I have a blank slate to work with at my 3 unit. I need to install some exterior lighting powered from my panel to light up sidewalks around the property plus the sidewalk back to what will be the laundry room.

Would you install motion sensor lights or a dusk til Dawn sensor to have them on all night long?

Go with dusk to dawn. The new ones are really bright. Save your money on solar, it doesn't last and people steal them. Motion sensors seem to go out quickly too. Never been happy with them.

For pathways, get a set of low volt path lights. The only issue is they are expensive. At the office we have like a dozen palm trees - which was like $400 for the in-ground lights. But it looks SO good at night with all the trees lit. At the office our security floods on the parking lot and storage yard are on 24/7, they are daylight bright LED floods.

I like both. A low light, dusk to dawn, but when motion is sensed, it goes on bright. Called dual brite at Home Depot.

We like motion too. As LindaJ said, they light up to alert when someone is there. And not just for the tenant, but also the neighbors. They may spook people who are up to no good.

We install out of non ambitious tenant's reach(a little higher than stepladder) and use long lasting bulbs.

Ne of PA, Are the units on individual meters? If so add the outside lights for each unit on their own breaker and control of the lighting.

HOWEVER if all the units are on one meter then it not an issue.

Install LED's for the lighting. The only problem with dusk to dawn is IF the lighting is a problem for one of the units especially bedrooms windows during the night. Check out the low lighting for sidewalks at Lowes or Home Depot OR at a lighting/electrical retailer in your area. IF the lighting may get stolen then maybe you need to install at a higher point on the building for each unit pointing to the sidewalks and/or steps.

didn't now what it was called but my son just put up what Linda said ... dusk to dawn but brightens when you pull into the driveway. I really like it.

I like dusk to dawn. you can look out at night and see. Motion lights are a pain if someone is looking for the house number. if they park at the curb they have to generally get part way up the walk or driveway until the light pops on.

NE,

I'm nervous about anything that has to operate, either from motion or dusk.

I prefer a timer.

My FIRST preference, what we've been installing is lights that are an LED chip, not an LED bulb. My electrician says they use almost zero energy and there is nothing to burn out. We leave them on 24/7. No complaints about being unsafe. No chance of a sensor not operating and Miss Tilly falling.

There are lights available that can be set to a dimmer output from dusk to dawn then turn on bright when the motion sensor is tripped.

Dusk to dawn is best for crime prevention. I read an article about burglary once that said a criminal will look for a home that's not well lit. If they see a motion light, they're not worried because they know they can smash the sensor, then wait for the lights to go off then go to work.

Since these will be installed in a residential setting you need to be aware of the color temperature. Many of the cities that initially installed bright white LED's are having to change them out to a warmer light <4,000K. The LED's higher than that are causing disruption to circadian sleep patterns as well as blurred vision.

We use Defiant and GE dusk to dawn timers. They are inexpensive, easy to install and setup.