{
  "id": 19937042,
  "title": "Let there be light",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/let-there-be-light",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T07:01:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/homesite/news/reno-homes/2026/11/14/let-there-be-light-18"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A homeowner expressed a desire for additional exterior lighting near their house, noting that the lack of illumination near the driveway and walkway to the entry gate made them feel uncomfortable. The homeowner's concern was that the darkness between their home and the neighbor's property could potentially invite unwanted activity.\n\nThe reporter, overhearing the conversation, was able to propose a solution to address the homeowner's worries. The reporter then proceeded to implement the recommended lighting upgrade during the course of the larger project.\n\nThe existing full-length stairs leading down to the front door entrance were illuminated by a ceiling light fixture installed within the deep soffit. However, this fixture did not sufficiently light the walkway leading to the backyard. The reporter determined that both the hot and neutral wires were connected to the switch box, leaving the interrupt wire to control the light fixture.\n\nTo improve the lighting situation, the reporter suggested mounting a series of LED slim lights along the soffit near the walkway. These lights would be controlled by a timer switch programmed for dusk-to-dawn operation, allowing the lights to turn on automatically at sunset and turn off at sunrise. Four three-inch LED slims were chosen for equidistant placement along the side soffit, and were installed by carefully cutting holes and daisy-chaining the wiring.\n\nAdditional LED slims were installed on the front porch, centered on either side of the front window. These six-inch lights replaced the existing light fixture and were connected to the same timer switch. The tricky part of the installation was around the corner of the house, where space was limited for wiring. The reporter used six-foot threaded metal dowels to navigate around the corner and successfully connect the final LED slim to the six-inch light box.\n\nThe final step was replacing the existing toggle switch with a programmable timer switch. Although the timer could handle up to 50 presets, the homeowners opted to use the \"dusk-to-dawn\" setting, allowing the lights to turn on automatically at dusk and off at dawn. The reporter installed the new timer switch, and the homeowner's concerns were successfully addressed with the newly installed LED lighting.",
  "summary": "While taking a little break at a recent job site, the homeowners began describing their desire for more exterior lighting along the side of their house, where the driveway shifts […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Homeowner requests extra exterior lighting for safety concerns",
    "Reporter proposes LED slim lights solution during larger project",
    "Timer switch installed for dusk-to-dawn automated lighting"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Automating exterior illumination through dusk-to-dawn timer switches transforms residential security by eliminating dark zones that previously invited unwanted activity near the property boundaries.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}