Bump in the night = lights on?

[surfinguru]

Ok, just wanted to get everyone's take on these things. You hear a bump somewhere else in the house, rather than risk walking around and possibly exposing yourself to a potential BG, (even though you're armed) you hit the remote light switch and illuminate the area. Seems like a good idea as "most" BG are like cockroaches, they scurry and run when the lights go on.

https://www.officialtvwebsite738.com/handy-switch/index.asp?did=738&refcode=Handy1&aid=5234

What do you guys think?

 

[Fred Fuller]

I've seen those advertised, but I haven't tried them yet. I'd be interested in feedback from people who have.

The idea as you stated it is IMHO very sound. You stay in the dark, and light up other areas of the house from there. If your remote controlled lights are properly located, at least one will backlight anyone approaching your safe area- assuming they hang around when the lights go on, that is.

For many years now I have recommended the X10 system for plug-in, remote controlled lighting. There are lamp modules ( http://www.x10securitysystems.com/lampmodule.html for a pic and description) and control modules ( http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Mini_Controller ) that just plug into existing outlets.

With the lamp module, you then plug the lamp into the module and turn on the lamp- the module will switch it on and off after that. You can even get a controller and timer ( http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Mini_Timer ) that can switch on and off the modules whenever you program it to do so.

Some Radio Shack stores handle similar products, if you want to look at them before ordering off the net, or maybe shop for a better price.

hth,

lpl

 

[owlhoot]

Yes, if you have a remote switch in the BR that will do that. Of course, you want to keep yourself in the dark, no pun intended.

Not having such a remote switch, I simply keep a night light in each room of the house, the type that plugs directly into the outlet and has a small christmas tree type bulb. I keep the hall and my BR dark.

An even better approach would be a lamp in each room with a motion detector. But that would cost a bit more.

 

[Thernlund]

I never turn the lights on anyway, even on a trip to get some water or something.


-T.

 

[Rokyudai]

Seems like a useful application. Just keep the batteries fresh in the remote.

 

[ChrisVV]

Flashlights mounted on weapons seem to be the best solution for me, you can light up an intruder and blind them in the process. Here is s little rig up I did on my Remington. I used a brace I bought, that is supposed to hold the mag to the barrel but it was bad fit for that application but worked great for mounting a surefire.

It would be cool if you could flip on a light on the other side of the house as a distraction though...

 

[Thernlund]

I just thought of something really funny... flip on the remote light, along with a FOGHORN!!

MMUUUUAAHAHAHA!



-T.

 

[camslam]

Time for a stupid question...

I have only had to use my home defense weapon one time to check out a situation. (Please refrain from posting how stupid I was to even attempt to check on the sound or clear my house)

I was curious if many have experience with your eyes being blinded from your own tac light.

What I mean is you wake up at 2:45 am and obviously everything is dark, you have been asleep, and your eyes have good night vision. But when you get your home defense weapon with a mounted tac light and then suddenly flip it on, have any of you had problems with your eyes adjusting to it?

I don't remember having a problem with it during my experience, and I haven't set my alarm at 3:00 am to check it since, but I was curious if anyone had any thoughts on that.

 

[Thernlund]

I was curious if many have experience with your eyes being blinded from your own tac light.

Well, ideally, it shouldn't be pointing at your face.


-T.

 

[Specs]

I am concerned about lighting up myself and my carry so I do not have lights on my HD pieces (870HD and P89). I have installed motion detector switches at strategic spots in my home so that no one can get to my "safe zone" without tripping one and becoming backlighted in sight through my double doors to my bedroom. I will remain in the dark but an intruder will be "lit up" If I hear that "bump in the night" and any of my interior lights go on, I know I have a hot situation and will act accordingly. Since I am not trained to clear a building I will lurk in the dark room and wait for any intruder to stumble into my fire zone. Additionally I employ the X10 mentioned earlier and I have a remote switch on the nightstand.
BTW, the X10 or Radio Shack security system is a cheap and efective way to protect your home whether occupied or not. Once again, the motion detector remotes will send to the console and trigger an alert. When I am home I don't use the alarm system since I added powerhorns to the system I can't be in the house if it goes off. If you are an intruder you will have to cover your ears and flee. It also includes a dialer which I have set to dial our local PD.

 

[camslam]

Thanks Thern.

Maybe I should clarify, I have a 90 lumen tac light that is VERY bright. So when it shines and reflects back from doors, walls, appliances, windows, etc.. It can be kind of bright.

So does anyone have any experience with the reflection of bright light in the middle of the night?

 

[Thernlund]

Heh heh. I know what you meant. I was just [joking] around.

I personally have noticed that it kind of wrecks my night vision.


-T.

 

[camslam]

Yeah, obviously it will ruin your night vision, what I am after is what kind of affect it has on your eyes.

Did you find yourself squinting or turning away from the light? Those would obviously be a problem in certain situations.

 

[Thernlund]

Did you find yourself squinting or turning away from the light?

Not at all. At least not enough to hurt or distort my vision.


-T.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Maybe I should clarify, I have a 90 lumen tac light that is VERY bright. So when it shines and reflects back from doors, walls, appliances, windows, etc.. It can be kind of bright.

So does anyone have any experience with the reflection of bright light in the middle of the night?

It's not the turning on you need to worry about. It's once you turn it off that problems crop up. As you light up the room, you light up the lower half of the space until you find it empty or the BG. With the BG there you just aim it at him. He can't see anything but the "sun" you just put in his eyes.

Second item: Get one of the 150 lumen lights (FOUR Watt LEDs, run on 3 AAAs) at Sam's Club. $31 for two of them. That's enough light to identify anyone, at 100 yards.

 

[Pat-inCO]

https://www.officialtvwebsite738.com...andy1&aid=5234

That guy is a con man. He sells nothing but junk.

 

[ambidextrous1]

The darkness is your friend. You know your home better than any bg: he's on your turf, and lighting up the place helps him more than you.

Night sights are a great help for refining COM hits...

 

[Specs]

Yes, the darkness is my friend and that is why I will be there out of sight. The other advantage is that you can tell the prosecutor that the BG "stalked you in your own home" and that you had no where to retreat. I would never go out bopping around in the darkk (or light) without knowing exactly what threat I was facing. Let 'em come to visit me in my retreat.

 

[MikeG]

Time for a stupid question...

I have only had to use my home defense weapon one time to check out a situation. (Please refrain from posting how stupid I was to even attempt to check on the sound or clear my house)

I was curious if many have experience with your eyes being blinded from your own tac light.

What I mean is you wake up at 2:45 am and obviously everything is dark, you have been asleep, and your eyes have good night vision. But when you get your home defense weapon with a mounted tac light and then suddenly flip it on, have any of you had problems with your eyes adjusting to it?

I don't remember having a problem with it during my experience, and I haven't set my alarm at 3:00 am to check it since, but I was curious if anyone had any thoughts on that.

I don't have a tac light, but a 9 LED light that takes 3 AAA batteries. What I do is palm the light with my fingers wrapped over the lens. I move my fingers apart, allowing just enough light so my dark adapted eyes can see. This way I can navigate the house without either tripping over the wife's shoes or dazzling myself and ruining my night vision. Should I need to, I can shift my grip on the light and get the full light.

 

[camslam]

I wasn't looking to start another debate on personal tactics of home invasion, I was just curious if anyone had experienced the tac light being to bright after being asleep or in the dark.

I'm happy with my plan, the equipment I have, the training I have undertaken, and the actions I plan on taking.

I had just wondered every so often if my light was going to be too bright for my eyes to adjust to.

Probably shouldn't have asked the question and just set my alarm to run the drill.

 

[Thernlund]

That guy is a con man. He sells nothing but junk.

Nothin' but a merc. I'd do it to if I was making that kind on money.


-T.

 

[Rebailey]

Lights

Definitely turn on the lights. They will run like rabbits. No sense in having a confrontation if it can be avoided. Also keep your car keys by your bed. Hit the PANIC button and your car horn and lights will turn on. Check first to be sure that your PANIC button will reach the garage.
I had it happen to me recently. Wife heard sound in the night. I got Ruger Security Six and went to the den, turned lights on and heard someone run off. I called 911 and police were there in 3 minutes. They brought the dog in and he trailed burglar (dopehead) to house next door. His mother swore that he had never left house. Next morning about 6 o'clock 3 police cars rolled up next door and drug him out in cuffs. He had broken in some other houses and left prints. Gave him 6 years. Justice won again.

 

[kentucky_Dave]

Even a simple night light can screw your vision.

My wife added a replacement light to one of our rooms, in a new location to boot. Visible from the entrance to the room.

When I entered that room (04:30 am for mornin' coffee) the little light was a focus killing blinder of a light.
If anyone was in there, I would have trouble focusing on them.

Now, after a bit of experimenting, the lights are ALL on the same wall as the door opening.

Closer to topic...what about a tac light aimed UP?
During our 4 hurricanes, lights aimed up were not too intense, but lighted the rooms pretty well.

 

[VegasOPM]

I have LED night light/ emergency lights on in the foyer, along the stairwell and outside my bedroom- but there aren't any in my bedroom or facing into the bedroom. In the event that someone gets through the alarm, barred door, dogs, etc- I will be able to see them clearly, while I will be very much in the dark. I have tested it on several occasions (namely every night when I go to bed after my wife) and it works like a charm. My night vision is completely blown by the time I get to the entrance of my bedroom. When I am in the bedroom and my wife comes to bed later, I can clearly make out which shirt she is wearing when she turns the corner into the bedroom.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Leave em off. you know where every thing is, it's your turf.
You lose an important advantage when you show the BG where everything is.