Period Flood / Security Lights

[Woody3]

Are there any flood/security lights out there that would look aesthetically pleasing on a period property?

Or any ideas on how to disguise the ugly, black, rectangular type of flood light?

We have Coughtrie/Revo lights above the doors and on the corners of the property, but need something to throw more light out over a wider area.

Thoughts and suggestions are more than welcome!

(We do have a little LED security light on the apex of the gable end to the side, but we'd like something lower down, at gutter level on the rear elevation.

 

[Feltwell]

I'd say the Coughtrie / Revo type you already have look the most appropriate, but they're far from being flood lights. Remote PIR sensors to control them make them much more useful though, and the sensors are fairly discrete if the wiring can be hidden.

Something to mount low down is tricky. I'm no fan of "indiscriminate" flood lights - up high I've got a couple of these, which work well with remote PIR sensors mounted lower down - far from "period" but they're sufficiently small and grey that at height they don't really notice, and being spots they control the light range quite well.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-pro-twinspot-g9-twin-floodlight-uncontrolled-42w-graphite-1900lm/70384

You can hunt round for old lighting, but it's fairly rare. I bought this beast "a while" ago, still got to get around to fitting it....

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13502&hilit=swan+neck

Jim Lawrence do nice, but very expensive, exterior lighting, as do Broughtons. If it's really a flood light you want then is another LED lamp a possibility? They are being made smaller and smaller as the technology improves.

 

[Penners]

You can control any kind of lamp you like with a separate PIR detector. Of course, these are not particularly attractive items themselves, but the right colour choice could make it as unobtrusive as possible.

http://www.lyonlighting.com/acatalog/External-White-180--PIR-Detector-PIR180WH.html?gclid=CJn7mK2Rr8MCFWSWtAodEGwAAQ

 

[Tony.]

I like the BG range of pirs, as they have a sensitivity setting, it does help sometimes to reduce the sensitivity to prevent unwanted switching.

I'm looking at a led floodlight fitted under the soffit switched via a pir from a close position to give some added security, a few break ins recently have prompted a review of outstanding work, alarm and lights are next to finish

 

[Feltwell]

BG (British General) PIRS are very average in terms of quality - I have some inside knowledge - and they're made in China despite the name, as are nearly everyone else's! They're OK for the price.

Steinel seem to be well regarded as a higher quality PIR sensor. I'm fed up of replacing cheap PIR's that only last 2-3 years, so I'm going to try them.

 

[Penners]

Out of interest, Feltwell, do you know whether independent PIR detectors allow a light to stay on for a while after the infra-red source has departed? I know that an outdoor floodlight with an integral PIR allows you to set this "run on" time, but does a separate PIR have the same facility?

 

[Tony.]

I have fitted 5 in 20 years to my parents house and to my last house, never had a problem.
I appreciate they are built in china, but then so is my Sony tv

We use steinel 360 pirs in our staff rooms and they haven't caused any problems, they did replace the danlers no neural pir switch which didn't last long

 

[Tony.]

Penners,

Its a variable time on after the last detection

 

[Penners]

Thanks Tony.

 

[Feltwell]

You can also wire separate PIRs so that two PIRs are wired to two (or more) lamps, and triggering either PIR causes both lamps to come on.

This is useful on driveways. My "front" door is actually on the side of the house. I've a PIR that faces down the drive to catch anyone coming in from the road, and another PIR that covers the door of the house - so if we're going out or coming back to the house, we trigger the lamps that light the drive.

 

[Woody3]

Thanks for the replies so far!

Currently have one of these at the top of the gable, which goes unnoticed and is very effective:

I'm guessing it's might be a case of getting another. I was hoping there might be something "period looking", yet acted like a flood light, as it's going to be at a much lower level. Hmm...

 

[bennoa1]

I've put LED security lights up to replace the old black ones (they were an oval shape but used halogen 300-500w bulbs) that look similar to these.
http://www.beamled.com/50w-biard-led-floodlight-equivalent-to-300w-83-33-energy-saving.html
I bought the cheaper version for half the price but if they don't last I'll be going for something like this with a 5 year guarantee. They do black grey and I've seen white somewhere before.
I've got the grey colour with separate white PIR's as they are on a white painted house. 30w covers an area up to around 0 metres deep, 50w will do up to about 15m but over that you'll need an 80w/100w. Just swapped the one overlooking our rear garden for an 80w and it looks like daylight now - covers an area approx. 30m wide by 20m deep.
bennoa1

 

[Penners]

I've a PIR that faces down the drive to catch anyone coming in from the road

Do you feel lucky, punk?!

 

[Owain]

Her Majesty uses these people.

http://www.sugglighting.co.uk/