Motion Sensor Outdoor Lighting For Home Security - A Buyer's Guide

This guide is intended to assist you in choosing the best motion sensor outdoor lighting for your home security needs. After reading the guide you should have a better idea of the available choices, their advantages and disadvantages.

If you are looking for the most economical and effective outdoor security lights, motion sensor outdoor lighting is you best bet. Motion sensor lights are a more effective deterrent than conventional models, because they surprise and frighten intruders when they come on unexpectedly. They also save energy by only being on when they are needed. The areas that need to be illuminated are usually the entrances to the property, the perimeter fencing or walls and the darkest areas of your yard. Most 50 Watt floodlights have an effective range of about 30 feet and you may need to install the lighting at some distance from your house to cover the desired areas. If you have convenient electrical outlets in remote areas of your yard then you should go for electric floodlights with either halogen bulbs or LEDs. If your electric hook-ups are far from the desired set up location, solar motion sensor floodlights will save you the costs of digging trenches and installing long wiring runs.

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Solar floodlights are usually more expensive than electric models, but they have no operating costs. You will, therefore, save money over the long run. They also have a longer lifespan than electric units. The disadvantage of standard solar units is their limited energy storage capacity. This is not a problem for motion sensor outdoor lighting models. Because they only come on intermittently and only stay on for a limited period, the batteries usually have sufficient power for weeks of usage even during long cloudy periods. If you are concerned about running out of power, you could always install a simple battery back-up. To further reduce the draw on the battery, solar units should be equipped with LEDs. LEDs use far less energy than halogen bulbs, panels of about 80 powerful LEDs can produce a beam that is equivalent in brightness to a 50 Watt halogen bulb. Solar models have a panel that collects energy from the sun during the daytime. The solar panel is either built into the light fixture, or it is a separate unit that is connected to the light with a cable. If your lights need to be installed in a place that is shaded from the sun, you need to purchase solar fixtures that have a separate solar panel. The lights can then be installed in the shade, while the solar panel is set up in the sun.

Motion Sensor Outdoor Lighting For Home Security - A Buyer's Guide

It is sometimes advantageous to connect strategically placed remote motion sensors to your outdoor lighting system. The remote motion detectors need to be purchased independently, and they can be set up at a distance of up to 5,000 feet from the lights themselves. They are usually wireless devices, and when they detect movement they activate lights anywhere on the property through the use of programmed radio signals. Security companies use remote motion sensors to simultaneously trigger lighting, security cameras and alarms.

Motion Sensor Outdoor Lighting For Home Security - A Buyer's Guide

I hope that this brief guide has provided you with useful information that will assist you in choosing the best motion sensor outdoor lighting for your needs. For more information visit my blog at http://aron66.wordpress.com

Security Screen Doors - Home Security Must Or Expensive Fly Screen, What Did You Pay For?

Home security screen doors are designed to let you enjoy the feeling of fresh air, and cool breezes in summer, while maintaining the safety and security of a conventional locked door. But do they do the job? Many home security screen doors are easily compromised by a few swift kicks so it pays to do your homework when considering buying one.

While all doors provide some form of security barrier, just because a product is marketed as a home security product it does not mean it is. In fact, when it comes to home security many doors marketed as "home security screens" fall way short of security industry standards. A point well noted by the National Security Screens Association (NSSA) and the Australian Security Industry Association Limited.

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So how do you pick a good home security screen door from a bad one? What do you need to look for in a good security screen door?

Security Screen Doors - Home Security Must Or Expensive Fly Screen, What Did You Pay For?

When purchasing a home security screen door there are several features of the door which need to be considered including the materials the door frames are made from, grille strength, mesh type, the number of hinges and the locking devise used.

From a professional security perspective a proper home security door should be constructed of heat - strengthened (tempered) aluminum or galvanized and powder coated steel. Not only are these doors stronger, they also offer greater protection against rust and corrosion, which results from extended exposure to the weather. Double-check the door to make sure it has reinforced corners and that the corner joins are fully welded to the door.

Preferably the home security screen door should have three or more hinges with fixed hinge pins that cannot be removed. For added protection make sure your home security door hinges are recessed, this will minimize the gap between the door and the frame making the door more difficult to jimmy.

The home security screen door should have stainless steel mesh and be attached to the door frame using either stainless steel screws or Pac clamps. The ideal home security mesh is either marine grade 316 mesh or 304-grade mesh. There are several mesh grades available on the market so check the strength rating to make sure it is at least equivalent to the 316 or 304 grade mesh. Users of the different grades of mesh will argue over which is stronger, but apply the above check and you can not go wrong.

Similarly proponents of both methods of securing the mesh to the door argue that their system is superior to the other however both do a great job. The real thing to look for to ensure your home security door is strong is the number of clamps or rivets attaching the mesh to the door. While in most cases you cannot see these, the specific door manufacturer should be able to give you the construction information as most reputable home security screen manufacturers pride themselves on their product specs.

A further feature of a proper home security screen door is a solid grille. The grill should be at least 7mm thick and be joined at all joins by welds. A solid grill is only good if it is well secured to the security door frame. A good indicator of strength is to look at whether the grill has been riveted on or welded, with welding being the stronger alternative.

The final consideration is the home security door lock. A proper home security door lock should have a five pin cylinder or equivalent and be key operated. To add strength to the overall strength of the home security door I recommend a door with a three point lock. The three point home security door lock makes it extremely difficult to rip the door from its hinges while also spreading the load of the force applied by the person attempting to break through the door.

Home security screen doors are an important piece of your overall home security system and are your front line defense against would be intruders. If considering home security screens make sure you check all the features of the product as a weakness in one area of construction n can have a significant impact on both your personal safety and the protection of your valuables.

Security Screen Doors - Home Security Must Or Expensive Fly Screen, What Did You Pay For?

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How to Position Home Security Cameras

You want to purchase the latest video surveillance cameras and security monitoring system. You think you have found the best technology and the sales person promises you won't need anything else to secure your property. Video surveillance cameras are one of the best home security options, but if they are not installed correctly, you are wasting money!

Before you make a decision about home security cameras, assess the threats to your house and property. You need to know a general idea of where the cameras will be before you can purchase them. Knowing about where the video surveillance cameras should be placed will help you decide which kind of cameras you need. Look around your property and decide where a thief is likely to break in.

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Also look for places to which you would like to provide a little extra security. You may want to place one or two additional cameras in this area. A thief can destroy one camera or move into the camera's blind spot, but several cameras will be more difficult to disarm. However, a thief destroying multiple cameras will alert home security companies before he or she can make it inside your home.

How to Position Home Security Cameras

Avoid positioning the video surveillance camera so high that you cannot see the person's face. Many people installing a home surveillance system will try to place the cameras high enough that they cannot be tampered with, but are so high the camera can only see the top of the intruder's head. This is useless in identifying a person who broke into your home. Plan to place the home security cameras at a 45 degree angle for optimal video surveillance.

Do not try to skimp on your home security system! Low resolution video surveillance cameras may not work well in the dark and will produce a fuzzy picture. When looking for information about a person who broke into your home, you need the best quality video. You cannot positively identify a thief from a few grainy clips.

Avoid using too many motion sensors. You only want the video surveillance cameras to start rolling when there is a serious threat to your home or property. More motion detectors will mean more false results and a higher chance you will miss something important. Again, motion sensors should only trigger when your home is in danger.

Put careful consideration into the decision to install hidden video surveillance cameras. While there is a lot of debate about this, many people believe a thief seeing surveillance cameras can be a deterrent. Covert cameras will catch the person committing the crime, but will not stop a crime from being committed in the first place. The best home security systems prevent crime from happening!

If you feel uncomfortable installing your own security cameras, call the experts. You should not take chances with the security of your family, property and home. Call professional home security companies to evaluate your property and install your cameras and monitoring system. They will ensure your cameras are set up properly and ready to use. A malfunctioning video surveillance camera will not help you during a break in.

There are a number of considerations to keep in mind when shopping for a home surveillance system. The latest home security technology is no good if the cameras are positioned incorrectly or are not functioning. When in doubt, call the experts for a helping hand!

How to Position Home Security Cameras

Sundar K is the author of this article about video surveillance cameras, best home security cameras and home security monitoring. Safety Services Inc. is a Cincinnati-based provider of home security, video surveillance and home automation solutions.