Having an outdoor security light is a great way to protect yourself from intruders. These lights work by using an infrared or microwave sensor and whenever someone or something (including animals) comes into range of these sensors, it will trigger an electronic pulse and the light will turn on for a set period of time. So when an intruder sees a home that has these security lights mounted, they would be wise to move on, and studies show that they do.
There are a few basic steps you need to take to swap out your existing regular light with a new security light. As always, you need to turn off the circuit it is connected to. Make sure you turn off the correct one using a circuit tester or just turn off the power to the entire house.
Now you need to remove the old lamp and cover by removing the screws and carefully pulling on the bracket. Then you can go ahead and loosen the fixture or mount as well. They are usually attached with nothing more than a few screws.
When the fixture is loosened, it should be able to hang from the wires and pull away from the wall, ceiling, or soffit. Carefully remove any cable covers or insulating tape, and then remove the lamp completely.
The next step is to take the new accessory box and connect the related wires to the wires in the house. All of them should be color coded and labeled to make it easier for you. You’ll need to use wire caps, nuts, or electrical tape to make sure the wires are securely fastened and don’t create sparks or electrocute anyone.
Once you’ve synced and connected the cables, go ahead and attach the fixture to the house. The light plate should fit snugly into the new bracket with just a few bolts or screws. An outdoor security light typically comes standard with a weather and water resistant skid plate. Don’t forget to install this just in case it gets wet.
Now you just have to screw in the bulbs and the globe or lid if there is one. That is all! Turn it back on and try it. You should also have some options on the light to set the timer on the light and/or how sensitive you want it to be. Most people don’t like it to go off if a falling leaf were to blow in front of it.
Once you have adjusted it accordingly, you will be much safer from potential intruders. In some cases, it may be smart to install multiple lights to cover all the entrances to the house.
