Outdoor security lights-what sort best?

dontlikemondays

Been some burglaries in my area recently and as I'm one of the few without security lights, thought I would try and sort something out.

I could probably do with 2, front and back.
A porch light on dim throughout the night but full light should someone approach and same out back I suppose.

Will these need to be mains wired in or will solar power do the job and what sort have your guys had success with?

Jonesya

I'd forget solar, go for mains powered.

Personally I think the key is to avoid glare, if there's glare then people see the light and not the person being lit - so avoid high powered fittings and fittings with exposed bulbs. You actually need very little in the way of lamp power to get good illumination if you do it right.

I quite like those 10W LED floodlights, they give out plenty of light, light-up instantly and if you angle them straight down there's no glare to any onlookers aiding security.

I've got them over the doors at the back of the house and down my alley at the side of the house. They give a really good effect, brilliant visibility around the property and the lack of any glare makes a big difference, all for 60W.

Put them on a PIR or photocell.

dontlikemondays

what does photocell mean please?

Jonesya

Photocell - used to switch on lights automatically when it gets dark and off when it gets light.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/standalone-photocell/11330