topic Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable in Cameras and Doorbells

Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Ruud — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:25:42 GMT

Hello,

I bought a Nest Camera Outdoor, but I don't have a power outlet near where I want to hang the camera. Can I cut the supplied power cable and connect it manually in an electrical box?

I can of course also mount a socket, but I don't want that.

I hope someone can confirm me if this is possible.

Thanks.

Ruud

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

David_K — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 13:59:36 GMT

Cutting the supplied power cable isn't going to be supported by Google so I would get advice from a local electrician or Nest Pro. If it's an option for you, you could also drill a hole in the wall and connect it to an internal power socket instead.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Ruud — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 14:16:21 GMT

Hi, thanks.

The walls are 1 meter thick and I don't want a socket on my outside wall.

What does it mean it won't be supported by Google?
I can't imagine that it will affect the operation of the camera if I cut the plug off and connect this cable to electrical.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

David_K — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 14:52:13 GMT

If an issue were to arise as a result of you cutting the supplied power cable, Google may not be able to support you as you've modified the provided cable. That of course is at their discretion, but wanted to flag so you're aware.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Ruud — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 07:38:11 GMT

I forgot to clearly state in my initial question my main concern is the technical functioning of the camera after cutting the power cable.... So in summary: cutting the power cable should not be a problem in a technical sense. However, I could run into a problem with the warranty. Is that right?

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

David_K — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 15:04:19 GMT

I'm not an electrician so wouldn't want to confirm either way, and I suggested consulting the advice of an electrician or Nest Pro installer. As for warranty, that's correct, you may have an issue as Google would not recommend you modify the provided cable.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

firmwaredev — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 15:27:22 GMT

You most definitely can not cut the power cable and connect it to your electrical box. The power cable is comprised of an ac/dc adapter on the plug end. As such, the wire contains the converted DC voltage, not the A/C that comes from the wall outlet. Now, you could cut the power cable and lengthen that cable by adding in a length of wire with the same number of conductors (should be two, but could be more). Then run that resulting cable through the wall and plug in inside. That's your only option. I would recommend you have someone do this that does have knowledge of electrical circuits.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Ruud — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 15:43:55 GMT

Okay. Thanks everyone. When I receive the camera I will try it and let you know the result.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

firmwaredev — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 16:53:40 GMT

Try what? Don't connect it to your A/C electrical panel. That will destroy the device and/or cause a fire. Extending the cable is fine, if that's what you mean.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Ruud — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 16:58:54 GMT

Sorry. I'm going to follow your advice and extend the cable.

I can't send a photo, but I don't think the camera is equipped with an AC/DC adapter, but just a bare plug.

The 6th photo via this link shows the cable: https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B01MG7M0XR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

firmwaredev — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 17:11:58 GMT

It's very unlikely A/C is going straight to the camera. Likely the AC/DC conversion is going on in that little round puck on the end the second cable (end opposite the mains plug). It looks like the end on the cable coming from the camera is just a USB connector of some sort. That would definitely be DC.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Ruud — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 17:14:57 GMT

Okay. And what does that mean to a layman like me?

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

firmwaredev — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 17:26:37 GMT

Well, it means a couple of things are possible:

1. The DC portion of the cable ( the part between the little usb connector and the camera )could be extended with with some wire(s). You'll need some skills to do this - soldering, etc. The wires are probably going to be fairly small and might not be so easy to work with for patching in an extra length of cable. But it could certainly be done.

2. The mains plug on the end of the second cable could but cut off, and then those wires could be connected directly to A/C inside your electrical panel (or inside some other electrical box for a circuit that is available that has mains A/C). You need to make sure you know which is ground and which are the load and neutral wires. If you don't already know what those terms mean, don't do this yourself. Get an electrician to do it for you.

3. You could extend the A/C portion of the cable in the same way as describe in 1.). That might be a little easier, as the wires are going to be a bit bigger. You need to make sure you use wire that's sufficient to the task and designed for high voltage A/C. Everything needs to be properly shield with heat shrink tubing, etc. It's pretty easy to make this not code :). Again, I'd hire an electrician if you don't know what you're doing.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Ruud — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 17:35:47 GMT

That means in answer to my initial question that it is (in a technical sense) no problem at all to cut that cable at the indicated place and then connect it... Thanks again for all the answers, help and advice!

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Ruud — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 08:32:20 GMT

Hi again. Camera received . I cut the power cable at the plug. Blue and brown wire connected and we have visual!!! Thanks again.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Leeh1974 — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 18:32:34 GMT

hi Ruud , I am also keen to do this due to the same issue of not wanting to drill a massive hole in my outside wall. Can you tell me what you found when you cut the cable, ie how many wires present? And what you reconnected on the plug side to get it working again? Thanks.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Ruud — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 20:30:57 GMT

I do have an electrical wire on the outside of my house, with a black and blue wire. I connected this (via a terminal block) with the power wire of my NEST camera. Blue on blue and black on black. And finished!

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Leeh1974 — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 20:35:03 GMT

So are there only 2 wires in the power cable? I presumed more as there are 4 terminals on the magnetic connector.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Ruud — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 21:04:25 GMT

There are 2 cables. The first with the plug to the adapter. The second from the adapter to the camera. The first cable only supplies the power and has only 2 wires, blue and black. The second cable I did not cut, but may have more wires.

Re: Cut and connect manually the Nest power cable

Leeh1974 — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 21:17:33 GMT

Many thanks for replying but you’ve lost me. I have the 5m weatherproof cable. Plug at one end, magnetic terminal at the other which connects to the camera (no adapter in the middle). Cutting the cable reveals what? 2 wires or 4? I presume it’s just a case of chopping the cable and reconnecting whatever’s contained within it.