Why sensor lights make sense

Most people don't want a floodlight blazing all night. It wastes power and annoys the neighbours. A motion sensor light stays off until something moves in its range, then lights the area for a set time. That's handy when you're coming home with shopping, taking the bins out or checking on a noise in the backyard.

They also make it harder for anyone to approach the house unseen, which is why sensor lights are often the first thing people ask about when they want to improve home security.

How the sensor works

Most residential sensor lights use a PIR sensor, which stands for passive infrared. It detects changes in heat moving across its field of view, such as a person or a car. Some newer models use microwave sensing instead, which can detect movement through thin materials but can also be more sensitive to things you don't want triggering it.

You can usually adjust three things:

Sensitivity or range: how far away movement is picked up.
Time on: how long the light stays lit after the last movement.
Light level: so the sensor only works after dark, not on a sunny afternoon.

Where to mount them

Good spots include driveways, side passages, the back door, carports and the path to the front door. Mounting height matters. Too low and the light can be tampered with, too high and the sensor may struggle to detect movement. Around 2 to 3 metres is common, but follow the maker's instructions.

PIR sensors pick up movement across their view more easily than movement straight towards them. Angle the sensor so people walking up the driveway cross its field rather than heading directly at it.

Stopping false triggers

The most common complaint is a light that keeps switching on for no reason. Usual causes include:

Trees and shrubs moving in the wind, especially on breezy coastal nights.
Cars passing on the street, or the neighbour's driveway.
Heat sources like air conditioning condensers or exhaust vents in the sensor's view.
Pets and wildlife. Possums are frequent visitors in leafy suburbs.

Adjusting the angle, lowering the sensitivity or adding a sensor mask usually solves it. If a light still switches on and off all night after that, the sensor itself may be failing, which is common in older units that have spent years in the weather.

Brightness and glare

Bright is good, but a floodlight pointed straight out at the street creates glare that can actually make it harder to see. Aim lights down at the ground you want lit. Your neighbours will also thank you.

Pairing with cameras

Sensor lights and security cameras work well together. Many cameras record clearer footage when the area is lit, and some lights come with built-in cameras. If you're adding a doorbell camera at the front door, a sensor light over the entry helps it see faces at night. We set up doorbell cameras and security cameras as part of our smart home work, so the lights and cameras can be planned together and placed where they help each other most.

Hardwired versus battery

Rechargeable plug-free sensor lights from the hardware store are fine for a garden shed or a side gate that's rarely used, and they're easy to move around. For main entries and driveways, a hardwired light is more reliable and brighter, with no batteries to forget. Hardwiring is electrical work and needs a licensed electrician, and any outdoor circuit should be protected by a safety switch.

Let's light it up

See our outdoor and security lighting page for more, or our indoor lighting page if you're updating inside too.

Call or text Kalani on 0424 400 346. Photos of the areas you want lit make it easy to suggest the right spots.

Sensor floodlights for security