Outdoor Landscape Lighting as a Security System
Outdoor landscape lighting can be a very decorative addition to any garden. But what about the additional benefits of the security and safety that it can also provide.
Security
Outdoor landscape lighting is one of the best security systems you can install. Landscape lighting can be used as a deterrent to residential crime. Correct proportions of outdoor landscape lighting surrounding your home, has been shown to minimize crimes by as much as fifty percent. Landscape lighting has two great uses to aid in the security of your home. The lighting can intimidate possible intruders to avoid trespassing on to your property. Should this fail, the illuminated areas will also make it possible for you or your neighbor’s to see any intruders as they trespass.
As well as lighting an intruder visually, they will also create shadows. At night when vision is limited a moving shadow is easy to see. Even though you probably won’t clearly make out the intruder in the darkness, your eye will be drawn to the movement straight away which will put you on alert immediately.
When designing your outdoor landscape lighting it is a good idea to light the pathways separately as to lighting individual garden features. This can be done using separate wiring circuits. To save power the feature lighting can be turned off very late at night, say after 1.30 am and the pathway lighting can remain on for safety and security.
Also remember when wiring your outdoor landscape lighting, make sure to bury the wiring. It is common for intruders to see this wiring an cut it knowing that it will blow the lighting fuse which will turn off all of your lights.
Safety
Typically low voltage lighting systems are used for outdoor landscape lighting around the home. The preferred light fittings used to create outdoor landscape lighting, are low voltage, weather resistant fixtures. The low voltage used reduces the risk of electrocution if live wiring or terminals are touched. Also if power supply transformers are used to reduce the voltage, then they also isolate the low voltage system from the mains voltage which increases safety.
Low voltage lighting outdoor systems around the home garden also use low wattage lamps. These do not heat up as much as the larger sized lamps commonly used inside the home. The risk of burning anyone is reduced. Also the risk of burning and damaging plants by the directed light is also greatly reduced.
Maintenance
Always check your low voltage outdoor landscape lighting regularly. Say once every week. Lamps eventually burn out and require replacement regularly. Another problem is that plants outgrow their original shape and form and you will need to re-aim the lighting again to suit. The neighbor’s cat or dog may also knock your lighting over if it is loosely installed.
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Outdoor Spot Lights
Every home or business establishment can benefit from the installation of outdoor spot lights. Outdoor spotlights have many purposes ranging from providing extra safety, providing extra security, high-lighting pathways, and providing various forms of ambiance. These lights are a terrific addition to any outdoor lighting scheme.
Initially, when we think of spot lights we picture figure skating events or rock concerts. At least that is what comes first to my mind. These notions are outdated. Spotlights have historically lit small targets from a distance. These days the use of spot lights has transcended the historical uses and now you can find spot lights in many different locations. These lights are regularly used in commercial spaces, industrial spaces, urban spaces, and residential spaces.
Effective use of these lights can be dramatic or simply functional. Both artistic or decorative and utilitarian functions can be served by the proper use of these lights.
Spot lights are often confused with flood lights. These two types of lights are very different and serve completely different purposes. They do, however, posses some similarities that lend themselves to the confusion. The most obvious similarity between these lights is that they are generally installed at a significant distance from the subject matter they are intended to illuminate. The most obvious difference between the lights is the intended focus of illumination. Flood lights disperse the light and light up a large area such as a football field or a parking lot. A spot light narrows the focus of illumination and targets a small area of illumination such as a singer or figure skater. Choose the type of light you want by the purpose you want served.
Spot lights can be used effectively at outdoor parties held at night. With careful usage these lights can serve a dual purpose. The proper use of these lights can act as a safety feature and also act as a form of decoration. Spotlights can highlight pathways, food areas, entry ways and exits. Additionally, properly positioned spot lights can highlight garden art. In the alternative, spotlights can be positioned to allow from crossed light beams which are always a nice effect.
Motion detector spotlights can be a very effective safety feature at gates, entrances and/or driveways. Motion detector lights are triggered by motion. The more modern of these lights will not be activated by cats or squirrels. These lights are an effective solution for those that want the security of lights but don’t want to waste the expense of having the lights powered full time. Motion detector lights are also a great way of conserving electricity for those people who take an interest in being “green”.
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Why You Should Consider Outdoor Solar Lights
Outdoor solar lights are an attractive and delightful addition to any landscape, enhancing the beauty of the natural surroundings with their soft glowing light. They are one of the best and easiest ways to create “outdoor mood lighting” with only a minimal amount of effort. Outdoor solar lights can be arranged in innumerable ways, from lining a walkway, to outlining a garden, to mounting them on posts or directly to the outside of a house or other structure. The possibilities end only with the creativity and imagination of the user.
Outdoor solar lights are easy to find, and quite affordable. Almost any hardware or major retail stores have many styles of solar lights to choose from, and at very affordable prices. Most lights come packaged with little or no assembly required. The ones that do require assembly are very simple and consist mainly of attaching the light itself to its base, which is usually a small pole that is one foot or so in length. Generally there are no tools required for the assembly, and the total assembly can be completed in a matter of minutes.
The lights work, as their name suggests, by collecting solar radiation from the sun throughout the course of the day and storing it in a small battery until the darkness of nightfall automatically triggers the battery to release its energy and illuminate the small lightbulb, the more sunlight it receives the longer it will stay lit, usually at least four hours of light will be produced from an average day of charging. It’s best to place the lights in areas that will receive the most amount of sunlight as is possible throughout the day.
The most common outdoor solar lights are mounted on a pole that has a pointed end to form a stake that can be easily pushed into the ground. Another common type is mounted on an assembly that is designed to attach directly to the outside of a structure such as a house, or a shed, usually attaching easily with just a few screws.
Aside from the aesthetic qualities of the solar lights, they are also an environmentally friendly product. Offering a responsible green option to other traditional types of outdoor lighting, which of course use regular household electricity. Unlike traditional outdoor lighting, outdoor solar lights produce zero emissions, and use 100% clean solar energy, thereby saving money on energy costs for the user as well as contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gasses which are a major cause of global climate change.
Outdoor solar lights are an easy, affordable, and responsible option for people who are interested in adding beauty and allure to their yards and landscapes. For a quick way to add beauty to any landscape they can’t be beat.