This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Many people choose to install motion-activated security lights in order to help protect their home against potential burglars. However, security lights, just like any other type of security equipment, are only effective when properly installed. In order to gain the maximum amount of protection from your motion-activated lights, it’s best if you choose carefully where to place them around your home. By placing your lights in key locations, you can increase the chance that they will ward off potential intruders, burglars and trespassers. Here is a general guide to help you decide the best placement for security lights around your home.

Get a Professional Opinion
Since each person’s home and yard layout is different, you may want to consult a professional for some advice before attempting to install your home security lighting. Many professionals will offer this advice free of charge, though you may have to pay a small consultation fee for their professional opinion. If you can’t afford the consultation fee, you can also ask a friend or family member that has some home security experience.

Evaluate Your Property
If you have a large amount of property, you may need to purchase more powerful motion-activated security lights, or you may need to place them at shorter intervals around your home. If your primary concern is to protect your property from intruders, be sure to mark all of the areas of your property that are vulnerable.

Cover all Entry Points
It’s very important that any motion-activated security lighting that you install is able to cover all of the entry points in your home that are vulnerable to intruders. This includes doors, garage access, basement doors/windows and first floor windows. If you have access to a blueprint of your home’s design, mark off all of these areas on the blueprint, being sure to install a motion-activated security light at each of these locations. Or, you can also install security lights that have a wide range of detection, in order to ensure that they may capture any movement around the entry areas of your home.

Check Your Community Agreement
Depending on where you live, your community may have rules that apply to the placement of your motion activated security lights. Since these lights may be activated by passing cars, pets, blowing leaves or other false alarms, they may be constantly turning on and off throughout the night. If you live in a community where you are fairly close to other residences, this may annoy or disturb your neighbors. Be sure that you check with your community’s rules before installing motion-activated security lights.

Cover Your Garage
For many homeowners, the garage is one of the most vulnerable points of their home. Garage doors and wnidows are often only outfitted with basic security features, which can be easily infiltrated by potential burglars. Even if you keep the door leading from your garage to your house locked, it’s still best if you place motion-activated lights so that they will be activated if anyone approaches your garage. In addition to this, having security lights around your garage can make it easier for you to park when returning home late at night.

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Due to their usefulness, many homeowners are choosing to use motion-activated security lights as first line of defense against potential intruders. Since many burglars prefer to remain hidden, having motion-activated lights can be very effective in protecting your home. Here is a general guide of the proper steps to take in order to install motion-activated security lights.

Turn Off the Power
Before doing anything with the outdoor electrical circuits in your home, it’s highly recommended that you first shut off the power to your outdoor electrical circuit (via the breaker). Try to do this at a time when other members of your family aren’t at home, or give them advance warning before you cut the power.

Clear the Fixture
If you are installing a bulb with a pre-wired motion detector already installed, you first need to remove any existing bulbs from your outdoor fixture. For example, if you are installing motion-activated lights on your front porch, be sure to remove the standard bulbs, and ensure that the fixture is clear and clean of any debris or buildup.

Safety Precaution
Before unscrewing the screws that hold the existing light fixture, it’s highly recommended that you use a voltage tester to ensure that the power is off (even if you turned it off at the circuit box). This can help avoid you from becoming electrocuted.

Remove the Old Fixture
Using a screwdriver, remove the old fixture. Unscrew the existing wire nuts that you see inside the fixture, and separate the wires. In most cases, there will be two distinctly visible wires: a white wire, and a black wire.

Follow the Instructions
Due to the different construction of many different motion-activated security lights, at this point, you will need to refer to the specific instructions that came packaged with your light. In some cases, your motion-activated security light will require you to install a mounting bracket, or a waterproof gasket. If the installation of your light requires any special tools, be sure that you have them ready before you unscrew the existing light fixture. Since you will need to be holding the fixture to avoid having it fall away from the wall, it’s important to have everything you need close at hand before beginning the installation.

Stripping the Wires
In order to connect your new motion-activated light, you will need to strip the existing wires so that they can be connected to your new fixture. Use wire strippers to cut about 1/2 inch of the insulation away, leaving a portion of the wire exposed.

Connecting the Wires
Your motion-activated light fixture should also have a white and a black wire. If these wires aren’t able to be connected, you may need to first strip them as well. Connect the black wire in your new fixture with the existing black wire, and do the same for the white wire. Secure the connected wires with electrical tape, as well as a wire nut.

Connect the New Fixture
Push the newly connected wires back into the box, and then screw your new fixture into the wall.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

When attempting to make your home more secure against burglars, purchasing a light timer may not be your top priority. For the security-conscious consumer, there are many home security products (which may sometimes be quite expensive) that are advertised as being the “best choice” for protecting a residence. This includes wireless security systems, glass break sensors, temperature monitors, wireless security cameras and other devices. However, purchasing a light timer is an inexpensive and effective way to increase the security in your home.

What is a Light Timer?

A light timer is a small device that can be programmed to automatically turn specific lights on or off at a certain time. These devices come in a variety of types, which may include specialized features. Most light timers are socket-located timers, as they include a special plug which switches devices plugged into its outlet on or off at a specific time.

How Does a Light Timer Work?

The operation of a light timer is fairly simple. At a specific time, a socket-located light timer will switch off the electric current that is being provided to the device which is plugged in to the socket. This time can be set by modifying the settings of the timer, as well as ensuring that it operates properly.

How Are Light Timers Used for Home Security?

By having a light timer, you can schedule the lights in your home to turn off and on at specific times. This means that even if you are not at home, your house will give the appearance of being occupied. A thief is less likely to target your home for a burglary if they witness the lights in your home being switched on or off. Some light timers even have a setting in which they can be used to time separate lights in your home to turn on and off at different times. Purchasing a high-quality light timer will usually cost you less than $20, and can go a long way toward increasing your home’s level of security.

What Are Some Other Uses for Light Timers?

In addition to being a home security tool, light timers can also be used for practical purposes. Having a light timer set to a specific time can help ensure that no one in your home leaves an interior light (such as a bathroom light) on overnight, which will save you money on your electric bill. If you have small children, a light timer can be used if they are unable to fall asleep when it’s dark (night phobia is common in some younger children). In addition to this, a light timer can be a great way to set your interior lights to turn on a short time before you return home on a late night. Coming home to a dark house can be intimidating, and having a light timer can make a huge difference.

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When night comes, it may be lights out inside your home, but the lights outside should come on.

Lighting up your yard is one key part to keeping your home secure and safe. Outdoor lights are best placed above doorways so that doorsteps are clearly illuminated. Burglars trying to break in during the night risk being caught in the spotlight. Also, when your doorstep is lit up, it is easier for you to identify who may be knocking on your door.

Outdoor lighting should light up your entire yard, especially if there are woods nearby. A security expert can help you decide on how many lights you may need and the best places to put them. Along with putting lights on and around your house, it is also important to have outdoor lights on sheds, clubhouses, and garages. Spotlighting your security sign can also deter burglars.

Lighting isn’t only to deter burglars from your home. It also offers safety to you and any visitors that are unfamiliar with your yard. Bushes or a cat can trip you up at night, and everyone would be grateful for a light that illuminated a skunk. Perhaps the most important thing to have lit is an outdoor pool. The lights are not only handy for late night swims but to keep you or others from accidently falling in.

If outdoor lights begin to flicker or dim, indicating that they’re about to burn out, don’t hesitate to change the bulb. It’s better to change the light bulb during the day when it’s more convenient than to risk the light burning out in the middle of the night.

One common outdoor lighting technique that is gaining in popularity, due to the surprise factor in the light being turned on, are motion-activated security lights.

Keep your home secure by installing outdoor lighting. Spotlight and catch burglars or simply neighbors trying to sneak zucchini onto your doorstep.