DIY Driveway Alarm

Place the solar-powered motion detector light to one side of the driveway, about 10 feet back from where the driveway ends and the street begins. Dig a hole half the length of the pole attached to the bottom of the motion detector light with a pickaxe.

Place the pole at the bottom of the light into the hole. Aim the light's front-mounted sensor towards the other side of the driveway.

Place a folded over bath towel on the top of the light. Pound the light into the hole with a soft mallet. Continue pounding until the light is about a 1/2 foot above the ground. Scatter the loose dirt from around the light using a broom.

Open the side or back compartment lid on the solar powered motion detector light -- if there is a screw on the lid, remove the screw first using a Phillips jeweler's screwdriver or a Torx screwdriver, depending on the make of the light.

Adjust the settings inside the control panel in the following manner -- keep in mind that the names for each setting will vary depending on the make, although they all do the same thing: rotate the "Sensitivity" knob fully counterclockwise so that a reaction to movement is immediate; turn the "Day/Dusk/All" knob to the time of day the solar powered motion detector light should begin to protect the driveway as an alarm (all day, all night or all the time); rotate the "Light duration" knob to how many seconds the light should stay on once it is illuminated (typically between 5 and 20 seconds).

Close the lid and reattach the screw if there is one.