Replies

1. 
   Joe Sullivan | Nov 17, 2006 03:25am | #1

   There is no one right answer.  The all-night lights are thought by many to be a better deterrent, and also let you look out at any time to see what is happening with animals and the like.

   The prox detectors probably scare people who actually come on the property with  bad things in mind.  Plus, they save juice. And, they are less annoying to beighbors who might not like lights shining in their eyes when they sit outside.

   You might consider a mix

2. 
   McFish | Nov 17, 2006 04:09am | #2

   I've had trouble with low and midrange priced security lights being reliable, so installed a higher priced motion detector that came from a security alarm system.
   Tom

3. 
   Geoffrey | Nov 17, 2006 08:32am | #3

   Also consider that a motion light coming on catches YOUR attention (and also your neighbors?), which alerts you to check things out, say maybe turning on another light, all of which I think is more of a detterent than a constant light, thieves or vandals are like cockroaches, they tend to scatter when the lights come on!!

                                                                                                                    Geoff

4. 
   JohnSprung | Nov 18, 2006 02:15am | #4

   How about some low level lighting all night, plus motion detectors?  Instead of the units with the light and detector combined, try hiding the detector itself, and wiring it to turn on something like a porch light.  If the light that comes on is a kind normally switched on by a person, that's more likely to scare the bad guys away. 

   The most important thing in outdoor lighting is evenness.  Having big bright lights here and there with nothing in between actually makes it harder to see at night.  Especially avoid having the light source in your field of view. 

    

    

   -- J.S.