas and under the lights. Over lap your light cones as well so that the diffuse boundaries can overlap and reinforce the light from other floods.
Light can be one of your barrier to intruders. Lights facing the perimeter that force someone to walk across well illuminated open ground with the light facing them is intimidating. Well marked walkways and drives with lights that allow you to see who's approaching help you identify people before they reach the stoop or porch. Lights on your porches and at your doors that are bright enough to make it difficult for the person standing at the door to actually see inside the house when the lights are turned on and are positioned so that there are no pools of shadow for an accomplice to hide within will help you detect danger before it can enter.
If a would-be intruder can't cross from the property boundary to your house in the dark without having the lights snap on and if they can't stand at your door without being fully illuminated then they've lost much of the element of surprise.
Dnaltrop
Member
my favorite "easy" fix, Bright White, LED Christmas strings, hung at knee level and in bushes in most of my side/back yard. (keep it straight, it's not christmas!)
Low power usage, Even glow, and No Downward shadows to crouch in from backyard trees/bushes/eaves
Brighter lights on the porch, and SEARING ones inside projecting out the glassed back doors. If you approach, you lose your night vision, and I keep mine.
Low power usage, Even glow, and No Downward shadows to crouch in from backyard trees/bushes/eaves
Brighter lights on the porch, and SEARING ones inside projecting out the glassed back doors. If you approach, you lose your night vision, and I keep mine.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
If you're running lights that stay on all the time, PLEASE aim them to keep the light on your own property. My neighbor behind us one street over has a light that stays on all night that directly lights up our back yard, which not only robs me of a dark back yard, but it also keeps me from seeing anyone prowling in HIS yard due to the glare, and it makes his yard more dimly lit than if he had configured his lights properly (because he is wasting most of his wattage blinding his neighbors instead of lighting his yard).
Light trespass is a huge problem in the suburbs, and it doesn't help your security one bit.
Light trespass is a huge problem in the suburbs, and it doesn't help your security one bit.
crazyjennyblack
Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2008
- Messages
- 391
Nice, bikerdoc. Saw your responses to the thread in Tech Support, and I'm happy to see this thread pop up. Not many posts, but I'll toss one in.
Since I live in a rental house right now, exterior lighting is a bit of a challenge because of a "no permanent changes" clause in my lease. But I have managed to install a couple of cameras with infrared night LEDS on them. I leave the front and rear porch lights on at night, and since the streets are well lit it's not too dark.
My ace-in-the-hole is actually mounted on my car. I have a GoLight searchlight on my car, and at night I bring the remote control unit inside with me. If I hear something out in the yard, I can turn on the light and direct it via remote control to any dimly lit part of the yard, all while watching on camera from the comfort of my living room! Big bonus - it makes anyone doing misdeeds think a live human is controlling the light...
Since I live in a rental house right now, exterior lighting is a bit of a challenge because of a "no permanent changes" clause in my lease. But I have managed to install a couple of cameras with infrared night LEDS on them. I leave the front and rear porch lights on at night, and since the streets are well lit it's not too dark.
My ace-in-the-hole is actually mounted on my car. I have a GoLight searchlight on my car, and at night I bring the remote control unit inside with me. If I hear something out in the yard, I can turn on the light and direct it via remote control to any dimly lit part of the yard, all while watching on camera from the comfort of my living room! Big bonus - it makes anyone doing misdeeds think a live human is controlling the light...
Shadow 7D
Member
My backyard is the only part I don't have lights on, but my neighbor has streetlight directly across from me, that provide a good ambient level of light, my two neighbors on either side have pretty bright front lights, and I have halogen motion lights that are set to cover the driveway and front yard. So you could come to my house via the back yard, except that would require you getting past a NEIGHBORHOOD of dogs. I'd like another light on the rear of the house, and maybe a remote sensor (I'm not that great with electrical stuff) directly on the door for convenience, but I'm pretty happy with what I have.
Sir Aardvark
Member
I have found that the halogen lights are not only very bright, but the bulbs can last for 7 years or more - much, much longer than the incandescent bulbs.
(Note: for those of you who don't think that California is already crazy enough, they have actually signed legislation outlawing incandescent light bulbs, starting in 2018)
If possible, place your lights up high enough so that someone can't just reach up and unscrew the bulb.
Place your lights on a switch so that you can turn them on-and-off if needed; even better... place all of your lights on one switch, that way you can turn ALL of the lights on or off if necessary.
Motion lights are great, but they only turn on if someone approaches. It might help to have a low-wattage light that stays on all night, one in the front and one in the back of the house, just so that it gives your house a lived-in, someone-is-home look. This might just keep a bad guy from approaching your house to begin with.
(Note: for those of you who don't think that California is already crazy enough, they have actually signed legislation outlawing incandescent light bulbs, starting in 2018)
If possible, place your lights up high enough so that someone can't just reach up and unscrew the bulb.
Place your lights on a switch so that you can turn them on-and-off if needed; even better... place all of your lights on one switch, that way you can turn ALL of the lights on or off if necessary.
Motion lights are great, but they only turn on if someone approaches. It might help to have a low-wattage light that stays on all night, one in the front and one in the back of the house, just so that it gives your house a lived-in, someone-is-home look. This might just keep a bad guy from approaching your house to begin with.
LHRGunslinger
Member
I kinda like the idea behind the CIWS in the Navy. I plan on having a fenced in home and I'll put a tripwire about 6 inches from the fence. That'll turn on some high intensity halogen lights and trigger a recording saying "GET THE HELL OFF MY PROPERTY" just to be an ass. ^_^
sm
member
In conjunction with generators, I also suggest batter back-up, and battery lights.
Darkness can be from power outages, civil unrest, inclement weather damage (tornado, hurricane, etc.,) and even premeditated acts (criminal cutting power/phone lines). It does not matter if one is in a urban or rural area.
Dark is dark.
a. one should have lighting for personal safety, "risk for falls" afflicts any age , not just the elderly or physically limited.
b. deterrent.
Criminals will prefer easier prey, and if one has lighting, this sends the message, "hey these folks have taken prudent steps".
Battery only lights, such as six volt lanterns, are not just for interior uses.
One of the tricks is to take a six volt lantern battery, affix the headlight, in a "water resistant" housing and have it mounted as one would exterior lighting.
Run wires as you would, or along with electrical wiring. Now it simply a matter of attaching the terminals to the six volt battery.
I have used the inexpensive "floating lanterns", with the water resistant plastic bodies, that would float.
I drilled small holes for the wires in the lantern body, and then ran wires through, using silicon to keep water resistant. The lantern was mounted.
e.g. Shed out back, and just a matter of attaching wires to battery terminals in the shed.
No, not a lot of light, still it was light, and allowed for one to safely travel between house and shed, along with sending a message to criminals that we were taking prudent steps for safety.
Kerosene lanterns, oil lamps and Coleman lanterns
Don't laugh, these old designs are proven, and I can personally attest to their usefulness, before, during and the aftermath of tornadoes.
I use Lamp oil in Kerosene lanterns. In fact now, they have these same lanterns, designed to burn lamp oil.
Using Lamp oil in a kerosene lantern, allows one to use the lantern indoors.
Darkness can be from power outages, civil unrest, inclement weather damage (tornado, hurricane, etc.,) and even premeditated acts (criminal cutting power/phone lines). It does not matter if one is in a urban or rural area.
Dark is dark.
a. one should have lighting for personal safety, "risk for falls" afflicts any age , not just the elderly or physically limited.
b. deterrent.
Criminals will prefer easier prey, and if one has lighting, this sends the message, "hey these folks have taken prudent steps".
Battery only lights, such as six volt lanterns, are not just for interior uses.
One of the tricks is to take a six volt lantern battery, affix the headlight, in a "water resistant" housing and have it mounted as one would exterior lighting.
Run wires as you would, or along with electrical wiring. Now it simply a matter of attaching the terminals to the six volt battery.
I have used the inexpensive "floating lanterns", with the water resistant plastic bodies, that would float.
I drilled small holes for the wires in the lantern body, and then ran wires through, using silicon to keep water resistant. The lantern was mounted.
e.g. Shed out back, and just a matter of attaching wires to battery terminals in the shed.
No, not a lot of light, still it was light, and allowed for one to safely travel between house and shed, along with sending a message to criminals that we were taking prudent steps for safety.
Kerosene lanterns, oil lamps and Coleman lanterns
Don't laugh, these old designs are proven, and I can personally attest to their usefulness, before, during and the aftermath of tornadoes.
I use Lamp oil in Kerosene lanterns. In fact now, they have these same lanterns, designed to burn lamp oil.
Using Lamp oil in a kerosene lantern, allows one to use the lantern indoors.
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DFW1911
Member
I was able to do this:
With these:
I needed more than two! The ones I bought had very long cords attached to the solar panels, but I really didn't need them.
My house is just a shade over 4,000 square feet (don't know it's circumference, so to speak), which gave me the ability to place the lights where they aren't easy to get to.
They throw a decent beam. It's not blindingly bright, but they light up the area very well.
I'm a strong believer that you have to design a "light plan" as part of your home security continuum.
With these:
I needed more than two! The ones I bought had very long cords attached to the solar panels, but I really didn't need them.
My house is just a shade over 4,000 square feet (don't know it's circumference, so to speak), which gave me the ability to place the lights where they aren't easy to get to.
They throw a decent beam. It's not blindingly bright, but they light up the area very well.
I'm a strong believer that you have to design a "light plan" as part of your home security continuum.
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orvpark
Member
While I agree with you in "normal" circumstances, in a civil unrest/looting situation being "better off" than your neighbors could also make you more of a target.
orvpark
Member
Clever. Point is, in a Katrina situation I wouldn't be the only one in town with my lights on.
cassandrasdaddy
Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2006
- Messages
- 4,206
i've got a fairly large semi cleared area around the house so the last set of lights i mounted are on the perimeter of the yard and aimed in. i control em from 3 way switches at the master bedroom downstairs living room and front door. it took a few fixtures but it lights em up from behind if they get inside the fences. in my hood the usual intruders are coyotes and such. backlighting intruders is good it makes em real good targets and is disorienting with the predators it sometimes causes them to run towards you which for a guy with a 12 gauge is very convenient. not so good for them
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