Outdoor and Motion Lighting in Monterey Park, CA

Census Bureau estimates show 12,586 of Monterey Park's 22,134 housing units were built between 1940 and 1969. Exterior lighting on houses from that era was usually one porch light and a fixture by the garage, which leaves stairs, landings and side yards dark on a sloped lot.

The U.S. Department of Energy's guide to efficient lighting strategies names photosensors and motion sensors as two controls especially useful outdoors. Photosensors keep lights off during the day; motion sensors switch lights on when someone is there and off a short while later. For security and utility lights, it says the best controller may combine the two.

Where these facts come from: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25034 (via Census Reporter); U.S. Department of Energy, Efficient Lighting Strategies.

On a hillside, the most important light is often on the stairs from the street or driveway. We put a motion fixture where its sensor sees you at the bottom step, so the whole run is lit before you start climbing, and a second fixture at the landing if the box is there.

Where the house sits above the street, a sensor aimed too flat will see every car below. We tilt it down and narrow the range so it reacts to the steps, not the road.

For lanterns and patio lights you want on in the evening, the DOE guide suggests a photosensor to turn them on at dusk with a timer to turn them off later at night. Many fixtures build in both.

Shielded fixtures aimed downward keep light on your yard and out of the windows of houses below or above yours, which matters on a slope where neighbors look across at each other.

We shut off the breaker, take down the old fixture, mount the new bracket and connect it in the existing box. The canopy is sealed to the stucco or siding, with a drain gap where the maker calls for one.

Then we set the sensor's range and on-time and walk the path to test. If we work in daylight, we show you how to fine-tune it after dark.