We all enjoyed the long, summer days with seemingly endless light. Now that it is getting darker earlier, you may want to consider adding more security to your home, business and property with additional lighting. There are many advantages to security lighting that many buyers don’t consider when they are installing it, such as:
•Added surveillance
•Better view of your business and outdoor area
•Increased safety that better lighting provides
•Better lighting helps discourage criminal activity
•Scaring away unwanted animals, such as skunks, raccoons, and possums
•Spotlighting dangerous areas around pools, stairs, or uneven areas
The addition of security lighting can help to increase the visibility of the area and often helps deter criminal activity. But if the lighting isn’t installed correctly, it can actually be counter-productive. There are a few types of installation errors that often lead to poor results, such as:
Unprotected or Low Mounting
Lighting that is installed too low or without adequate protection may cause criminals to simply take them out of commission. Both homeowners and businesses should consider using an isolated power supply or connections that have locked meters when putting up new lights.
Poor Arrangement or Design
The design of the lighting in question should be constructed specifically with closed-circuit monitoring or human observation in mind. Lighting does not need to be as bright as possible; it only needs to be bright enough to serve its purpose. A general rule of thumb is one-half watt for every square foot.
Shadows
The use of multiple lamps with lower brightness will reduce glare and pools of shadows that are many times a condition of over-bright lighting.
Bulb Compatibility
Some bulbs can overheat while others are not good in freezing temperatures. Consider the general temperature in the area at the time.
CFL bulbs
An 18-watt CFL will produce just as much light as a 75-watt incandescent and lasts ten times longer.
LED bulbs
A 14-watt LED bulb will produce as much light as a 75-watt incandescent and has a lifespan of 25,000 hours.
Infra-red bulbs
This type of light bulb goes well with many specialty, closed-circuit television security applications.
High-pressure sodium bulbs
High-pressure sodium bulbs are the best choice for car parks, perimeter lighting, and general site because of their realistic uniform illumination and the fact that they are 100 lumens per watt. They are also great for illumination in the fog and offer a 20,000-plus life expectancy.
Metal Halide bulbs
Metal halide bulbs are extremely bright and can emulate daylight, which makes them great for security and inspection applications.
Tungsten or Quartz halogen bulbs
These bulbs perform more efficiently than HID with their instant light, better quality and superior color rendition.
Limits
Security lights are important when you are trying to deter crime and add security to your place of business or home. However, security lights will have no bearing on crimes that are committed during the day. They should be installed in very high-visibility areas so that anyone who intends to commit a crime will see them and hopefully be deterred.