Cold weather warning being pushed as critical notification.

[Bob_S]

Like many I rely on Google Nest products to deliver critical notifications, things like glass breaking, people being spotted, etc. I was surprised to find that in the last few weeks I've been getting multiple critical alerts pushed (some waking me up) every day to let me know that it is cold outside. I live in Wisconsin and it is currently winter. After speaking with customer service, they confirmed that these cold weather notifications were bundled in the critical alerts. To turn them off is to dramatically reduce the functionality of my system. 

I don't understand why the messaging about how cold weather affects batteries is considered a critical alert, one that needs to be pushed multiple times a day. Are there any plans to change this? 

[JillG]

Hi @Bob_S 

I have heard complaints about this very thing as well. Please send in app feedback. I will also escalate your post to our community team.

The only way to get around the (annoying as heck) alert is to change the Do Not Disturb setting but as you know that makes everything else less useful as far as notifications go.

jill

[Bob_S]

Thank you Jill, will do! 

[MplsCustomer]

@Bob_S 

From what devices are you getting these cold weather alerts? We have a Google Nest Camera (Battery), plugged in outside with the optional power cable (on its second winter), we live in Minnesota, and we have "Critical Alerts" turned on by default in the Google Home app, but we've never received a cold weather alert. The Google Nest app doesn't have an equivalent "Critical Alerts" option that I can find, though we have several Google Nest Outdoor Cameras and Google Nest Hello Doorbells.

[Bob_S]

I'm getting them on my phone, my wife gets the same. The alerts come from Google Home. You can find that setting at Google Home -> Settings -> Notifications -> General Notifications

[EmersonB]

Hi everyone,

@Bob_S thanks for reaching out and for sharing with us your thoughts about your concern. At temperatures below freezing, the lithium-ion battery in your Google Nest camera or doorbell won’t be able to charge.

The batteries in Nest Cam (battery) and Nest Doorbell (battery) have the following minimum temperature requirements:

• Minimum operating temperature: -4°F (-20°C)
• Minimum charging temperature: 32°F (0°C)

At temperatures between -4°F (-20°C) and 32°F (0°C), the battery can still power your device, but it won’t charge. It may also drain more quickly than usual. At temperatures close to -4°F (-20°C), your battery may have less than half the life that it has in warm weather.

Hit this link for more information.

I would also suggest you send us your feedback about this, as JillG advised you. To let the Google Engineering team know about your concern. While they won't respond directly back to you, this is the best way to let them know about this. Please let me know if you have other questions or concerns as I will be locking this after 24 hours. Feel free to start a new thread and we'll be happy to help.

I appreciate the help, JillG and MplsCustomer.

Regards,
Emerson

[Bob_S]

Hello Emerson (@Ebedia), 

Thank you, I have submitted my feedback. I understand that the batteries get cold and do not charge / perform as well. What I don't understand, and what I hope changes, is why this message is marked as critical. Also why it needs to be sent multiple times a day. 

[MplsCustomer]

@Bob_S 

I assumed they came from the Google Home app because the Google Nest app doesn't have them, but which devices are reporting they are encountering cold temperatures? Your camera or doorbell? Is it for a battery camera or battery doorbell running on battery power?

[Bob_S]

Today it was the driveway battery camera. I have a total of two battery cameras and one wired doorbell, the others seem to take turns sending messages as well. If I had to guess, each one sends a message when some battery monitoring system detects a drop in voltage and it's less than 32 degrees out. Seeing the temperature for the last couple of days goes just above freezing and then back down, probably sends the alert every time it happens. If they move it out of the critical category it would fix the issue.  

[MplsCustomer]

Given the limitations of the battery camera and battery doorbell (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/11830989?hl=en), sending "critical" alerts every time the temperature goes below freezing implies that when running on battery power the camera and doorbell are not suited for cold weather climates. I'm glad our battery camera is plugged in with the optional power cable.

[janthadeus]

Hey Bob_S,

Checking in — I hope MplsCustomer’s reply answered your question. Let us know if there’s anything else.
 

Thanks for the help, @everyone!

Best,

JT

[Bob_S]

Hi JT, 

Not really, we both have come to the same conclusion and are waiting for word on these cold weather alerts. Do you know of any plans to change cold weather alerts to no longer be critical?  

[janthadeus]

Hi there,

Got it, we love your enthusiasm. We don’t have any details to share about changing cold weather alerts to not critical. Our team is working hard to deliver the best experience for our users — we'll take this as feedback. Keep an eye on the Google Nest Community page https://goo.gle/2JvnMRy for any updates. Please let me know if you have other questions or concerns as I will be locking this in 24 hours if I won't hear back from you again. Feel free to start a new thread and we'll be happy to help.

Check out this link on how to file feedback.

Best,

JT

[MplsCustomer]

This cold weather warning message must have recently been introduced in a software or firmware update. We've had a battery camera--plugged in--or almost 17 months now, and this morning, for the first time, with the temperature at 4 degrees Fahrenheit, we received a "Low device temperature - This device may have reduced battery life if it is very cold." message.

I've logged my own post on this: https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Cameras-and-Doorbells/New-quot-Low-device-temperature-quot-me...