Outdoor Wall Lights
Common Features of Outdoor Wall Lights
Outdoor wall lights can not only add to the ambiance of your home, they can also make your home safer. Outdoor lights are an excellent way to discourage intruders. A well-lit home is less likely to be burgled since it is easier to see when people are around the outside of the home. Lighting the paths and steps leading up to the house is another safety feature that outdoor lights provide. When these areas are lit, people are less likely to trip and fall. There are some common features that you will find in lights designed to be installed outdoors.
Weatherproof
Since outdoor wall lights are permanently mounted outside, they can get rained on, snowed on, and experience extreme hot and cold temperatures. This exposure to the elements means that the lights have to be weatherproof. All the seams and joints will be sealed to prevent leaks and all wiring will be insulated, all of which will keep the lights from shorting out due to contact with water.
Motion Sensitive
It is easy to find outdoor lights that come equipped with a motion sensor. This means that anytime something moves within the range of the sensor, the light will turn on. This is convenient for people who often come home when it is dark out but do not want the expense of leaving the outside light on all day. This is also a safety feature, any prowlers on your property will trigger the light to turn on which is likely to scare them off. The light also has a wall switch that allows the light to be turned on and off on demand.
Ambient Light Sensitive
Another sensor that can be found on outdoor wall lights is an ambient light sensor. This is a sensor that detects the level of daylight and turns the wall light on when it starts to get dark. This is another feature that is handy for people who tend to come home when it is dark out and don't want to leave the light on all day. As with the motion sensor, there is a wall switch that allows for the light to be turned on or off independent of the ambient light level.
Timer
Many outdoor wall lights come with a timer installed so that you can set the light to turn on and off at predetermined times. This is a great security feature to use when away from home for extended periods of time. One of the signs that people are away from home, whether traveling for business or vacation, is that the lights are off all the time. With a timer in the outdoor lights, the lights can come on and turn off even though you aren't home.