How and where you place your motion lights will directly effect the security and convenience you get from your lighting.  Before installing (or even purchasing!) your motion lights, make sure to think about your intended use for your lighting, your home layout, and placement of your lights.  One factor will be whether you are using existing non-motion lighting (and simply adding a motion sensor to that existing lighting).  Also, you should consider whether you are using existing light wiring, or are adding new wiring to your desired installation location.  Here are some additional tips to maximize placement of your motion detector light.

Best Convenience

For best convenience out of your motion light, place the motion detection sensor to cover the walks and pathways leading to your front door, your back doors and your driveway.  This will ensure that your motion lights will turn on when you come home at night.  Motion lights also add great convenience to light up patios, decking, stairways, and areas around swimming pools.  Also, consider using motion lights to cover any areas you use at night to take out your pets.

This indoor/outdoor battery-powered motion detector light comes with a mounting bracket and screws, allowing you to mount the light virtually anywhere -- closet, pantry, under cabinets, basement, etc.  It's weatherproof, so installing this light outdoors (maybe over a back door exit, or in the garage, or even on the ceiling of a shower) works too.

The sensor works only in the darkness, so the light will not come on during daylight.  Also, the light shuts off automatically when no movement is detected for 30 seconds, making this a great closet or pantry light alternative.  The LEDs are rated to emit 80 lumens of light, giving enough for a small space like a closet, laundry room, etc.

The light uses four C batteries, sold separately, which will provide about a year of typical use.  Click here for more information about this handy light.

With the current state of the economy, there is more concern than ever that burglaries and other household crime will continue to increase.  As a result, it is crucial now more than ever to increase security at and around your home.  While many home security systems and strategies will cost you thousands of dollars of upfront and ongoing cost, there are other supplemental and effective steps you can take now to increase your home security.  One effective measure that is relatively simple, quick and inexpensive to add to your home is to install motion activated lighting to your home and yard.

One of the main reasons that people install motion lighting is to deter the plans of would-be burglars and add safety to their home and home environment.  Other benefits and features of motion lighting include beauty, convenience and energy savings.

We have added some great new motion lights from Designers Fountain, including flood, halogen flood, and decorative lantern motion detector lights.  Designers Fountain has been a leader for over a decade of bringing Europe's finest modern lighting fixtures into America.  These lights include outdoor flood lights, outdoor halogen flood lights, and outdoor decorative lanterns, in varying finishes.

Make sure to consider these lights when looking for the perfect motion sensing lights for your home.  Also, with orders over $75 (at the time of this article), these lights qualify for free ground shipping in the 48 continental United States.

This solar powered motion detector halogen light really allows you to be flexible in placing the light around your house.  No electricity needed for this solar light -- allowing you to position the light where you want, giving you the convenience and safety of a motion light practically anywhere outdoors -- even in areas without direct sunlight!  This is because the solar panel is separated from the light unit, allowing you to place the solar panels up to 15 feet away from the location where the motion light fixture itself is installed.

The detector gives you a 35 foot, 180 degree motion sensing range, so the light will work in areas where full left/center/right coverage is needed.  Also, the unit uses a sealed lead-acid 6-volt 4Ah rechargeable battery, which are rated to give you at least 3 years of usage before replacement is needed.

This battery-operated, weatherproof outdoor LED motion light provides a convenient way to provide motion detector light convenience, when connecting a wired light is not possible or convenient. This bright LED motion light takes four C-Cell batteries (sold separately), and includes a photocell to give you dawn to dusk operation. The light remains on for 30 seconds after the detector stops sensing motion. The motion detector has a 25 foot range, and the light includes an adjustable head, allowing you to adjust the the light where you need it the most.

This handy light works great on back patios, garages, side of house, stairways, or anywhere you want to provide a lighted, safe and secure environment at night or dark, without the need for an outlet, wiring, or professional installation! Click here for more detailed product and ordering information.

A main purpose of using a motion detector light for your outdoor flood light needs is enjoying the energy cost savings they bring. By using a motion light with a normal incandescent bulb, however, you are not capturing the full energy savings available to you. Maximize your cost and energy savings by using fluorescent lighting in your outdoor flood lights! Whether you replace existing bulbs, or are buying bulbs for a new outdoor flood motion light, you will enjoy the savings and benefits of using an energy saving bulb.

Most people understand the wattage value of a normal incandescent bulb, but when shopping for Fluorescent Equivalents, you will need to understand the difference in wattage ratings. Included below is a table to give you a general idea of how these bulbs compare in wattage and in lumen power:

The name says it all -- the Steinel^® NightGUARDIAN UltraEye Halogen Motion Sensor Floodlight packs real quality and performance, great range and precision, without a super-sized price.

• Accurate readings every time from the precision-molded curved lens
• Greater reliability and longer life from an advanced surface-mount circuit board
• Automatic Surge protection with auto-reset
• UL rain-tight rating for both fixture and sensor
• Manual override built into the Microprocessor
• Manufacturer Lifetime Warranty

This floodlight motion detector comes with an Ultra Eye Lens that includes 2 motion sensors, giving you a 240 degree adjustable detection angle and a 40 foot range. The detection zone can be customized using included shrouds. The unit also has a rain tight enclosure, UL rated IP54. The light-on time is adjustable from 10 seconds to 15 minutes, with adjustable lux setting from daylight to dark.

A couple of videos with some detail about installation of a motion detector security lights.  The first video includes more specific information about the actual install.  I hope you find these helpful.

Once you have installed a motion detector light, your next step will be to make sure the motion sensors are covering the correct area of your yard.  In following articles, I will go into more detail about the actual installation instructions for an outdoor motion detector light.

In order to set the motion detector, aim the head of the detector unit toward the area where you would like to detect motion.  Then, walk across the detection zone at the farthest point you wish to cover with the sensor.  Note that this is easier to do with a helper involved--preferably a child if you want to make sure the sensors will pick up movement from a smaller child at that range.

Adjust the sensor as necessary, and repeat the steps in the above paragraph until your light comes on from movement in the desired detection zone. You're done!

Always consult the specific manufacturers instructions for proper installation (and safety) steps when working with your light or any electrical connection.