DIY Security Light Installation Tips & Tricks

Your home is your sanctuary but in order for you to feel safe there, you need to make sure that it is secured, whether you’re home or not. If you’ve ever been broken into your understanding just how important security is.

Security lights form an important part of your security measures. While a lock on your doors and windows can keep most intruders out, given enough time people can get through them. But, if you have CCTV and good outside lights people will think twice before trying.

In short, they’ll be visible and exposed, which is not desirable when they’re trying to get into your house.

Security lights also allow you to see who is outside your home, making it easier to know if you should contact the police or not.

Now it’s time to install the lights!

Electrical Check

You can install security lights yourself. But, before you start you’ll want to get a level 2 electrician Ashfield to verify that your current electrical installation is up to code. You may even want them to check any work you’ve done to ensure it’s safe. The last thing you want is a good security light and then a house fire.

Sensors

The best option is to get sensor lights because you don’t really want to leave floodlights on around your house right through the night. If you do you’re likely to have problems sleeping and complaints from your neighbors.

Sensor lights will simply come on when they detect movement, alerting you to the presence of an intruder, or your neighbor's cat.

Location

Perhaps the most critical part of the install is choosing the location. Ideally, it should be high enough that an intruder can’t easily access or touch your light. But, it also needs to be low enough to give a good level of illumination, this ensures the intruder can be seen which is especially beneficial if you have CCTV.

You’ll want several lights to cover all potential entry points.

Check Code

It is worth checking your local electrical code regulations as you’ll have to install a new circuit and switch for your security lights. Make sure you’re complying with the current code before you start the work.

Tamper Proof

The point of a security light is to ensure you can see what is going on outside your home, especially if someone is trying to get in. Of course, a professional will seek to bypass any security features you have. That’s why you need to minimize the number of connections and equipment that are visible outside. Security lights mounted directly to the wall and above easy reach will be much harder to tamper with.

You’ll need to drill a hole through the wall to bring the cable inside and then route all the different security light cables back to a common switch. This can then be wired directly to a new circuit breaker, a 15amp breaker should suffice.

Don’t forget adding smart cameras will help you to see what is going on outside your home whether you’re there or not. That’s a great deterrent and makes it easier for you to alert the emergency services.