Exterior security lighting plays an important role in preventing unauthorized entry to homes and office buildings as well as provides luminance to dark areas of your house and other structures. A number of different types of security lighting are available for various applications. when installing lighting systems you should think about their options and select a system which will work well for you.
Here is what else you should think about before you pick a particular external security lighting installation :
1. Energy efficiency
some lights are solar powered, which makes them very efficient, while others will pull power from the structure they are attached to. Using high-efficiency lights with good bulbs can cut down on operating expenses. You can also correct placement, to ensure that the light is not wasted.
2. Light pollution
A bright, badly-aimed light can cause a lot of glare, making it hard for people to see, and contributing to overall levels of light pollution. Choosing a light with a shielded housing will make security lighting less annoying for the neighbors, and also more functional, as criminals can easily hide behind a glaring light. Generally, the use of fixtures with cut-off optics that direct the light downward is recommended.
3. Use equipment that can be shielded after installation if necessary.
Many fixtures have an optional louver installed behind the lens so that the Effective Projected Area (EPA) (the wind loading of the fixture) is not increased.
4. Use fixtures that are easy to mount and secure.
The wiring (or ballast) compartment should have convenient openings or knockouts for conduit entry. Frequently, HID fixtures replace old incandescent PAR lamps in bullet-type fixtures installed on a building wall. Plan for easy access of conduit runs.
5. Use fixtures with tamper-resistant hardware and vandal-resistant poly carbonate refractors.
Fixtures with electrical components mounted to a die cast aluminium housing provide proper transfer of heat generated by the ballast.
Exterior Security Lights In The Market
A. Motion-Activated Exterior Security Lights.
Motion activated lights add a level of convenience and security outside your home. When motion sensor lights detect movement within a designated area, they turn on. This is helpful if you are concerned with people trespassing on your property. Or if safety is an issue, motion sensor outdoor lighting helps illuminate a path in the darkness or shed light to help you find the key to your front door. You also do not spend too much on your electricity bills as motion activated exterior security lights only activate when it detects a presence of movement in a specific area.
B. Halogen Exterior Floodlights
Halogen exterior flood lights are among the most common exterior security lighting that you can find at residential areas, commercial buildings and industrial structures. Halogen exterior flood lights emit strong light at a flick of the switch. Halogen flood lights consume more energy than most types of exterior flood lights.
C. Solar Flood Lights
For a more environment-friendly approach on exterior security lighting there are solar flood lights. Solar flood lights work the same as any other exterior security lights except that instead of getting its power supply from an electrical outlet, it collects and turns the heat of the sun into solar energy and use that energy to power its LED bulbs. This means that having a solar flood light will not contribute to the increase of your energy bills. Most solar flood lights are independent units which do not require wiring.
D. Fluorescent Exterior Security Lights
The most conventional exterior security lighting is the fluorescent flood light. You can purchase a fluorescent exterior lighting at any home improvement depot or make one yourself. All you will need is a couple of fluorescent bulbs, electrical wires, switch, and electrical socket and bulb sockets. You can also use various lighting fixtures such as a dimmer and a timer for your home-made fluorescent exterior lighting.
E. HID Exterior Security Lighting.
HID stands for High Intensity Discharge which is exactly what it does. An HID emits a strong light incomparable to that of other exterior lighting types. HID security lights can cover a larger area and are ideal for parking lots, sports stadium and other large residential, commercial and industrial structures.
Talk to us for Mechanical and Electrical Building Services design and build. Call us: +254780122255/+254735691990 or email us: info@relemech.co.ke.
