Re: Getting started with home lighting automation

[Some Guy <Some@xxxxxxx>]

Jules Verne wrote:

> I'm looking for a way to program 6-8 lights in my house
> for a "lived in" look when we're out of town.

When you think about this from a home-owner point of view, it sorta
makes sense that you'd want various lights to go off and on to make it
look like someone's inside.

But from the point of view of break-in prevention, unless someone is
casing your house and observing it (which is unlikely) then all the
effort you're putting in will not really be any more effective than
keeping one (or more) lights on all the time.

If it's night-time deterrence you're after, then keeping a bedroom
light on (and/or onsuite bathroom light) that's visible from street
(or the approach to the house) combined with a porch light (or
anything that lights the exterior during the night) will be all you
need.

Keep a radio going all the time as well.  That might spook anyone
expecting an empty house.

A TV going at night in a room that's visible from the street should
give enough visual distraction to indicate that maybe someone's home.