Best way to do rear garden security light

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u587162

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Hi
I have a wide rear property extension, circa 15m. I’d like to put some security floodlights up at eaves height whilst renovation works happen. Garden is about 50m deep and 18m wide.

1. What would suggest is the best LED flight light to use make wise and also wattage / lumens?

2. how many and at what distance apart - 3 at 5m equidistant?

3. How to activate them, one fused spur for each with each having their own sensor or have them all come on at the same time? If the latter, how do I do that given that most come with their own sensors? I suppose if I keep them on separate switches I will shave more control over the amount of light we need at any one time.

We have houses at the back but probably 75m away from my extension wall. We also have foxes that wonder around (thinking about false activation).

Cheers.
 
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If these are just for renovation work, why do you need PIR control?
 
Key is security. Best option is for them to switch off when intruder detected in hope they will injure themselves.

Inferred likely best idea so the camera can see them but they are unaware.
 
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ericmark said:
Key is security. Best option is for them to switch off when intruder detected in hope they will injure themselves.

Inferred likely best idea so the camera can see them but they are unaware.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean but I’m looking for a deterrent not for quality video footage of them finally entering the property.

Given what I’ve described what would you suggest in the setup styles I’ve described?
 
Main thing at the moment is to keep your options open.
So run 3 core cable to each lamp position back to a central point (nice big AB in the loft probably).
Run 4 core cables from this AB to wherever you want your detectors (short range wide angle types will discriminate better at a lowish height- 3 or 4 metres. Long range narrow beams will work better at max height. )
Actual lights- floods won't be very useful for lighting 50m of garden. Me being me i'd be looking at tv or theatre lighting (fresnels or possibly even profiles for extreme range) but thats quite big budget. The cheap ones vary massively in the quality of the light, all LED floods seem to be about 170 degree beam angle so you end up washing the walls to avoid dazzling the neighbours...and losing a lot of light in the process
 
oldbutnotdead said:
Actual lights- floods won't be very useful for lighting 50m of garden. Me being me i'd be looking at tv or theatre lighting (fresnels or possibly even profiles for extreme range) but thats quite big budget. The cheap ones vary massively in the quality of the light, all LED floods seem to be about 170 degree beam angle so you end up washing the walls to avoid dazzling the neighbours...and losing a lot of light in the process
Click to expand...

My present installation began with TH 500w PIR's 40 years ago. I have a similar 50m of garden to light, which is both long and wide, with houses some 150m away at the rear. We get both cats and foxes.

I had one eves light at the back, eves at the side side and a second one at the side, located on the far side of my garage, where my caravan is parked up.

I gave up on the PIR system, they do not work very well mounted high, looking down. I also did away with the TH lights, in favour of 70w HP discharge light fittings, except for the low level one on the side of the garage.

In the airing cupboard (upstairs) I have a bank of three light switches, one per outside light. That is supplied from a 13amp plug, which plugs into a 13amp socket. I have since introduced a Smart 13amp Plug into that system, so I can switch those lights on via Alexa, via my Iphone from anywhere. Great for arriving home towing the caravan in the dark.

In addition to the above, I have a single 9w LED lantern fitting in my drive, which comes on a dusk, off at 11pm. That is again controlled by a Smart Plug via Alexa. That provides enough light to see my way to the garage and the bin store etc..

I made very sure none of my lights can shine, show a direct light beyond my own property.
 
Indeed as stated make sure anything you do doesn't cause a nuisance to any neighbours you have.
 
As @Harry Bloomfield with smart control, as well as PIRs you can stick a 4 way wifi relay card in your AB and have Alexa control them as well. I too had some 70w discharge lamps, they were bright but too slow for use as security lights...LED isn't quite as bright but is instant & no big switch-on surge
 
oldbutnotdead said:
Main thing at the moment is to keep your options open.
So run 3 core cable to each lamp position back to a central point (nice big AB in the loft probably).
Run 4 core cables from this AB to wherever you want your detectors (short range wide angle types will discriminate better at a lowish height- 3 or 4 metres. Long range narrow beams will work better at max height. )
Actual lights- floods won't be very useful for lighting 50m of garden. Me being me i'd be looking at tv or theatre lighting (fresnels or possibly even profiles for extreme range) but thats quite big budget. The cheap ones vary massively in the quality of the light, all LED floods seem to be about 170 degree beam angle so you end up washing the walls to avoid dazzling the neighbours...and losing a lot of light in the process
Click to expand...

Sorry what is AB?
any chance you could pls draw your setup on a piece of white paper? I didn’t Quite follow all of that. Thx.
 
Harry Bloomfield said:
My present installation began with TH 500w PIR's 40 years ago. I have a similar 50m of garden to light, which is both long and wide, with houses some 150m away at the rear. We get both cats and foxes.

I had one eves light at the back, eves at the side side and a second one at the side, located on the far side of my garage, where my caravan is parked up.

I gave up on the PIR system, they do not work very well mounted high, looking down. I also did away with the TH lights, in favour of 70w HP discharge light fittings, except for the low level one on the side of the garage.

In the airing cupboard (upstairs) I have a bank of three light switches, one per outside light. That is supplied from a 13amp plug, which plugs into a 13amp socket. I have since introduced a Smart 13amp Plug into that system, so I can switch those lights on via Alexa, via my Iphone from anywhere. Great for arriving home towing the caravan in the dark.

In addition to the above, I have a single 9w LED lantern fitting in my drive, which comes on a dusk, off at 11pm. That is again controlled by a Smart Plug via Alexa. That provides enough light to see my way to the garage and the bin store etc..

I made very sure none of my lights can shine, show a direct light beyond my own property.
Click to expand...


What is TH and Hp?
 
Last edited:
AB = Adaptable Box. Bring all the wiring back to that box, you can then reconfigure switching without running new cabling everywhere.
TH= Tungsten Halogen, old-school incandescent light source (heat a bit of wire with electricity til it glows white-hot)
HPL High Pressure discharge lamp. More efficient & longer life than TH, requires a bit of gear in the fitting to control it.
 
Is there a link you can suggest for an adaptable box. Is this something you create or buy of the shelf?
 
Google broken today is it? Adaptable box- plastic or metal enclosure, not specifically configured for anything (metal boxes often have knockouts for conduit). Like this 16150384467571489079480682188438.jpg
 
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