
DIY Security Systems
Outdoor security lights are key components of your home’s safety and protection features. However, these pieces of equipment also incur wear and tear over long periods. That’s why it is important to know how to replace outdoor security lights to make them 100% fully functional.
What Is Outdoor Security Lighting and Why Is It important?
Before we start discussing how to replace outdoor security lights, it is important to know the benefits of outdoor security lights and what you should consider when replacing one. Now, let’s start!
As their name suggests, outdoor security lights provide vision around your home or office to monitor certain movements within the perimeter. Also, outdoor security lights add a new dimension of beauty and design of your home.
The great thing about outdoor security lights is that they discourage would-be intruders from entering your home by increasing the chance of getting caught. The best outdoor security lights are the ones who provide sufficient vision, motion sensors, and facial detection that can minimize hiding spots and can increase the sense of safety within your area.
Moreover, you don’t need to install hundreds of light to feel safe. Over-illumination of your home can draw unrivaled attention to your home.
Purpose of Outdoor Security Lighting
There are three ultimate purposes of Outdoor security lighting that they should offer. One is the ability to discourage criminals from breaking-in to your home. Second is that outdoor security lights should be aesthetically-pleasing to the homeowners. Lastly is to provide enough vision for homeowners and neighbors to navigate their way through the perimeters of your home.
Outdoor security lights allow them to identify different kinds of obstructions along the way and the change in elevation. Statistics show that well-placed outdoor security light is less likely to be broken into.
It was also found that homes, with no lights installed, are more prone to burglaries than with installed ones. However, unoccupied homes with lights establish the feeling of occupancy, thus – deterring criminals and burglars. This means that homeowners who use outdoor lightings are less likely to be burglarized.
The Illuminating Engineering Society further explained that great security lighting anticipates potential threats and thieves and raises the means necessary to commit a crime, discouraging thieves and burglars from entering your home. This type of approach is commonly called target hardening. It would take a longer time for criminals to plan and execute their evil desires in your home; the lesser chance criminals are to target those homes.
Also, security lightings should follow these basic guidelines:
- Provide a clear view of the specified area, including objects such as fences, walls, and shrubs, provides the vision for people too.
- The field of view should be wider with a minimum distance of 30 feet.
- Makes task such as finding your lost things, pets, and retrieving mails a tad easier and safer.
- Help people avoid encounters with criminals and other threats or defend themselves provided with enough vision with their intruders.
- Boost your sense of safety when spending quality time outdoors with family, friends, and relatives.
Security Lighting Installation Tips
Installing outdoor security light highly depends on the overall structure of your home. Homeowners should refer to the manufacturer’s installation guide when having a hard time. However, we’ve listed some general guidelines for you to follow before installing outdoor security lights.
- Choose locations where it is hard for intruders to tamper your outdoor light fixtures.
- Adjust your outdoor lights properly to provide sufficient vision around the perimeters.
- Almost all basic outdoor security lights come with pre-installed motion sensors, adjust it according to your preference.
- Wire covers should be provided for all light fixtures.
Place lights or lamps along with the bedroom window, kitchen, garage, or living room can be turned on and off anytime whenever you leave your home. This helps to set up the feeling of occupancy. It helps make it appear that people are occupying your home.
How to Replace Outdoor Security Lights
It’s always an advantage that you or anyone in your family knows how to replace outdoor security lights. Before we discuss the quick and easy steps, there are specific tools and equipment you may need before replacing your outdoor security lights. These include:
- Philipps screwdriver or drill
- Newly-purchased outdoor security light with mounting hardware
- Level
- Wire snips
- Connecting wires
- Electrical tape
You can be sick of the constant need to fix burned-out lights if you have an outdated exit sign that operates on incandescent bulbs. LED exit signs last without burning out for decades, making it a suitable upgrade. Plus, LEDs use little electricity than incandescent lamps, saving you money over the escape sign’s lifespan.
Installing an exit sign is a pretty straightforward, do-it-yourself task provided you have a touch of electrical work experience. Leave the job to an emergency lighting specialist if you lack the skills or have no time to do so.
How to Replace Outdoor Security Lights
It’s always an advantage that you or anyone in your family knows how to replace outdoor security lights. Before we discuss the quick and easy steps, there are specific tools and equipment you may need before replacing your outdoor security lights. These include:
- Philipps screwdriver or drill
- Newly-purchased outdoor security light with mounting hardware
- Level
- Wire snips
- Connecting wires
- Electrical tape
You can be sick of the constant need to fix burned-out lights if you have an outdated exit sign that operates on incandescent bulbs. LED exit signs last without burning out for decades, making it a suitable upgrade. Plus, LEDs use little electricity than incandescent lamps, saving you money over the escape sign’s lifespan.
Installing an exit sign is a pretty straightforward, do-it-yourself task provided you have a touch of electrical work experience. Leave the job to an emergency lighting specialist if you lack the skills or have no time to do so.
Step by Step Process in Replacing Outdoor Security Lights
Here are the useful steps on how to replace outdoor security lights. Pay attention to every process because the success of your newly installed security lights relies on how well you replace it.
Step 1
Before starting to replace your outdoor security light, be sure to disconnect the power source and also the circuit breaker. Do not reconnect until it is not done yet. Then remove the existing light from the wall. The screws are easily detectable and, with the help of a screwdriver or drill, unscrew them while holding the light fixture firmly—disconnect wires and connectors.
Step 2
Your new outdoor security light should come with mounting hardware. Set aside the old one and place the new one on the existing bracket. With the use of a level, make sure it is straight and perfectly horizontal.
Step 3
The ground wire should be wrapped around the ground bolt and tighten accordingly until you feel secure enough. Connecting existing wires from the new light to the junction box, usually, they have corresponding color patterns. After connecting the wires, seal them with electrical tape. Try to separate the wires, and if they don’t bulge a bit, they are good to go.
Step 4
Attach the new outdoor security light fixture with the mounting bracket. Thread the knobs and all the required screws. You may need silicone caulk to seal the edges to have a water-proof outdoor security light. And that’s how to replace outdoor security light folks!
Conclusion
Outdoor security lights help you in so many ways possible. What’s good about these products is they come cheap and are highly-durable in terms of longevity of usage. More so, homeowners should be well-adept on how to replace outdoor security light as they are quite simple yet important for maintenance to fortify your home constantly. Find out more about Outdoor Lights.