Keep a Property Safe During Load Shedding with Solar Floodlights
Crime is rampant during load shedding and solar-powered floodlights offer a level of protection when the power goes out.
10/05/2023
Crime is on the increase with the introduction of Stage 6 to 8 load shedding, when many homes are left in the dark - both inside and out - when the power goes out. Even if the power goes off for 2 hours in the evening or early, early morning, there is still a segment of time where the property is totally dark. We live in a cluster development that is situated within a belt occupied by similar developments, townhouses, and apartment buildings. An increase in crime has been reported, mainly due to load shedding and the advantage of not being easily discovered when a street is in total darkness. Just yesterday, we were informed of a family home just 500 metres away where the homeowners were attacked in their home while load shedding was taking place and were at the mercy of their attackers for nearly an hour. Luckily, no one was injured but it did give the thieves plenty of time to load themselves with household appliances and electronic devices, and no one saw anything.
This is a serious situation and no one wants to feel helpless and at risk when the power goes out and this is where solar floodlights make all the difference. A single solar-powered floodlight at the front and rear of a property will ensure the area is well-lighted and provides a deterrent for would-be thieves. If every home within a development installed a solar floodlight at the front of their property, it would also provide light to the street outside - an even greater deterrent.
Mount solar floodlights as high as possible on an exterior wall that receives a full day's worth of sunlight. Mounting high and close to the roof will ensure the lights are tamper-proof.
We have been using Solar Flair solar spotlights and floodlights for the past 3 years and these have been excellent at lighting up the back garden, particularly during load shedding. They aren't as inexpensive as they used to be when we first purchased them, but they are still worth buying as a safety precaution for a home. The lights we have are 3 years old, have weathered extreme rainstorms and heavy winds and still do a good job of lighting the outside of the house.
Solar Floodlight Options
Solar Flair has been available at Builders for a few years, but over this period of time, their selection has increased as has the technology. One thing I have noticed with the various floodlight options is that it is in your best interest to spend a little bit extra for a much better model. See the comparison below for the various Solar Flair floodlights available at any Builders store:
At a cost difference of R90, you can purchase a 54 LED rather than a 28 LED floodlight.
There are so many special offers on at Builders throughout the year that you just need to keep an eye out for special promotions or regularly pop into the Builders website to check out details for promo deals.
At a cost difference of R90, you can purchase a 100 W over the 50 W floodlight. The 100 W provides a bright light over a broad area.
