Light up your security

12-07-2022

Securing a home or business property from unwanted attention doesn’t necessarily mean investing in the very latest CCTV system.  Exterior security lighting can provide a simple to install and affordable way of enhancing home and business security. Neil Baldwin, managing director at ESP, looks at some of the options available.

For some home and business owners, it may be a case of starting from scratch with the provision of security, for others a case of replacing old and corroded equipment or upgrading to a more sophisticated and reliable system.  The installer working on the project can do an assessment of the requirements and advise on the best solution to meet the specific needs.

For those clients with no external security measures in place to protect their properties, the installation of a simple camera and security floodlight system could be the answer to deterring unwanted intruders.  There are a range of products available, such as a complete, all-in-one, energy-efficient, high-performance LED PIR floodlight system. 

A combined security camera and LED floodlight like ESP’s GuardCam LED, for example, is suitable not just for securing domestic properties, but also for areas around offices and industrial or agricultural units.  These systems are straightforward to install by simply connecting to the mains power, fixing to the wall and setting the time and date via the supplied SD card.  Once switched on it will detect an intruder, floodlight the area, and initiate a High Definition video recording directly to an internal SD card.  If selected, an audible warning can be delivered, and users have the ability to record their own warning message.

For a more sophisticated solution there are Wi-Fi versions available that offers the additional benefit of remote monitoring via smartphone or tablet.   ESP recently added a 2K (4MP) Wi-Fi Security Camera with adjustable Twin Spots to its GuardCam range, offering installers a high specification, superior resolution product.  With the typical resolution for security cameras in the market currently at 1080p (2MP), ESP’s 2K (4MP) offer, sets the security light apart in a competitive market place, providing a key selling point for installers and end users.

It makes an ideal contemporary upgrade from an old and worn floodlight and includes the option for remote monitoring via smartphone or tablet, using the specially developed, subscription-free, ‘ESP Smart 2K’ APP.  The in-built 2K (4MP) camera offers notifications and video storage in the event of motion and human detection triggers, and the adjustable 5000K dual LED lamps - with a combined 2600 lumen output - provide flexible options for light coverage.  It is available in a white or black finish and features a robust, IP65 rated housing.

For other projects, it may be that exterior lighting is required simply to light up areas to the front, back or side of a property to make access around these areas safe during the dark.  If this is the case, there are a number of options for a good quality LED floodlighting provision.  Today there are slimline low energy LED floodlights available that are meeting the growing trend for a stylish, more aesthetic lighting solution than the bulky options often associated with floodlights.

A range like ESP’s NightHawk Plus offers a choice of wattage/lumen outputs to ensure a solution for a broad range of applications, from small walkways, through to large gardens and work yards. The range offers 10W/800 lumen, 20W/1600 lumen, 30W/2400 lumen and 50W/4000 lumen fittings, with each one available as a straightforward floodlight and as a PIR version. 

The standard fitting is switched on and off manually or can be wired into an external device - such as a digital timer – and is suitable where control of the lighting system is preferred.  The built-in PIR sensor fitting provides added security, and it comes with predefined settings - range, Lux level and the trigger time duration parameters - for ease of use.

The fittings are simple and straightforward to install using the adjustable bracket supplied.  They each offer a 4000K colour temperature which produces a cool white output and they feature a textured diffuser which helps prevent an intense glare and adds to the overall aesthetic design.  Each product in the range is available in black or white to maximise the choice and appeal to suit all exteriors.   The robust housings are IP65 rated.  

Even where an existing external light or security light might be in place, chances are that it is old, corroded and out of order.  Yet, a fully functioning, replacement solution can be installed in no more than 15 minutes and without the need for additional cabling.  This is an easy solution for installers to sell to customers.