Tag Archives: security lighting

General Safety Issues

Getting the Most Our Of Your Commercial Outdoor Security Lighting – The Mighty Electricians Guest Blog Post

If your small business has been broken into in the past, you will understand how angry such a scenario can make you feel, as well as how victimized, exploited and upset the encounter leaves you. If you have ever experienced a burglary – whether at work or in your own home – you may recognize the deep-seated feelings of sadness and frustration that go with such an encounter, combined with a sense of vulnerability, of being taken advantage of. Those who have been affected by a burglary will wonder “will this happen again?” or may blame themselves for the fact that thieves have targeted their business. Therefore, it is wise to have your company covered with a modern security lighting setup, in case burglars decide to strike. 

State-of-the-art security lighting systems are suitable for both residential and business properties. Many people question how to keep their premises secure, as well as how to get the most out of the security lighting they have fitted to conquer the “dead lighting spots”. Luckily, there are a handful of security light options that will help you decrease the chances of a breaking and entering crime occurring. To begin with, all lighting should be mounted high enough that it is out of reach of vandals. To foil attempts by ne’er-do-wells who want to smash your lighting fixtures, your lights should also be protected by wire mesh as well. 

One of the most crucial things to bear in mind is to keep the entire grounds comprehensively illuminated, as this will help prevent a potential break-in by dissuading criminals from trying to venture onto your property. Shining spotlights will discourage those who are perhaps targeting your site, and some well-placed landscape lighting will make it difficult for criminals to hide within the grounds to reconnoiter the place. 

Flood lights that shed large amounts of light over an expanse of land can be a hugely effective deterrent. However, they must be  positioned well enough that they do not inadvertently cast deep, harsh shadows that will actually attract those looking to rob you. For example, a typical side-effect of bright flood lights is that they cast dark shadows behind nearby trees, and these are obviously ideal areas for trespassers to try to conceal themselves. Furthermore, although the basic purpose of flood lights is to emit great swathes of light, if they are placed in problematic areas, excessive illumination will actually become counterproductive due to the strong dazzling effect emanating from them. Ironically, this not only makes it more difficult for anyone to tell if interlopers are in close proximity, but they also create the possibility for injuries due to people being unintentionally blinded so that they trip and fall. 

Keeping your entry and exit points well-lit after hours can provide the pretense of night security being present onsite during off-peak hours, even if this is not really the case. Consequently, multiple lights controlled by dawn-to-dusk timer switches are a great investment, although they need to be well-shielded from any neighbor’s property and positioned in such a way that they are effective for deterring unwanted guests. Point 150 watts lamps downward towards your property (and not into the sky like the Bat-Signal!), since lights with too much power create unwanted glare. Essentially, many medium powered bulbs are preferable to a smaller amount of high powered lamps. 

Have motion sensor lighting set up around problem areas of the building, as this will let you know when there is movement outside, especially in the fall and winter months when it gets darker much earlier. One of the advantages of motion sensors is that they will activate lights all of a sudden, which will startle anyone who is not supposed to be onsite. For lighting under windows, always pick a low wattage bulb. This will allow you to see all movements from inside your office if you are working late hours. Adding lights along outside walkways is also a great deterrent for would-be muggers preying on anyone walking to their cars after the workday ends. 

Any combined arrangement of these different lighting types will assist in frightening off intruders. As a final point, it is vital to protect the wiring of your security lighting, so that tampering is not possible. As such, bury the wiring underground wherever possible so that it is out of reach of interference. It is also prudent to have multiple circuits installed, so that if a circuit trips out you still have other live circuits on hand, instead of the entire lighting system going offline and burglars find a way to take advantage of the darkness. 

Since 1999, The Mighty Electricians have created a successful name for themselves as the premier electrician team in the Phoenix metropolitan area. We are proud to provide professional services for all your residential and business needs, including security light setups, parking lot lighting, electrical troubleshooting, main breaker replacements, appliance circuits and ceiling fan installations. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and serve residents living in Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Queen Creek, Gilbert, Ahwatukee and Carefree. For further information on the electrician services we supply, please visit our website at The Mighty Electricians or, alternatively, you can call us at 602-375-2005 today.

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SECURITY LIGHTING (Guest Post)

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Security lighting fulfills a number of important psychological functions. Primarily, security lighting provides the user with peace of mind, and reduces worries over burglaries in the home. Having a security light fitted also alters the perception of a property, while also being shaped by how a home owner interprets their immediate surroundings and their threat level. In terms of potential thieves, security lights act as an important deterrent that creates uncertainty about going through with a job. However, it is important to think carefully about whether security lights are being properly used, and how they might create a different impression for would-be thieves. These points are developed below: 

1 – Peace of Mind 

Having a basic set of security lights grants a home owner a level of personal safety. Those worried about being robbed or their property vandalised are able to rely on extra security to reduce risk. While perhaps only being a simple solution to increasing security, having lights in place can mean that a home owner can think less about monitoring and checking their property for threats. Relying on lights to provide this alert means that a plan is in place to provide an early warning, and more time to respond to a problem. 

2 – Perception of Property 

How security lights work depend on a person’s perception of their property and the surrounding area. Those that feel safe within a suburban or gated community might view security lights as an unnecessary expense, due to their belief that security is already provided for. Others may use security lights to better control their fears about living in an urban area with a high crime rate. Again, peace of mind and reduced anxiety are some of the primary psychological drivers behind installing security lights. 

3 – Deterrent 

Understanding the psychology of thieves is important to protecting your home. Sudden bright lights, or a well lit driveway and door, can be unattractive to thieves exploring a neighbourhood at night. Lights draw the attention of those in the neighbourhood, and lower the ability of a thief from being able to make a break in without identified. The shock factor of bright lights kicking in can also make a thief leave by creating the impression of further security features within a property. 

4 – Caution 

It is important, however, not to overvalue or rely on security lighting for peace of mind, or to trust that they will necessarily scare off burglars. Lights on a timer may indicate to a burglar that the owners of a property are not there, while those that scout out a neighbourhood will be able to work out if there aren’t any extra security measures. The problem of lights coming on for passers by may also mean that people are less likely to turn to lighting as a sole solution for their security. In this way, it’s also important to have a good set of bolts, glass breakage detectors and other devices in place if you are worried about a break in to your home.

About the author
Serena is an in-house copywriter for a leading supplier of energy saving electrical supplies at Discount Electrical. In her spare time she writes various other blogs online on numerous other topics such as health, automotive and the theatre.