How to Install Outdoor Lighting?

If you want to add dimension and beauty to your home while managing an effective security system, nothing can be better than stylish outdoor lighting. Now the question is how to install outdoor lighting?

Outdoor lighting renders a wide range of benefits. It illuminates the path to your front door and also keeps the would-be intruders to target your home. It increases the risks of being caught in the intruders, which restricts them from entering your home. 

Installing a good quality outdoor lighting allows facial recognition and physical detection. Moreover, it also minimizes the hiding spots near your house, which in turn increases the sense of safety in the residents. 

Keep in mind to avoid mover-illumination as it can cause light pollution. Here is an article with a discussion on how to install outdoor lighting. However, before jumping to the process of installation, let’s have a look at the purpose of installing outdoor lighting. 

Purpose of Installing Outdoor Lighting

Installing outdoor lighting not only adds beauty to the house but also increases security. The main purpose of installing outdoor lighting is that it is aesthetically pleasing for the house owners. It allows the residents to navigate the perimeter and landscape of their home safely. Moreover, it also provides security to the residents by discouraging the would-be intruders. 

Below mentioned are some of the main purposes of installing outdoor lighting.

• Provides a clear view of the nearby perimeter, including objects like walls, fences, and barriers.
• When outdoor lightings are installed appropriately, they can accentuate the best features of the home’s exterior and surrounding landscape. 
• Allows to easily and safely find the keys, walking the dogs, and retrieving the mails.
• Renders the facility of facial recognition at a distance of around 30 feet. 
• Discourage trespassers from invading your property.
• It helps in avoiding criminal threats.
• Increases the sense of safety in residents of the house when spending time outdoors.

Types of Outdoor Security Lighting 

There are different types of security lights to choose from according to your needs and requirements. While purchasing security lights, keep in mind to purchase the ones that are suitable for damp or wet locations. Below mentioned are some common types of security lightings. 

Landscape Path Lighting

This type of outdoor lighting is perfect to safely illuminate the paths and walkways that are used frequently. You can also use these light fixtures for illuminating architectural elements present around your home. 

You can use landscape path lighting in both commercial and residential properties. You can mount these lights on the deck, trees, paths, ground, stairs, flower beds, and walkways. 

Flood Lights

Flood lights are best to illuminate large spaces as they distribute a wide cone of light. In order to provide precise illumination, the fixtures of this lighting come with one, two, or three adjustable heads. 

You can use flood lights in both commercial and residential properties. You can mount flood lighting in recreational areas, entryways, pools, warehouses, porches, patios, decks, and driveways. 

Surface Mounted Luminaires

Surface-mounted luminaires are perfect for accent, decorative, and general lighting in the exterior of your home. You can use this lighting in residential and commercial properties. Moreover, you can mount them in perimeter and entryway. 

Roadway & Post Luminaries

Roadways and post luminaires are suitable for general illumination. They render ambient lighting, which is perfect for welcoming guests to your home. You can use this lighting in commercial, residential, storage, and parking spaces. You can mount the, in streets, driveway, and parking areas. 

Where to Place Outdoor Lights?

When designing an outdoor lighting system for your house, it is better to identify any possible security and safety risks. For this purpose, you should survey the perimeter of your home appropriately. Moreover, you should also research the criminal history of your neighborhood and consider the effect of lighting in nearby areas. 

While placing outdoor lights, you should also consider the local codes like energy conservation and light pollution. In order to determine the needs of light, use the below-mentioned tips. 

Assess Your Home As Well As Neighborhood

The first step to installing outdoor lighting is to assess your neighborhood. In order to get information about the surrounding, it is better to ask the neighbors. They are a great source of information about the residents and the community. 

Getting information about the neighborhood will help you in getting an idea about the crime rates in society. It will help in determining the importance of outdoor lighting in your house for developing a sense of safety. 

Determine the Lighting Approach

Once you have identified the areas that present security issues, the next step is to determine the lighting approach. There are two types of lighting approaches for outdoor lighting- active and passive. 

Outdoor security systems include active elements that can interact with a person by means of responding to a movement or action. It also includes passive elements that are static, and they do not respond to movements or actions. 

• Active Elements – These elements are responsive. They include alarm systems, monitored closed-circuit television, and coded and card entries. The lighting systems that are motion-activated fall in the category of active security aliments. They get activated by movements. 
• Passive Elements – These elements are static. They include warning signs, fences, and barriers. Lighting systems on timers fall in the category of passive security systems. They activate at the same time every day regardless of the activity or area lighting. 

A perfect lighting system with a high level of security contains both active and passive elements. 

Impact of Lighting on Surrounding Area

The best outdoor lighting system is the one that takes into account the surrounding areas. It helps to avoid competing with the traffic signals. It is essential to have effective lighting to avoid creating deep shadows and glare. Moreover, effective lighting also helps in clear observations of any person or any object around the home. 

How to Install Outdoor Lighting?

Installing outdoor light varies according to the architecture and light fixture style of your home. It is better to refer to the instruction installation provided by the manufacturer on how to install outdoor lighting. Below mentioned are some common steps that you can follow for installing outdoor lighting fixtures. 

Choose a location

The first step for how you install outdoor lighting is to choose a location. You need to determine where you want to install the outdoor lighting in your home. It increases the risks of being caught in the intruders, which restricts them from entering your home. 

Pro Tip – If you decide to install the light at a place that already has an existing light, make sure to turn off the power from the circuit-breaker box before you install the new light. 

Remove the Existing Lightings

The next step is to remove the existing light. For this, you have to unscrew the existing light and then remove it. If you have bulbs, then it is a good idea to remove them in order to prevent them from breaking off. 

Be careful while disconnecting the wires. Keep in mind to double-check using the circuit tester in order to make sure the power is turned off. 

Assemble the New Outdoor Light

Now the next step is to assemble new outdoor lighting on an uncluttered surface. Feed the wires of the light through the base and then screw the base onto the fixture. Now, you have to feed the wires of the light through a rubber gasket. It will help in providing a seal that will keep away the moisture. 

Connect the Wires

Connect the white wire of the lighting kit to the white wire from the house. Secure the connection using a wire nut. After this, connect the black wires in the same manner, and finally connect the grounding wires. In case there is no ground wire present, you can ground it to the electrical box. 

After making all the connections, you need to push the wires into the box. Finally, screw the fixture into the right place. 

Adjust the Motion Sensor

Now the next step is to turn on the power. Now aim the light in the required position and tighten the screws. In order to adjust the motion path and sensitivity of the sensor, it is better to follow the instructions of the manufacturer. You can also adjust the time for how long you want the light to remain on once it is activated or triggered. 

Safety Measures to Consider While Installing the Outdoor Lighting

While installing outdoor lighting, it is essential to take safety measures. It will allow you to install the light safely and appropriately. Before you start to install the light, it is better to get yourself a socket tester. It helps in confirming whether the circuits are safe to work or dead. 

Before using the finished work in the building, it is better to check it with the tester. In order to ensure safety, install the outdoor lighting by following the local Building Regulations. You can find all the relevant information from your local authority or online. 

You should never take risks with electrical safety. Before you begin to install the outdoor lights, follow the below-mentioned safety precautions. 

• Switch off the mains power at the fuse box or consumer unit. 
• You can also switch off the breaker. Moreover, lock it if possible. 
• While working on the circuit, attach a note to the unit to advise that you are working on it.
• Use a tester to check if the circuit is dead. 

Tips for Installing Outdoor Lighting

 It is always a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install outdoor lights. Here are general guidelines to follow. 

• Opt for locations where the fixtures of lights can be tampered with easily.
• In order to protect the light fixtures, use wire covers.
• Adjust the light fixtures in a way that they point down appropriately to your property. Do not adjust them in a way that they point your neighbors or street. 
• Test the sensitivity to motion of the light fixtures and adjust them accordingly. 

When you outline your outdoor security lighting plan, keep in mind to integrate the exterior decor and interior lighting into the approach. In order to enhance the efficiency of your outdoor lighting, try to choose the ones that are reflective of exterior paint colors.

Tips to Maintain Outdoor Security Lights

After installing the outdoor security lights, you need to maintain the light fixtures in an appropriate manner. Here are some tips for maintaining outdoor lighting.

• Clean the dirty lenses using mild soap and a soft cloth.
• Replace the bulbs that are burned out.
• Replace the damaged and broken light fixtures.
• Replace the damaged components like photocells. 
• Remove the shrubs and bushes present near the windows and doors. 
• In order to prevent the light obstruction, trim the tree branches on time. 

Final Words

You can add safety, security, as well as curb appeal to your home by installing the outdoor security lights. A well-designed and properly installed security lighting system can help in intimidating the would-be invaders and developing a sense of security in the residents. If you like the above-mentioned tips on how to install outdoor lighting, drop a comment.