Got called to a house in Linwood about 6 months after theyd had someone break into their shed and steal tools. Owner said he wished hed done something earlier cause now he cant sleep properly worrying about it happening again. We installed motion sensor floods covering all sides of the house, good bright lights at every entry point, and a couple spotlights eliminating the dark corners around the property. When we tested everything that night he said it was like turning his property from a target into a fortress. Hasnt had any problems since and he sleeps way better now.
Thats what proper security lighting does. It makes bad guys pick a different house cause yours is too risky. Simple as that really.
Why Security Lighting Actually Works
Burglars dont want to be seen. Thats the whole game. They look for dark houses with hiding spots where they can work without neighbors or passersby noticing them.
Good security lighting removes the darkness. Suddenly theres nowhere to hide. Anyone approaching your property is visible from the street and from neighbors windows. That alone stops most break-in attempts cause criminals move on to easier targets.
Motion-activated lights are specially good cause they startle people. When a bright light suddenly turns on it draws attention and makes whoever triggered it feel exposed. Even if theyre just walking by innocently it makes them jump. If theyre up to no good it usually makes them leave real quick.
Theres also a psychological thing where well-lit properties just look like someone cares about security. Dark properties look neglected or like nobody home. Burglars notice that stuff.
Police told us after one break-in series in Papanui that every single house that got hit had poor or no outdoor lighting. The houses with good security lighting on the same streets got skipped over. Makes sense when you think about it from a criminals perspective - why take the risk when theres an easier option next door?
Motion Sensor Lights vs Always-On Lights
For security lighting motion sensors are usually the way to go instead of lights that stay on all night.
Motion sensors save power cause lights only run when triggered. If you had floods on all night around your whole property youd spend a fortune on electricity. Motion sensors mean lights are off most of the time.
Motion sensors draw attention. When a light suddenly comes on people notice. Your neighbors might look out the window. You might look outside to see what triggered it. That attention is exactly what you want for security.
Motion sensors last longer cause theyre not running constantly. Less wear on the bulbs and electronics.
The downside is motion sensors can be triggered by animals, wind blowing branches, or innocent people walking by. Some people find that annoying. But you can adjust sensitivity and positioning to minimize false triggers while still catching actual threats.
Always-on lights make sense for entry areas like your front door where you want constant illumination for safety and convenience. But for security coverage around the property perimeter motion sensors are better.
We did a house in Riccarton where they wanted motion floods on three sides but always-on lights at the front and back doors. That combination works really well - constant light where people are actually using the property, motion detection where youre just watching for intruders.
Where to Put Security Lights
Security lighting needs to cover all approaches to your property and eliminate dark hiding spots.
Entry points are priority one. Every door and every accessible window needs light coverage. Front door, back door, side doors, garage doors. Ground floor windows specially ones hidden from the street. These are where break-ins happen so these need good bright lights.
Driveways need coverage. People approaching from the street should trigger lights. This lets you see whos coming and makes anyone approaching feel exposed.
Side paths between houses are big security weak points. These are usually dark and hidden from neighbors. Perfect for burglars. Put motion lights along side paths so anyone using them triggers lights.
Back yards need coverage specially if you have sheds or detached garages back there. Tools and bikes and outdoor equipment get stolen a lot. Motion floods covering the back yard make that way harder.
Dark corners and shadows need lights aimed at them. Walk around your property at night and look for spots where someone could hide. Those spots need lights eliminating the darkness.
High-risk areas like detached garages, sheds, boat parking, trailer storage - anywhere you keep valuable stuff needs dedicated security lighting.
Did a rental property in Sydenham that had multiple units. Landlord wanted to protect the whole property cause theyd had issues with people cutting through the property at night and stealing stuff from tenants. We installed motion floods covering all the pathways, lights at every unit entrance, and floods eliminating dark corners behind sheds. Tenants said they felt way safer and the random theft problems stopped.
Types of Security Lights
Different security lighting types work for different situations.
Motion sensor flood lights are the workhorses of security lighting. These are bright lights that cover large areas. When motion triggers them they light up like daytime. We mount these high up under eaves or on walls where they cant easily be reached or tampered with.
Motion sensor spotlights are more focused. These work good for specific areas like doors or dark corners. Not as much coverage as floods but still effective and less likely to bother neighbors with glare.
Wall-mounted security lights with motion sensors give you light plus they look decent during the day. These work well near entries where you want something that functions as both security and regular outdoor lighting.
Solar security lights are an option but honestly they dont work great in Christchurch winters. Not enough sun to charge properly and our winter nights are long. If youre serious about security go with wired lights.
Smart security lights can be controlled from your phone and some can send you alerts when triggered. These are good if you want to know whats happening at your property when youre not home.
Dusk-to-dawn lights stay on all night at low brightness then surge brighter when motion is detected. These provide constant ambient light plus the security benefit of motion activation.
How Bright Security Lights Should Be
Security lights need to be bright enough to actually illuminate someone but not so bright they annoy everyone around you.
For motion flood lights we usually install fixtures in the 2000-3000 lumen range. Thats bright enough to clearly see a person from 20-30 meters away. Older halogen floods used to be like 500 watts but modern LED floods get the same brightness at 20-30 watts.
Spotlights might be 1000-2000 lumens depending on what theyre covering. Smaller area means less light needed.
Entry lights can be dimmer - maybe 800-1500 lumens. These are more about seeing whos at your door than flooding the area with light.
Color temperature matters too. Warm white (2700-3000K) looks more natural and welcoming. Cool white (4000-5000K) is brighter and shows colors better which helps identify people and vehicles. For pure security cool white is better but some people prefer warm white cause it looks less harsh.
Brightness also depends on mounting height and angle. Light mounted 3 meters high needs to be brighter than one mounted 2 meters to cover the same area effectively.
We try to balance brightness with not being obnoxious. Your security lights should light up your property without shining into neighbors bedrooms or creating glare for drivers going past.
Positioning and Aiming Security Lights
Where you mount security lights and how you aim them makes a huge difference in how well they work.
Mount them high enough that people cant easily reach them. At least 2.5-3 meters up. Higher is better for security cause tampering with lights is one way burglars defeat them.
Angle them down at the area you want to protect. Lights aimed horizontally waste light shooting off into the distance and create glare. Angled down they put light where you need it - on the ground where people walk.
Overlap coverage from multiple lights. If one light fails or gets disabled you still have coverage from another direction. Plus overlapping lights eliminate shadows where someone could hide.
Position sensors to detect motion in the direction people would approach from. Most motion sensors have a cone of detection - make sure that cone covers your vulnerable approaches.
Consider what triggers the lights. You want them triggered by people approaching your house not by cars driving past on the street or neighbors walking their dog. Adjust sensitivity and positioning to minimize false triggers.
Test them thoroughly after installation. Walk around your property from every direction and make sure lights trigger when they should and cover the areas they need to.
We did a house in Fendalton where they wanted security floods but were worried about bothering neighbors. We positioned and aimed the lights carefully so they lit up the property without spilling light onto neighboring houses. Tested it with the neighbors at night and they couldnt even see the lights were on unless they looked directly at the house.
Motion Sensor Technology and Settings
Modern motion sensors use passive infrared (PIR) technology. They detect heat signatures moving through their field of view. When something warm (like a person) moves the sensor triggers the light.
Sensitivity controls how much motion triggers the light. High sensitivity catches smaller movements from further away but might trigger on cats or small animals. Low sensitivity only triggers on larger movements like people but might miss someone moving slowly.
Time delay controls how long lights stay on after being triggered. Usually adjustable from 30 seconds to 10 minutes or more. We usually set them around 3-5 minutes - long enough to be useful but not so long they run unnecessarily.
Detection range varies by model. Cheap sensors might detect motion out to 5-8 meters. Good sensors go 12-15 meters. Wide angle sensors can cover 180 degrees or more.
Some sensors have adjustable detection zones. You can mask off parts of the detection area that cause false triggers like trees moving in wind or a spot where neighbors walk their dog.
Smart sensors can learn patterns and reduce false alarms. Some can tell the difference between people, animals, and vehicles. These cost more but work better if you have a lot of false trigger issues.
We set up sensors based on your specific situation. If you have cats that roam at night we lower sensitivity. If your property backs onto bush we might mask off that direction. Every property is different.
Power and Wiring for Security Lights
Security lights need reliable power. Running off batteries or solar isnt good enough when safety is involved.
We wire security lights to your mains power - 240 volts. This means they work whenever you need them regardless of weather or battery condition.
Each light needs weatherproof wiring run to it. Usually we run conduit on exterior walls or under eaves to protect the wires. In some cases we might run wiring through the roof cavity or wall cavities.
Security lights need their own circuit or at minimum they shouldnt be on the same circuit as other outdoor lights that might have switches people turn off. You dont want your security lights off cause someone flipped a switch inside.
GFCI protection is required cause these are outdoor fixtures. Protects you if moisture gets into the wiring.
Good quality fixtures have solid weatherproof connections. Cheaper lights often have connection problems after a year or two in our Christchurch weather. We use commercial-grade fixtures that last.
Some people want their security lights wired so they can override them manually - like if theyre working outside at night and dont want lights turning off after 5 minutes. We can wire in override switches for that.
Combining Security Lighting with Other Security
Security lighting works better when combined with other security measures.
Security cameras are the obvious one. Good lighting helps cameras see clearly at night. Without good lighting night vision cameras only see so far. With security lighting cameras can capture clear color footage showing exactly whos on your property.
Alarm systems work well with security lighting. Lights come on when alarms are triggered making it extra obvious something is happening.
Smart home systems can tie everything together. Your security lights can trigger notifications on your phone. You can check cameras when lights are triggered. You can control lights remotely when youre away.
Physical security like good locks and deadbolts combined with lighting means even if someone doesnt care about being seen they still cant easily get in.
Neighborhood watch programs are helped by security lighting. Neighbors can actually see if somethings happening at your place instead of everything being dark.
Did a place in Halswell where the owner wanted full security setup. We installed motion sensor floods around the perimeter, wired them to integrate with his alarm system, positioned them for his security cameras, and set up smart controls so he gets phone alerts when lights trigger. Now hes got layers of security all working together.
Common Problems and Solutions
Security lights have some common issues that come up.
False triggers are the big one. Lights coming on for no good reason. Usually caused by trees moving in wind, animals, or sensors picking up heat from vents or hot water cylinders. We fix this by adjusting sensitivity, repositioning sensors, or masking off problem areas.
Lights not triggering when they should means sensors are aimed wrong or sensitivity is too low. Or something is blocking the sensor view. We test and adjust til they work right.
Lights staying on constantly might mean the sensor failed or a setting got changed. Sometimes insects get into the sensor and trigger it continuously. Usually needs cleaning or replacement.
Neighbors complaining about glare means lights are aimed wrong. Security lights should light up your property not shine into other peoples windows. We can reposition or add shields to fix glare problems.
Lights not bright enough happens when people buy cheap fixtures or dont install enough lights for their property size. Fixing this means upgrading to brighter fixtures or adding more coverage.
Weather damage is common in exposed locations. Wind blows fixtures around, rain gets into bad connections, UV breaks down cheap plastic. Using quality weatherproof fixtures prevents most of this.
Maintaining Security Lighting
Security lighting needs some basic maintenance to keep working right.
Clean sensors and light lenses every few months. Dirt, spider webs, and grime reduce sensitivity and light output. Just wipe them down with a damp cloth.
Check that fixtures are still aimed properly. Wind and weather can shift them over time. Walk around at night and make sure lights are hitting the areas they should.
Test motion sensors regularly. Walk in front of each light to make sure it triggers. If response gets sluggish sensor might be failing.
Trim back plants that grow over lights or sensors. Your garden changes as plants grow and what wasnt blocking a sensor last summer might be now.
Check mounting hardware. Make sure lights are still securely attached. Loose fixtures can fall in wind or get knocked around.
LED lights last forever but they do eventually fail. If a light stops working check the bulb or LED module first before calling us. Might just need replacing.
Keep connections tight. Outdoor connections can corrode or work loose. If lights start flickering or working intermittently connections might need attention.
Security Lighting for Different Property Types
Different properties need different security lighting approaches.
Small urban properties with close neighbors need careful positioning to avoid bothering people next door. We use spotlights more than floods and aim everything carefully. Focus on entry points rather than flooding the whole property with light.
Large rural properties need more coverage cause theres more area to protect. Multiple floods covering different zones. Maybe lights on outbuildings and detached garages. Often needs dedicated circuits to handle all the lights.
Rental properties need durable fixtures that tenants cant easily tamper with. Mount everything high and use commercial-grade gear. Simple controls cause tenants wont maintain complicated systems.
Commercial properties need bright coverage cause theres more to protect and insurance companies care about security measures. Often needs to stay on all night with motion detection as a bonus feature.
Properties with long driveways need lights along the driveway approach. Someone walking up a 50 meter driveway should trigger lights before they reach the house.
Beach or waterfront properties need corrosion-resistant fixtures cause salt air kills regular lights fast. Stainless hardware and marine-grade seals.
Cost of Security Lighting
Security lighting costs vary based on what you need.
Basic setup with 2-3 motion sensor floods covering main entry points might run $800-1500 installed. This is enough for a small property with simple needs.
Medium setup with 4-6 lights covering all sides of the house runs $1500-2500. This covers most residential properties well.
Extensive coverage for large properties with multiple buildings might be $3000-5000 or more. Depends on how many lights and how much wiring is needed.
Smart security lights cost more upfront - maybe $200-300 per fixture instead of $100-150 for regular motion floods. But they offer more features and control.
Adding security lighting to existing properties sometimes costs more than new builds cause running new wiring can be tricky. New builds we can rough in wiring before walls close up.
LED fixtures cost more than old halogen but save money on power bills and replacement bulbs. LED security lights pay for themselves in a couple years.
We give free quotes. Come look at your property, discuss what you need, and tell you exactly what itll cost before we do any work.
Does Security Lighting Really Prevent Break-Ins
Short answer is yes but its not magic.
Multiple studies show that properties with good security lighting get broken into way less often than dark properties. Burglars specifically avoid well-lit houses cause the risk is higher.
But lighting alone isnt enough. You also need good locks, alarm systems, security cameras, and common sense like not leaving valuables visible or doors unlocked. Lighting is one layer in security.
That said lighting is maybe the most cost-effective security measure you can install. For a couple thousand dollars you dramatically reduce your risk. Compare that to dealing with a break-in - replacing stolen stuff, repairing damage, feeling unsafe in your own home.
Insurance companies often give discounts for good security lighting cause they know it reduces claims. Some insurance policies actually require outdoor lighting for coverage to be valid.
The peace of mind is worth something too. Knowing your property is lit up at night helps people sleep better. Kids feel safer. You dont worry as much when youre away.
Had a customer in Woolston who was skeptical about the cost til I asked him what he thought his bikes and tools were worth that were sitting in his garage. He said couple thousand dollars easy. I said so spending $1500 on lighting that protects several thousand in gear plus your peace of mind seems pretty reasonable right? He agreed and we did the install. Year later he told me hes glad he did it cause neighbors on his street got broken into but his place got skipped over.