When it comes to home security, you’ve got good reason to be scared of the dark. Dark is the burglar’s best friend, allowing him to operate under cover and take his time in choosing a point of entry. It enhances the illusion of a house uncared for, a house left alone, and house ready for the taking. Thankfully, with a wide array of wonderful lighting technology available to consumers, we do not have to leave our homes in the dark. Light is easy to provide and may be the most cost-effective home security investment you can make.
Home security experts time and time again point to lighting as a key determinant in the effectiveness of overall home protection plans, and some even suggest that it has a psychological effect on burglars that deters them from daytime robberies of a well-lit house as well. As such, it is an element of your home security system worth paying special attention to. The options for external lighting are endless, but here is a simple guide to get you started amidst so many alternatives.
Motion activated lighting systems are a great addition to your home security lighting plan. These lights are activated by a sensitive sensor that detects motion in its range. They not only provide energy-efficient lighting, but the action of a light turning on is a powerful and frightening deterrent to a creeping burglar. These lights save more energy than a passive photocell system because the light is only used when needed. While they leave part of the home in darkness when there is no motion, they more than make up for it with the surprise of turning on when anyone comes near. They also can be useful and automatic light sources to the homeowner who needs to take care of a quick yard chore at night or for kids coming home late.
Photocell activated lighting is a system for turning lights on at dusk and off at dawn, according to the amount of light measured by a photocell sensor.
This provides lighting when it is most needed and takes the guesswork and hassle out of having to turn lights on and off manually. It also makes lighting automatic in the event that you go on vacation and will not be able to monitor lighting for several days at a time. A salient drawback to a simple photocell activated system is that it may use lots of electricity depending on how many lights are connected to the system. Keeping lights on all night, 365 nights a year can become expensive. Possible solutions would be to use energy-efficient bulbs, install a timer so that the lights are only on for part of the night, or keep only a few lights attached to the system and have others on timers or motion-sensors.
Systems that combine these two technologies are available as well and may be your best option in terms of security and economics. These systems keep lights on at a low level continuously, and then amplify when the motion detector is activated.
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