If you have seen Ring Doorbells before, especially video doorbells, you know the appeal of why they are popular. Ring Doorbells are smart technology devices that make life easier for us.
Usually, they come battery-powered, but there is the option to hardwire them. There are advantages to this, but the question is, “How to hardwire Ring Doorbell?”
Learn the steps below.
How to Hardwire Ring Doorbell
Is it hard to hardwire a Ring Doorbell? Don’t worry because practically almost anyone can do this successfully. The steps are easy enough with running the doorbell wiring being the most challenging part.
As for that part, you want it to be concealed. The best way to do this is to run the wiring in the basement crawlspace or the basement itself. In there, you do not have to worry about concealing the wires.
Since you wanted to learn to hardwire Ring Doorbell, we assume you have some knowledge about wiring and soldering. If not, it is best to leave this to a licensed electrician or use a battery-powered Ring Doorbell.
Proceed to the steps if you think you can do this on your own.
Steps to Hardwire a Ring Doorbell:
Locate the Circuit Breaker
Before doing any work, find and turn off the circuit breaker that supplies to the branch circuit where you will connect the transformer for the Ring Doorbell.
After turning off the circuit breaker, check to see if it is the correct one using a noncontact voltage tester. Do not forget to do this as it ensures you can work on the electrical wiring safely.
Find the Transformer for the Doorbell and Inspect It
Check the transformer to make sure it provides the correct amount of voltage to your Ring Doorbell. The right voltage is usually around 16 to 24 volts.
Too low (-16 volts) means the doorbell will not have enough power to work. Too high (+24 volts) means it can cause overloading, which will damage the device.
You can find the transformer by opening your old doorbell chime box. From there, trace the wire to the transformer.
If this does not work, look near the circuit breaker, basements, or crawlspaces where transformers usually are.
The transformer should have the “16-24V AC” markings, which tell you the voltage. If there are no markings, use a multimeter to check the voltage.
If the voltage is not within the 16-24V range, you will need to buy another. Take note that you will have to reconnect the wires from the old transformer to the new one.
How to hardwire RING doorbell to a transformer or existing doorbell DIY do it yourself
Ring Doorbell Hardwired Install
Rewire Doorbell Chime
Check your doorbell chime to see if it is mechanical or digital. It is crucial to do this to know what you need to do so that your new Ring Doorbell rings the chime you already have.
If it is a digital chime, you may need a particular diode to connect to the doorbell. In some cases, it is a special adapter you need.
Check your Ring Doorbell’s instructions to know what you need.
Remove Existing Doorbell
Remove the existing doorbell by unscrewing it and disconnecting the wires connected to the two terminals on the back of the doorbell.
Be careful not to let the wires fall inside the wall or getting them out will be a pain. While working, you can tape the wires to the wall.
If they are too short, you will need some extension wires.
Attach the New Doorbell
Pull the doorbell wires into the center of the bracket then attach it to where you want the doorbell to be.
For now, tape the doorbell to the wall while you drill pilot holes for screwing the bracket securely into the wall.
Now that a part of the bracket is in place, start working on the wires. Connect them to the two terminals you see on the Ring Doorbell’s back. You can attach the cables to any terminal.
When you are done, take all the excess wires and stuff them into the wall. After that, attach the doorbell to the bracket on the wall before screwing the security screws.
Set Up Doorbell with Ring App
When you are done, turn on the power at the circuit breaker to set up your new Ring Doorbell. First, download the Ring app, then create an account.
Consult with the instructions included in the doorbell to set it up. After setting the doorbell, you can now connect it to your Wi-Fi.
You will likely adjust some of the settings, such as motion sensors and intelligent alerts. When you are done with those, set up two-factor authentication to protect it from hacking.
What is a Ring Doorbell?
Now you know how to hardwire Ring Doorbell. But what exactly is a Ring Doorbell, and why would you invest in one? Let’s discuss more that.
Ring Doorbells are technologically advanced doorbells allowing you to arm your home for protection against burglary and similar situations. It is an excellent device to add to your smart home because even though you are not physically there, the Ring Doorbell guards your home.
How Does a Ring Doorbell Work?
Once installed, Ring Doorbells connect to the Wi-Fi network in your home. If it detects someone at your door or when the button on the doorbell is pressed, it will send alerts.
It comes in two options – a rechargeable battery or hardwired to a power source like a regular doorbell. All models of Ring Doorbells come with 2-way talk functionality and also supports motion activation.
The device can record both day and night. During the latter, it uses infrared for night vision. It can also stream live footage, which you can view using the Ring app.
Ring Doorbells can capture videos withing 30 feet, instantly sending a notification to your phone or other devices. As for the videos captured, you can store it in the cloud for a certain amount paid monthly.
The Ring Doorbell has a Ring app accompanying it. You can download the app for free on any Android, iOS, and Windows 10 devices.
Through the app, you can see an HD video stream of the person ringing your door. You can also speak to them that way using the 2-way audio communication.
Another feature of the Ring Doorbell is the ability to view shared footage. Besides that, you can take advantage of features such as:
- Changing alert settings
- Checking status of the doorbell
- Turning on and off the motion alerts
Available Ring Doorbell Models
There are several models of doorbells that Ring offers. Most of the functions are the same, except for the field of view and resolution. Each model also has some slight differences in the features and specifications. The most popular models are:
- Ring Doorbell 2 – This model is a bit of an upgrade from the base model Ring Doorbell. It has a 90-degrees vertical vision and 160-degrees horizontal vision. Other features include 1080p HD resolution and five zones motion-detection sensitivity customization.
- Ring Doorbell Elite and Pro – These are higher-end versions with customizable motion-detection zones. Take note that Pro does not include a battery, so it has to be hardwired to an existing doorbell. On the other hand, Elite needs a doorbell transformer to run.
- Ring Doorbell 3 – One of the newest video doorbells of Ring, it has the same excellent features of Ring Doorbell and Ring Doorbell 2. However, there are a few added features such as 1080p HD video with night vision. There is also two-way communication with noise cancelation, dual-band Wi-Fi, and privacy zones.
- Ring Doorbell 3 Plus – Also, a new Ring Doorbell, its features are similar to Ring Doorbell 3 with addition “Pre-Roll Video” feature. It allows the motion sensors and cameras to detect an incoming person when they approach.
Hardwired vs Battery Powered Ring Doorbell
If your Ring Doorbell comes with a battery, you are probably wondering why would anyone want to hardwire it. It’s all based on what you prefer as each type of operation has its pros and cons.
One of the questions that are probably on your mind is whether you need to charge the battery of the doorbell now that you hardwired it to your existing doorbell. The answer is yes.
Even though your Ring Doorbell is hardwired, its battery is receiving a charge from the wiring. So technically, your battery is still charging.
Battery Powered Doorbell
If your doorbell is battery powered, it comes with a rechargeable battery that powers the device even when not connected to an external power source.
You have to charge it regularly, which can be a hassle. It is the primary reason why most homeowners choose to hardwire their Ring Doorbell.
Hardwired Ring Doorbell
The biggest advantage of hardwired Ring Doorbell is you do not have to bother charging it. Why? Because it is connected directly to a power source.
However, it does not necessarily mean that you are using the wired power for the doorbell to run. The battery does that. By hardwiring, what you did is get a trickle charge to the battery.
The doorbell uses that trickle charge to power the battery. That way, you are automatically supplying power to the Ring Doorbell to work.
Conclusion
If it is to learn how to hardwire a Ring Doorbell, you can easily do so if you already have an existing doorbell. All you need to do is remove the old one to connect the new one.
However, you will have to start from scratch if you don’t have an existing doorbell. In that case, getting professional help is better to ensure you installed your Ring Doorbell correctly.
References:
- Daniel Wroclawski, How to Install a Video Doorbell, Home Security Cameras, Consumer Reports, May 3, 2020
- Ring Video Doorbell Hardwired vs Battery Powered Operation, What to Know, Ring Support Center
- Amanda Derrick, What is the Ring Doorbell and How Does It Work? Lifewire, May 8, 2020
