Exterior security lights run on household voltage and mount high, often at the eaves, so the work involves ladders, weatherproof boxes and careful aiming. A security light installation is also a good time to look at other exterior lights you might want on the same circuit.
Motion Floods Versus Dusk-to-Dawn Lights
Motion lights stay off until the sensor sees movement and heat, then stay on for a set time. They draw attention when something moves and use very little energy. Dusk-to-dawn fixtures use a photocell to stay on all night at a steady, usually lower, level.
Many homes combine both: a soft dusk-to-dawn light at the door and motion floods covering the driveway and side yards. Many motion fixtures also have a manual override, usually by flipping the wall switch off and on quickly.
Places That Benefit From Security Lights
- Driveways and garage fronts that go dark at night
- Side yards and gates between houses
- Back doors and basement entries
- Areas where trash cans attract animals
- Homes where cameras need light to capture clear images
Problems With Existing Security Lights
- Motion lights that turn on constantly with wind or passing cars
- Lights that never trigger or stay on all day
- Floods aimed into a neighbor's windows
- Cracked sensor lenses or water inside the fixture
- A fixture mounted on a box that is loose on the eave
How Security Lights Get Installed
The electrician picks mounting points that cover the approach without glare into the street or next door. At the eaves, that usually means a weatherproof box fed from the attic, sometimes from an existing porch or garage light circuit. Sensor range and angle are set after installation, often in the evening when it is easiest to see coverage.
If you want lights controlled from inside, the electrician can add a switch near a door or a smart control that also works with cameras.
- Mounting height and sensor coverage angle
- Weatherproof box and seal at the eave or wall
- Wet location rating for exposed fixtures
- Aim and glare toward neighboring homes
- Switch location and override behavior
Safety first. Working on a ladder at the roofline near the service drop is risky, which is one reason these are often left to an electrician. Do not mount floods with a cord and plug on an exterior outlet as a permanent solution. If a motion light starts buzzing, flickering or smells hot, turn it off at the switch and breaker.
How it usually works
Call about coverage
Tell the operator which areas stay dark; the call connects you with a local electrician.
Walk the perimeter
The electrician identifies mounting points, power sources and attic access.
Mount and wire
Boxes are installed at eaves or walls, fixtures are sealed, and switches are added if needed.
Adjust after dark
Sensor sensitivity, timeout and aim are fine-tuned so lights trigger where you want.
For Birmingham-area homes
Newer subdivisions in Hoover, Alabaster and Chelsea often came with one small fixture on each side of the garage and nothing on the sides or back of the house. Wooded lots across the Birmingham area also bring deer and other animals through yards at night, so motion sensitivity usually needs some tuning to avoid lights cycling all night.
Related electrical problems
Noticing one of these? Each guide explains likely causes and what's safe to check before you call about security lighting.