SENSOR LIGHT INSTALLATION SUNSHINE COAST

Do you hate coming home to a dark house? Do you want to be able to warn off intruders who might be lurking outside your home? Want to automatically turn on and off the lights in your toilet at night without having to touch the switch? Keen for the lights in your kitchen pantry to turn on when you open the door? Then, you need a sensor light installed!

Sensor lights require a licensed electrical contractor to wire and install them. But where do you find not only a local electrician on the Sunshine Coast but one who is reliable and has vast experience in the installation of sensor lights? One who knows the most suitable place to install the motion sensor for optimum performance. And an electrician who has seen and installed most sensor light brands on the market knows which ones work the best and which ones to stay clear of.

Sparkies Plus offers professional and affordable sensor light installations in all Sunshine Coast QLD suburbs. We have been installing motion-activated sensor lights on the Coast since 2013, and before that, we have 24 years of experience installing them in other locations.

To obtain a FREE quote for installing sensor lights at your Sunshine Coast property, rely on the dependable service you'll receive at Sparkies Plus.

Why choose Sparkies Plus for sensor light installation on the Sunshine Coast QLD?

• Experienced sensor light installers. We have the expertise to know the best location to install your motion sensor and light, as well as the best brands to install to ensure maximum performance and longevity.
• FREE quotes for sensor light installations
• Fair and transparent upfront fixed pricing by the job and not by the hour. Know the total price for your sensor light job before we start, so there are no nasty surprises.
• We stand by our work, and your satisfaction is guaranteed. If your new sensor light is not performing the way you'd like, we'll return and rectify the issue at no cost.
• Reliable, fast and professional electrician on the Sunshine Coast with countless 5-star reviews and a proven track record for customer service.
• No call out fee. It costs you nothing for us to visit you and discuss your security lighting or sensor light needs.
• Save yourself the hassle by not hiring an electrician without the runs on the board when it comes to installing sensor lights.

What are the advantages of installing a sensor light?

For Sunshine Coast homeowners, motion sensors make it easier for everyone to navigate the home after dark and keep you safe and secure.

• Motion sensor-activated lights use less energy as they automatically turn off when not in use.
• They're more convenient - the lights turn off automatically when they no longer detect movement, so you' won't have to crawl back of bed again after forgetting to turn the lights off.
• These sensor lights are perfect for hallways, garages, porches, decks and backyards to illuminate dark spaces in the home when movement is detected.
• They also improve safety and prevent injury by instantly illuminating a dark area before you enter it.
• The automated light activation will discourage burglary attempts at your property or entry points by activating when someone steps onto your property or gets close to your front door.
• Sensor lights are perfect in wet areas like bathrooms and laundries to avoid you having to touch light switches with wet fingers
• Sensor lights can improve hygiene by not spreading germs at touch points like light switches in toilets. Install a motion-activated light in your toilet, and it will automatically turn on and off without having to touch the switch.
• Sensor lights can complement other security products such as security cameras. Motion-activated lighting after dark will assist your security cameras in producing a more precise image without it being in black and white and grainy.
  

When you might need a sensor light installed

As the Sunshine Coast continues to grow, more and more residents are looking for ways to improve their home security at night. A sensor light might be just the thing your home needs. Home security is about deterrence and prevention, so keep yourself safe by installing sensor lights in strategic locations that will help deter burglary attempts after dark.

Or perhaps you want the added convenience of turning on your internal or external lighting without having to flick the light switch. Sensor lights are convenient in kitchen pantries, hallways, toilets, laundries and bathrooms for safety and efficiency.

What is the best location to install a sensor light?

There are many excellent locations to install motion-activated lights inside and outside your home. The ideal location depends on the traffic patterns of your family, the floor plan of your home and where your entry/exit points are located, so consider these options when planning where you might need them:



• Front path or porch
• Backyard
• Near cars parked outside
• Patio areas
• Narrow pathways down the sides of your house
• Over external stairs
• Over trip hazards outside
• Near concealed exterior doors and windows (where an intruder will be unnoticed trying to gain entry)
• Near external security cameras to provide supplementary illumination for better video image quality
• Inside garages or carports. Have your garage lights turn on automatically when you enter the garage from the house or when you drive the car in
• In hallways
• Inside kitchen pantries
• In toilets to avoid spreading germs by not having to touch the light switch
• In wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries to avoid having to touch the light switch with wet fingers
• On approach to external buildings such as sheds and granny flats. You can install a sensor light on the exit path from the house and install another on the approach to the outbuilding

Where shouldn't sensor lights be installed?

One of the biggest misconceptions about sensor lights is where they can and should be installed. We've all seen them in parking lots, rear entrances to homes and businesses, driveways and other outdoor locations.

But while there are a lot of places that may look like a suitable location for a sensor light, it's important to know there are some locations to avoid, and there are limitations in the motion sensor products themselves.

These are some of the locations to avoid when installing sensors:

• Too close to shrubs, bushes and trees. Wind will cause movement in the foliage, which may cause false triggering of the motion sensor.
• In outdoor areas where your pets roam at night. Unless you plan to turn off your sensor light each night, your pet will constantly trigger the light on and off, becoming a nuisance.
• Motion sensors should not be oriented where they point directly at the sun. When this occurs, the sensor loses its ability to detect movement.
• Avoid installing motion sensors pointing in the direction of the likely movement. Motion sensors function best when they are positioned to detect movement across the sensor face.
• Ensure motion sensors and sensor lights are not installed too far away from the area to detect or illuminate. Motion sensors have diminishing effectiveness the further away movement is from the sensor. Replacing an existing light with a new sensor light in its place is more cost-effective; however, if the light in question is too far away from where you want it, it will be ineffective and a waste of money to install.

Types of sensor lights available on the market

There are various types of sensor lights on the market available to purchase locally at a lighting store or online. These include:

• External security spotlight (either LED or halogen) with integrated motion sensor
• External security spotlight without sensor and a remote mounted sensor purchased separately
• Exterior bunker, oyster and coach lights with in-built motion sensor
• Traditional exterior bunker, oyster and coach lights without sensor but wired to a remote mounted sensor
• Internal wall and ceiling-mounted lights with integrated motion sensor
• LED downlights with integrated motion sensor
• Surface-mounted motion sensors
• Recessed circular motion sensors

Is it best to choose a security light with a motion sensor integrated or install a remote mounted sensor?

Motion sensors that are integrated into light fittings are the most popular variety of sensor lights. However, generally speaking, the motion sensor built into these fittings is of poor quality and often is the first thing to fail. Most sensor lights we install on the Sunshine Coast are this variety, and they certainly have their place, but keep in mind that the motion sensors don't seem to last forever and can become increasingly unreliable in time.

Where quality and longevity are important, we recommend installing a remote mounted motion sensor to the light. This way, a quality sensor can be connected that will likely last far longer than the cheaper variety installed into light fittings.

Having the light and motion sensor in the same fitting at the same location can sometimes be a compromise - either the light is in a less than ideal location and provides poor illumination, but the place is best for the motion sensor to work, or the light is positioned well, but you are sacrificing the effectiveness of the motion sensor.

Having a motion sensor mounted remotely to the light fitting means the light can be placed where it needs to be, and the sensor can be located where it will be most effective. This option is more expensive to install as more wiring is required; however, reach out to us to arrange a free quote for you to make an informed decision.

What brand of motion sensor do you recommend?

Our recommendation for the highest quality motion sensor is the Clipsal Infrascan model. Clipsal supply both the surface mount or recessed motion sensors in the Infrascan range.

We have also had success with the Robus motion sensors, which are at a lower price point.

We can install or supply and install sensor lights

Sparkies Plus can install customer-supplied sensor lights or supply and install to save you the hassle. Please speak to our experienced electricians today to organise a free quote on installing motion sensors or sensor lights at your home or business.

What are the available adjustments on motion sensors?

Quality motion sensors should have 3 x adjustments to allow site-specific programming and tuning for optimal results. These include:

• Lux (An adjustment to tell the motion sensor when to trigger based on the ambient light. You can choose to turn on your sensor to activate only at night or all day. You can make fine adjustments to turn on the light just as dusk begins or perhaps just before the last light).
• Sensitivity (Turn this up to increase the range of the motion sensor or down when close to moving items like shrubs, palm fronds and trees).
• Time (You can decide how long the light stays on after triggering, usually in increments between 10 seconds and 25 minutes).
  

Can you replace an existing outdoor light with a sensor light?

Yes, we can install a sensor light to replace an existing outside light fixture.

Sensor lights are a magnificent way to save money on your energy bill, and they effectively brighten up dark areas around your home without having to leave the lights on all the time.

If you have an outdoor wall or ceiling light that is no longer working, as long as it's in an ideal location, consider converting it into a sensor light. However, the light you are replacing needs to be wired to its own dedicated switch for this to be effective. Talk to us to learn more.

What triggers a sensor light to activate?

A motion sensor can trigger either using Infra-Red or microwave detection. Most motion sensors on the market are the Infra-Red variety; however, microwave sensors are helpful to trigger when detecting movement or a presence through objects like kitchen cabinetry.

Is halogen or LED better for security lighting?

LED lighting is the preferred choice due to its ability to provide instant illumination when activated. It also will have a far longer lifespan than halogen or incandescent lights, which means you won't need to upgrade your lights as often or change bulbs, and it uses far less energy, too, thereby saving you money on your power bill.

The other advantage of LED security lighting is they run much cooler than halogens. Halogen lighting is not recommended for use in outdoor applications due to the intense heat that it emits when the light is on, which can affect surrounding components and cause premature failure of these components if they are not suitably rated for this type of exposure.

LED lighting will also produce a brighter, whiter light which is better for the eyes to see detail and colours at night.