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We bought a house and didn't move into it right away. So, we found battery operated motion detector lights. They aren't very bright, and I think have an LED light. Anyway, we put them around the yard, on trees etc., FACING the house. So the light goes on when anyone approaches the house, but does not aim anywhere but directly at our house.
It's not a terribly bright light, but in a dark yard, definitely lights up what moves.
And, when we would arrive after dark, always had light.
Now that we live here, we've left them up. The batteries last a long time.
We bought a house and didn't move into it right away. So, we found battery operated motion detector lights. They aren't very bright, and I think have an LED light. Anyway, we put them around the yard, on trees etc., FACING the house. So the light goes on when anyone approaches the house, but does not aim anywhere but directly at our house.
It's not a terribly bright light, but in a dark yard, definitely lights up what moves.
And, when we would arrive after dark, always had light.
Now that we live here, we've left them up. The batteries last a long time.
Update: It would cost around $150 for a new light fixture and the electrician. And this is AFTER I already paid the electrician to fix the existing fixture (see original post) -- before I realized the lady next-door sleeps in the back room where the lights bother her. Anyway, $150 may not sound like a lot to you, but as I stated, times are tough right now. I don't have a neighbor who will risk his life on the roof or an extension ladder for a pizza and case of beer. Nor would I want that type of job done by an unlicensed, uninsured person.
I feel like I have been as considerate as possible, after I learned of her issue, and have taken as many steps as I can to minimize the amount of light, while still considering my own security and feeling of safety. The original post was not a question of HOW I could provide security without annoying her, and it actually WAS an either/or question, based on the existing situation and without having to invest more money than I already have.
By the way, I have two dogs, thank you. I suppose they would bark if someone was breaking in here, but they slept through the neighbor's break-in. And they don't help light up the driveway when it's dark out there.
I would, however, be interested in the lights that Kady mentioned above.
The original post was not a question of HOW I could provide security without annoying her, and it actually WAS an either/or question, based on the existing situation and without having to invest more money than I already have.
Interesting. In that case, I vote for consideration of the neighbor. Carry a $5 flashlight in your purse so you can walk from your car to your house without tripping.
We offered you low cost solutions, like installing a shield on the light to further ensure the light is shining downward, changing the lightbulb to a different color, changing the lightbulb to lower watts. You just keep coming up with a million brick walls to hinder that.
Why did you install a light that you can't reach, that you'd need to pay someone who is insured to change a lightbulb? The good thing about that is eventually your lightbulb will burn out and your neighbor will sleep better.
But there is a cheap solution. You can buy a long pole specifically designed for changing lighbulbs in high places. No ladder needed. No licensed contractor needed. Just you, the long pole, and a lightbulb. https://www.google.com/#hl=en&tbm=sh...w=1366&bih=683 It's a good investment because you're going to need it eventually anyway.
I suspect you'll find a reason to not buy a lightbulb changing pole. Throughout your posts it seemed like you merely looking for validation that it's okay to annoy your neighbor. This last post solidifies that for me.
We have motion detector lights that go on for 5 minutes and then go off. They light up the backyard and when I see they're on I look out the window. The last time I saw a big fox which is a neighborhood nuisance although he is cool to look at. Anything as large as a small dog will trigger them. You should be able to adjust the timer, right?
Interesting. In that case, I vote for consideration of the neighbor. Carry a $5 flashlight in your purse so you can walk from your car to your house without tripping.
We offered you low cost solutions, like installing a shield on the light to further ensure the light is shining downward, changing the lightbulb to a different color, changing the lightbulb to lower watts. You just keep coming up with a million brick walls to hinder that.
Why did you install a light that you can't reach, that you'd need to pay someone who is insured to change a lightbulb? The good thing about that is eventually your lightbulb will burn out and your neighbor will sleep better.
But there is a cheap solution. You can buy a long pole specifically designed for changing lighbulbs in high places. No ladder needed. No licensed contractor needed. Just you, the long pole, and a lightbulb. https://www.google.com/#hl=en&tbm=sh...w=1366&bih=683 It's a good investment because you're going to need it eventually anyway.
I suspect you'll find a reason to not buy a lightbulb changing pole. Throughout your posts it seemed like you merely looking for validation that it's okay to annoy your neighbor. This last post solidifies that for me.
This. As I said, it's NOT an either/or situation for any reasonable person, there are many reasonably priced solutions, but you seem determined to make it one.
So your neighbor should have to move her entire bedroom, i.e., change her living arrangements because you insist on keeping a light that keeps her awake at night? You seem really bothered by the fact that she doesn't sleep in the master bedroom. Would your opinion change if she did, yet had a family member living there who slept in the room in question instead?
I would have a problem with anything a neighbor does that keeps me awake at night, and refuses to do anything to resolve it. You can argue that you have a right to feel secure (whether or not the light actually does provide security). However, your neighbor has an equal right to be able to sleep at night. I actually find it rather telling that you state you're not looking for ways to provide security without keeping her awake.
Throughout your posts it seemed like you merely looking for validation that it's okay to annoy your neighbor. This last post solidifies that for me.
Yep, it's looking that way. It is NOT ok to be inconsiderate just because you are broke. If you didn't budget for things like this then that should not be your neighbors problem. Leave the light off.
Interesting. In that case, I vote for consideration of the neighbor. Carry a $5 flashlight in your purse so you can walk from your car to your house without tripping.
We offered you low cost solutions, like installing a shield on the light to further ensure the light is shining downward, changing the lightbulb to a different color, changing the lightbulb to lower watts. You just keep coming up with a million brick walls to hinder that.
Why did you install a light that you can't reach, that you'd need to pay someone who is insured to change a lightbulb? The good thing about that is eventually your lightbulb will burn out and your neighbor will sleep better.
But there is a cheap solution. You can buy a long pole specifically designed for changing lighbulbs in high places. No ladder needed. No licensed contractor needed. Just you, the long pole, and a lightbulb. https://www.google.com/#hl=en&tbm=sh...w=1366&bih=683 It's a good investment because you're going to need it eventually anyway.
I suspect you'll find a reason to not buy a lightbulb changing pole. Throughout your posts it seemed like you merely looking for validation that it's okay to annoy your neighbor. This last post solidifies that for me.
Did you actually read my original post or are you just here to attack me?
Did you read this part?
Quote:
I bought a small 1960 rancher two years ago. It had double motion-detector lights installed at both back corners of the eaves, but they were not working when I moved in. I had an electrician come out, and he had to replace the north side fixture, but just put new bulbs in the south.
The lights WERE ALREADY THERE WHEN I BOUGHT THE HOUSE. I did not select the location.
Did you read this part?
Quote:
So now, on the south side, I have a 45W spot pointed downward toward the back door, and a 60W flood pointed downward toward the driveway and basement windows on the side of the house. (I tried to get a spot so the light would be more contained, but they're hard to find in higher wattages.)
I changed the bulbs. Myself. I have a ladder. I didn't say I need an electrician to change a bulb. I said I need an electrician to CHANGE THE FIXTURE. The light is in a hard-to-reach position, while you're at the top of an extension ladder in a precarious position. No neighbor would be volunteering to do that job.
So while I appreciate comments, maybe you should read the post first before going off on critiques about where "I" installed the fixture and telling me to get a lightbulb pole.
Yes, I could look for a shield (I thought a "spot" served that same purpose) or a different-colored bulb and do that myself, and I may.
And yes, I am annoyed about the whole thing. I was merely using the previous owner's light fixture. I knew the neighbor lived alone, and if she had family who used that back bedroom, I would have thought twice about doing it. Yes, I made an assumption that she used the master. By the way, her daughter lives behind her and keeps two big floodlights on the back of her house ever since the break-in, but I guess that's OK because it's further away. Anyway, nevermind, I get your point. Thanks for the feedback.
Suzy....I don't remember the website, but you can Google "battery operated motion detector security lights".
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