AUTOMATING HOME EXTERIOR LIGHTING

There’s nothing more inviting that approaching a well-lit home at night. Exterior lighting not only provides a safe path for those walking up to the entranceway, but also discourages those looking to cause trouble. But what if no one is home to turn on the lights? Then the answer is simple:  automate them.

Making the lighting outside your home “smart” can be done in one of two ways: first, by hiring experts such as the professionals of Just One Touch, California’s #1 rated Smart Home Integrator and Home Theater Installation company to eliminate the stress of planning and executing the work. Or for those who prefer a do-it-yourself approach, there’s a plethora of devices available for use, many of which can be found at your local Video & Audio Center Superstore. Regardless of which option you choose, it's good to understand just what automating your home's exterior lighting is all about before you start.

LIGHTING LOCATIONS

First decision you’ll have to make is exactly where to place the lights. When it comes to illuminating the exterior of a house, there are a few areas that should be addressed: the driveway, front door and backdoor/patio—all of which function as points of entry into the home. Other places that can benefit from exterior lighting include picture windows, the sides of the house, the front yard/back yard and other areas of the property that are in the dark to provide 100% visibility of the property.

THE TYPES OF LIGHTS

Next thing you’ll need to consider are which type of lights you want to use. There are many different types of external lights, some feature energy-saving advantages, some a higher intensity beam and some that will require professional installation due to increased power requirements. Options may also include floodlights placed over the garage door to illuminate the driveway, bright LED bulbs illuminating the entranceway of the front or back doors and lights inset on the driveway or freestanding on the front yard. There is also the ability to vary the lighting intensity, as well as the color of the lights (dependent on the type of light being used). Additionally, some lights are waterproof and shatterproof, which greatly aid in their longevity. Some lights even have video cameras built into them which record and/or allow streaming of what is being seen (both day and night) to the homeowner's computer or mobile device.

ACTIVATING THE LIGHTS

Since it's not necessary for all of the lights to be always be on, there must be a way for them to be turned on when you are coming home. This brings up three options: the first option being the simplest, in that the light is activated manually by being directly paired with a key fob/remote that is in the hand of the homeowner who has just pulled into the driveway/is approaching the front door. The second option is to have the light turn itself on automatically. These types of lights feature a sensor that activates the light as soon as it detects motion.

The third option for activating the lights remotely is through a home automation system that works through the home network. These typically work through an app, enabling both timed and “at-need” control even when you’re not on the premises.

Video & Audio Center has a wide selection of smart home automation devices and systems on hand for those looking to DIY. The Superstores are located in Santa Monica, South Bay, Agoura Hills & The Village at Westfield Topanga in Woodland Hills.