Night Lighting Strategies That Make UniFi Protect Footage Usable

Quick summary

Infrared alone rarely delivers evidence-grade footage. We add targeted, low-glare lighting that keeps cameras balanced while respecting neighbors, local ordinances, and energy budgets.

This guide covers auditing existing scenes, layering ambient lighting, targeting critical views, integrating automation, and measuring results so your night footage holds up in court or during insurance reviews.

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FAQs

Audit existing night scenes

Capture screenshots from UniFi Protect at dusk, midnight, and dawn. Note hotspots from garage lights, deep shadows, and reflective surfaces such as vehicles or siding that can blind sensors.

Walk the property with a lux meter or a smartphone app to record existing light levels. Document these findings before adding fixtures so you can show improvements later.

Add layered ambient lighting

Use warm, indirect fixtures to raise baseline illumination around entries and driveways. Smart floodlights tied to schedules keep cameras ready without blasting neighbors.

Layer accent lighting—step lights, low-voltage path lights, soffit lighting—to eliminate pockets of darkness without overpowering the scene. The goal is even coverage, not stadium brightness.

Fixture selection and placement

• Use full‑cutoff fixtures to control spill and glare
• 2700–3000K color temp keeps faces natural on camera
• Aim spots ~30° off axis to avoid lens flare
• Place lights near choke points: doors, gates, apron

Automation and schedules

Tie dusk/dawn schedules to a lux threshold, not just a clock. Use motion to boost brightness briefly at doors and driveways while keeping a low ambient level overnight.

Integrate with camera events sparingly to avoid ping‑pong triggers. The goal is consistent scenes that cameras expose well, not constant changes.

Neighbors and compliance

Aim fixtures onto your property and avoid shining into neighboring windows or streets. Many municipalities have guidance on light trespass; follow full‑cutoff best practices and keep lumens reasonable.

Checklist

• Capture day/night screenshots before changes
• Add full‑cutoff ambient + gentle accents
• Aim spots off camera axis; confirm no flare
• Set dusk/dawn + motion overlays; re‑test
• Save example screenshots with settings

Target critical views

Place low-voltage spotlights near gates, mailboxes, and walkways at roughly a 30-degree angle to avoid lens flare. Coordinate beam spreads with the camera’s field of view so faces and license plates stay bright without overexposure.

Avoid pointing lights directly at windows or reflective garage doors. Adjust fixtures a few degrees at a time until you see even illumination in Protect.

Integrate with automation

Tie lighting scenes to UniFi Protect Smart Detections or third-party automation. Motion events can boost brightness for recorded clips, while schedules reduce intensity overnight to preserve ambiance and conserve power.

Integrate with voice assistants and alarm systems so a single command or alarm state can open gates, raise lighting levels, and bookmark the corresponding footage.

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Measure and iterate

Re-test each camera after lighting changes, adjust exposure in Protect, and document before/after screenshots. Seasonal foliage shifts and holiday décor warrant quick rechecks.

Schedule follow-up reviews every six months to confirm fixtures, schedules, and automations still align with real-world use.

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