What good security lighting does
Exterior lighting helps you get from the car to the door safely, lets you see who is at the door, and removes the dark corners someone could use. It also helps your cameras capture usable video.
More is not always better. A single very bright floodlight creates hard shadows next to it and blinds anyone looking toward it, including you and your cameras. Several moderate, well-aimed lights almost always beat one blinding one.
In Edmonton, it is dark at suppertime for much of the year, so these lights do real work. Plan them as carefully as indoor lighting.
Where to put the lights
Walk your property after dark and note where you cannot see clearly. Most Edmonton homes need light in the same handful of places.
- Front entry: soft light so you can see faces and find keys.
- Back and side doors, including the door from the house to the yard.
- The garage, both the overhead door and the side door, plus the back lane if you have a detached garage.
- Side yards and gates, which are often the darkest path to the back.
- Steps, decks and grade changes where people could trip on ice.
Motion sensors and photocells
A photocell turns lights on at dusk and off at dawn. A motion sensor turns lights on, or up to full brightness, when it detects movement. Combining them gives you a lit property all night without wasting power.
- Aim motion sensors across the path people walk, not straight at it. Most sensors detect sideways movement best.
- Keep sensors away from trees, shrubs and busy streets to cut false triggers.
- Set the time delay long enough to unload groceries, often a few minutes.
- Smart controls can add schedules and alerts, but keep a wall switch for manual override.
Aim, height and glare
Mount wall lights high enough that they cannot be reached easily, and tilt them down so the light lands inside your lot. A floodlight pointed horizontally lights your neighbour's bedroom and blinds anyone walking toward it.
- Choose shielded or full cutoff fixtures that hide the LED from view.
- Use warm colour temperature, 3000K or below. Our colour temperature guide explains why.
- Some municipalities have rules about light trespass. Check local bylaws if you are unsure.
Place lights beside or behind cameras, never in front of them. A light shining into the lens washes out the image. Our video surveillance service can plan both at once.
Built for Alberta winters
Outdoor fixtures need a wet location rating where rain or snow can reach them. Check the operating temperature on the spec sheet and choose products rated for cold well below -30 C.
- LEDs start instantly in the cold, unlike older metal halide and fluorescent fixtures.
- Frost and snow on a motion sensor lens can block detection, so a small overhang helps.
- Solar-powered lights struggle in December, with short days and cold batteries. Hardwired lights are more reliable.
- Keep fixtures above where snow piles up or gets shovelled.
Wiring, permits and cost
Replacing an existing exterior fixture with a similar one is a common job. Adding new fixtures, new circuits or underground wiring to a garage usually needs an electrical permit. In Edmonton, the City issues it, and a licensed electrician will handle it.
Cost depends on the number of fixtures, how far the wiring has to run, whether it goes underground to a detached garage, the type of controls, and wall finishes such as stucco or brick.
Exterior boxes must be sealed against water, and outdoor receptacles need GFCI protection and in-use covers. Leave new wiring to a licensed electrician.
Ready to plan? See our outdoor and security lighting service and, for gardens and paths, landscape lighting.
Common questions
Are motion lights or dusk-to-dawn lights better?
Both, used together. A low dusk-to-dawn level keeps paths visible all night, and motion sensors bring lights to full when someone approaches. That saves energy and draws attention to movement.
What brightness should my outdoor lights be?
Less than most people think. Moderate, well-aimed lights reduce glare and shadows. A lighting designer or electrician can suggest levels for each area based on your layout.
Why does my motion light keep turning on by itself?
Common causes are trees moving in the wind, passing cars, warm exhaust vents, or a sensor set too sensitive. Re-aiming the sensor or reducing its range usually helps.
Do I need a permit for exterior lighting?
Usually yes for new fixtures, circuits or underground wiring. A like-for-like fixture replacement may be simpler. Your electrician will confirm what applies in your municipality.
Codes and permit rules change and every building is different. For work on your system, talk to a licensed electrician and your local permit authority.