When Safety is an Issue, Get a Motion Sensor

By Dave Donovan

One of the basic daily concerns of most people is safety. Just ask around. Your neighbor bought his new car for its "safety" features. Your other neighbors were just telling you that they’re taking the train on their vacation this year because it's "safer" than flying.

Safety concerns are part of everyday life. People everywhere are looking for "safer" jobs, "safer" stock investments, even "safer" pets. With safety such a hot topic, there's no better time to learn about something that will add a bit of safety to your home.

I'm talking about Motion Sensing Switches. They do only one thing: They turn the lights on when an object gets within its sensor range. The lights then stay on for a determined length of time, and then turn back off.

Motion sensing switches are perfect for above garage door mounting. When you pull up to your house at night, the lights turn on to light the way to your door. They give you an added sense of safety, be it from the annoying crack in the pavement or the imaginary hooligan hiding in your bushes. With a light shining your way, you’ll simply feel more secure than you would in the dark.

Besides safety, motion sensors also prove to be economical. As noted earlier, the light only stays on for the length of time set by the owner. Most sensors have a switch on the side or back that gives the minute length for how long you want the light on. You don’t have to worry about turning a switch on and having to remember to turn it off again; it’s taken care of. You’re not paying for lights that someone forgets to turn off.

As well as controlling the length of lighting time, motion sensors also come with a sensitivity dial. They can turn on when the sensor senses something moving at the end of your driveway, or they can be less sensitive and turn on when the object is 5 feet away. Be sure to check the sensor’s packaging for its sensitivity range.

Motion sensors prove beneficial in backyards, breezeways, driveways and sidewalk areas. They can even be purchased to replace a single-pole switch. You can replace the switch in a garage or basement so you don’t have to feel around in the dark - the light automatically clicks on. This is extremely helpful when there are steps involved.

Most hardware stores carry a large selection of exterior lights with motion sensors already built in. You also have the option of adding a sensor to an existing light, so the sensor can be bought separately. Before adding a sensor to your existing light, be sure to check and see if your light has a knockout on it to support the installation.

For the experienced Do-It-Yourselfer, you can also drill a hole in the fixture to install a sensor, but it’s not recommended unless you know what you’re doing. You can run the risk of nicking some wires if not extremely careful when drilling.

In this day and age, when safety and economy are on the top of everyone’s list, there’s just nothing like adding a motion sensor to your lighting system to satisfy both of those needs. For more information, check out our easy to follow instructions on how to install a motion sensor.

Click here to purchase motion sensor lights.

Dave Donovan is a freelance copywriter living in Atco, N.J. An electrician for 15 years, an injury forced him to pursue his true passion - writing.

© Doityourself.com 2006