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Nest Camera battery depletes occasionally even though it’s wired to doorbell circuit

Ken52
Community Member

My nest doorbell (battery) occasionally depletes even though it’s wired to former doorbell circuit measuring 19 volts. Please explain why it uses the battery even though it’s on an electrical circuit.

1 Recommended Answer

Thanks for the reply. If the camera runs directly off the battery and the electricity only serves to recharge the battery, that would explain the problem. I live on a busy pedestrian street and I can’t video my porch without picking up the sidewalk which has about 100 people events a day. I’ll have to see if adjusting the sensitivity helps keep the battery from draining faster than it can recharge or else switch to nest wired model. Thanks again.

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13 REPLIES 13

MplsCustomer
Bronze
Bronze

@Ken52 

Are you experiencing cooler weather? If not, then I think the battery should not deplete if the doorbell is wired.

The new Google Nest Doorbell (Battery)--judging from customer posts in this forum--seems to run off the battery, and, when hard-wired, seems to be designed to trickle-charge the battery at a level low enough so that it does not trigger the chime. However, the battery seems to be unable to charge very well at lower temperatures.

See this very long thread with over 360 customer posts on the effects of cold weather--even with temperatures well within operating temperatures--on the battery doorbell:

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Cameras-and-Doorbells/Cold-weather-concerns-with-Nest-Doorbel...

Thanks for the reply. If the camera runs directly off the battery and the electricity only serves to recharge the battery, that would explain the problem. I live on a busy pedestrian street and I can’t video my porch without picking up the sidewalk which has about 100 people events a day. I’ll have to see if adjusting the sensitivity helps keep the battery from draining faster than it can recharge or else switch to nest wired model. Thanks again.

Pathetic battery.  My cheap Christmas solar lights manage to stay on in freezing weather when this doorbell dies.

mpb65
Community Member

There is a whole thread on this.  Despite the claim that it is being trickle-charged, once cold weather arrives, the battery simply dies.  Extremely poor product design!

@mpb65 

I think the battery cameras and doorbells are quite different.

Based on customer postings, the Google Nest Battery DOORBELL has issues keeping the battery charged even when it is hard-wired.  However, in our experience the Google Nest Battery CAMERA keeps the battery fully charged when it is plugged in continuously with one of the optional power cables. Our CAMERA's battery has stayed at 100% for the last 4 months even with temperatures at -18 degrees Fahrenheit and is always "Live".

I wish Google would address the issue.  Maybe the battery needs to be upgraded.  Who knows?  The problem is that they remain silent.

Ken52
Community Member

Yes and it’s infuriating. Two calls got me two different people reading the same script and pretending they couldn’t understand the problem.  I’m hoping decreasing sensitivity helps, if not maybe I’ll return it. Thanks

mpb65
Community Member

If you can return it, do so as soon as possible.  I been through all the tweaking etc.  Irrelevant.  When the cold weather comes, it just dies.  Unfortunately, I am outside the return window.

Brad
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi there, 

 

I apologize for my late response and thank you for all of your patience while waiting for a reply. I can definitely understand how frustrating your situation must be, but I wanted to make sure that your issue was addressed. Do you still need help with this issue? I know that there's been a delay in response since you posted.

 

Please let me know if you need further assistance. 

Best Regards, 

Brad.

Ken52
Community Member

Google finally admits problem with cold weather and trickle battery in PC Mag

Brad
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey folks.

 

You can look through this article for more information as we came out with a new article on Cold Weather charging, etc. I will also be locking this thread to keep this issue contained to a single main thread found here. Thank you for your patience.

 

Best regards,

Brad.

I must be the odd guy out, I just happen to have the one that fails. After installing several of the battery operated cameras for clients of mine I have come across one that will not hold a charge. I have hardwired all of the cameras from day one with required power supplies. Even after bringing the camera in fully charging it The camera dies within 8 days. It is on a detached garage, in a backyard with virtually no traffic, foot or car. Other than that the cameras have been great.

@AVguys256 

That's not good. The rest of this thread is about the battery doorbell, but other customers in this forum have reported problems with charging the battery cameras. I'm just another customer, but it seems to me you should be able to get either the camera or the power cable replaced.

Some time ago a customer posted a photo showing that the plug that inserts in the bottom of the camera had simply come apart; those plugs don't seem very sturdy. There are other reports that the indoor charging cord that comes with the camera can be defective. In this post, the problem was resolved with a replacement charging cord: https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Cameras-and-Doorbells/Battery-camera-charging-problems/m-p/94....

You could try swapping power cables with the camera that's not staying charged to determine whether it's the camera or the cable that's defective. Or you could temporarily plug in the non-charging camera with an extension cord and the indoor charging cord that comes with the camera, to determine whether it's the camera or the cable that's at fault.