Solar Security Lights: Safety Made Simple
If you’re looking to step up your security and keep your home and property safe, solar security lights may be a good option for you. Having these types of lights can drive away wannabe thieves who may be planning to break and enter.
No Cables, No Mess
You can also use them to illuminate your garage, pathway and other places where you need to increase security. The good thing about this is these lights don’t require any special permits for installing them, since you will not have to use any cables.
There are different kinds of these lights and they have some for your budget range. However, it is not advisable to purchase the cheapest kind for your home. You get what you pay for.
Direct Sunlight Is Required
The lights should be installed in an area where there is direct sunlight. This is how the lights are powered during the day. Because they are powered by the sun, no traditional electricity is necessary. This will eliminate an increase on your electric bill.
You can also install the solar security lights on your roof or on walls near entry areas. They can be connected to a motion sensor. This is a great setup if you or someone else moves around in your house or on your property when it’s dark. These lights are good for porch lights, to enable you and other people that come to your house to see well.
If you’re an outside person, you can sit on your deck or patio and enjoy the sunset. After the sun goes down, the lights will automatically operate. You can still be able to enjoy a nice barbeque or whatever you were doing before the sun went down.
Components
You should get familiar with the components of solar security lights:
- A passive infrared motion detector is responsible to operating the light when it senses any movement within a 180 degree radius. On some lights, you can adjust the motion detector’s sensitivity to prevent your dog or cat from activating the sensor. You can also adjust the timing to whatever you want it to be. These detectors are also equipped with a siren that can be deactivated.
- The solar panel is attached to the light with a long wire. Since the wire is long, it can help the panel position itself in an area where there is adequate sunlight. The solar panel is responsible to charging the battery in the daytime.
- For the motion detector lights, the type of lights used are 6 volt halogens. Some of them also use LEDs which are bright. It’s advantageous to use LEDs because they don’t add a lot of weight to the battery. This helps the battery to last longer and not have to change out so much.
- The battery is usually a 6 volt rechargeable sealed lead acid type. This is the basic type of battery used in these kinds of lights. They require little or no maintenance and are good for two to four years.
When installing solar security lights, you must ensure that the fixture is secured high enough to prevent interference. Allow two to three days for the battery to charge and then it will be ready for use. You should also remember to clean the solar panel on a regular basis. Doing these tasks will help you to keep your security lighting functioning for years to come.
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