Choosing the right fitting for the position
The three decisions that matter are IP rating, output and beam spread. IP44 suits a sheltered porch or a lantern under an overhang; anything on an open elevation, a gable end or a yard wall should be IP65 or better. Output matters less than people assume, a very bright floodlight aimed badly creates glare and deep shadow, which is worse for a camera than a moderate, well-aimed light. For driveways we generally use a wider beam at moderate output; for alleyways and side returns a narrow, lower-mounted fitting gives better usable coverage without blinding the camera or the neighbours.
PIR, dusk-till-dawn or both
PIR-controlled lighting is the right answer for deterrence: movement triggers a bright light, which is the effect you actually want. Dusk-till-dawn is better for orientation and low-level continuous coverage, entrances, shared paths, and anywhere a camera needs a baseline light level all night. Many properties want both: a low-output dusk-till-dawn lantern at the door plus a PIR floodlight covering the drive or rear yard. We set the lux threshold so a PIR light does not trigger in daylight, and set dwell time long enough to be useful without leaving the yard lit for twenty minutes.
Powering CCTV, NVRs and video doorbells
Most camera systems need three things from an electrician: a permanent supply at the camera or PoE switch position, a supply and a sensible location for the recorder, and a doorbell transformer or fused spur at the front door. We install a labelled, RCD-protected supply rather than relying on a nearby socket, put the NVR somewhere ventilated and not obvious to an intruder, and leave isolation so the system can be worked on safely later. Where a specialist installer is fitting the cameras, we provide first-fix power and containment to their layout and coordinate timings.
Cable, containment and weatherproofing
Buried runs use steel wire armoured cable at the correct depth with marker tape, glanded properly at both ends and earthed through the gland. Surface runs are clipped in straight lines along mortar joints, or in conduit where they are within reach. Every entry into a building is sealed and, where practical, taken through at a downward angle so water cannot track in. On exposed and coastal elevations, around Crosby and the Wirral especially, we use stainless fixings and check the fitting's gasket rather than trusting a bead of silicone.
Commercial security lighting and escape routes
Commercial sites have an extra layer: external escape routes and final exits need appropriate illumination, and that overlaps with BS 5266 emergency lighting rather than ordinary security lighting. We keep the two clearly separated, security and deterrent lighting on its own switched circuit, emergency lighting on maintained or non-maintained fittings with battery backup and a proper test regime. Yards, loading bays and car parks are usually best served by column or wall-mounted LED floods on a photocell with a timed override, so the site is not lit at full output all night for no reason.
Light pollution, neighbours and aiming
A badly aimed floodlight is the fastest way to fall out with a neighbour, and complaints about artificial light can be treated as a statutory nuisance. We aim fittings downward, use shielded or asymmetric optics where a boundary is close, and set PIR detection zones so they cover your property rather than the pavement or the neighbour's garden. It also makes the lighting more effective: light that stays on your ground is light that a camera can actually use.
