What's the point of security lighting?

KateLiana27

(A bit of a follow on from a previous question I asked about the need for external lighting in my house.)

Most of my neighbours have motion sensor floodlights that turn on when you approach the front or back of the house. Forgive me if I sound a bit dense, but what's the point of this? Surely a burglar wouldn't be deterred by a light turning on when it's obvious it is automatic, and there is no one in the house? Or are they?

anotherbaldrick

Burglars like being in the dark so they cannot be seen. Lighting deters them greatly, especially if you can arrange it from behind them as they then can not determine if they are being watched from a neighbours house.

keystone

None whatsoever. Cats and foxes set 'em off too if not set up correctly so all you do is drive your electric bill up. The vast majority of opportunistic breakins occur during daylight hours. They are comfort food more than practical nourishment.

Cheers

atnoble32

It lets me see where i'm walking.

Itismehonest

keystone wrote: »

None whatsoever. Cats and foxes set 'em off too if not set up correctly so all you do is drive your electric bill up. The vast majority of opportunistic breakins occur during daylight hours. They are comfort food more than practical nourishment.

Cheers

Even a gale moving shrubs & trees in their garden sets off our neighbours. How they sleep through it I don't know. Luckily I can't see it unless I'm up & about.
I think it's probably more a point of giving the residents a sense of security than actually accomplishing anything.

jc808

keystone wrote: »

None whatsoever. Cats and foxes set 'em off too if not set up correctly so all you do is drive your electric bill up. The vast majority of opportunistic breakins occur during daylight hours. They are comfort food more than practical nourishment.

Cheers

Depends how you set up the sensors - my security light only goes off a couple of times a night (I think!) and its nice to walk out your rear patio and have a light come on at night

Itismehonest

jc808 wrote: »

Depends how you set up the sensors - my security light only goes off a couple of times a night (I think!) and its nice to walk out your rear patio and have a light come on at night

I can do that by throwing a normal switch & only pay for it when I want it :j

Myser

my security light only goes off a couple of times a night (I think!)

Most security lights will only operate at night or when light levels are low. They have a light sensor built-in to detect darkness.

If you want to exclude areas of coverage, either angle the sensor (PIR) appropriately or use black electrical insulation tape to cover the area of the sensor you want to exclude.

daveyjp

How do you throw an inside switch if you are outside? Very handy when arriving home at night.

jc808

Myser wrote: »

Most security lights will only operate at night or when light levels are low. They have a light sensor built-in to detect darkness.

If you want to exclude areas of coverage, either angle the sensor (PIR) appropriately or use black electrical insulation tape to cover the area of the sensor you want to exclude.

Er thanks - I already know that

Myser

Er thanks - I already know that

Just posting for the benefit of others too. I wasn't sure if you meant that you didn't know if the light came on in the daytime as well!