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Nest doorbell battery confusion wire install.

JohnF
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Disclaimer: This thread was migrated from our previous version of the Google Nest Community. You can continue to receive updates on your thread issue here or simply ask, browse or more in the new Google Nest Community.

 

Original poster: Steven Priefer  

 

I want to install my nest doorbell battery to my existing doorbell which has power. The article on support sites stated you don’t need anything, the YouTube video says you need a transformer, and the app says you need a resistor. Non of which are included. Did these instructions go through QA?

If I need to buy something else what is it and where do I get it?
11 REPLIES 11

TechWithBrett
Silver Product Expert
Silver Product Expert

Hey John, great question and I have been looking into this awhile now. 

The requirements to wire the Best Doorbell (battery) are as follows:

Use existing wiring for chime and recharging

- Voltage: 8–24VAC

- Power: 10VA

- Frequency: 50-60Hz

Please see the wiring instructions on this Help Center article. 

The only place I have seen that a resistor might be used is when setting up the Nest Doorbell (battery) in the Google Home app. It does link to a Learn More page showing the requirements to wire a Nest Doorbell (battery) but the page has no information about the resistor.

From my own testing I was able to use the Nest Doorbell (battery) with a compatible transformer directly to the doorbell without using a chime or resistor.

Let us know if you have further questions.

PaulK
Community Member

Hey Brett, Does Nest Doorbell (battery) require external charging when wired to chime and a compatible transformer?  I noticed in your above reply that you state it can use the existing wiring for chime and to recharge.  Unfortunately my Nest Doorbell (battery) still requires recharging even though it is wired to a chime and compatible transformer? Other than not recharging, it works fine with the existing chime.  Any thoughts? Thank you!

TechWithBrett
Silver Product Expert
Silver Product Expert

Yes, it still requires external charging if the battery is drained due to excessive events draining the battery. My battery stayed charged at 55% for a month while being wired in. I just turned off the power to check and it is now sitting at 11%. Not sure if it will stay on when the battery is totally drained but it certainly is recommended to charge it backup so you do have the battery backup.

Hi Brett, I am also struggling with setting up the Doorbell (Battery) that my daughter insists we need.  

I saw that message about the resistor, and stared at it wondering why on earth the resistor wasn't built in to the supplied short length of cable.

But moving on, is this for real, that the Doorbell needs mains power AND recharging the battery as a separate operation?  

Seriously?  

sdarisi
Community Member

Bob_WA, if your doorbell (battery) is in a wired setup, you do not need to recharge the battery separately. The wires in the wired option supply the power and battery is not utilized. You can confirm this via the Home app and if you have it setup correctly, you will see a 'infinity' sign when reviewing power status

PaulK
Community Member

FYI - Unfortunately in my case even though the power status initially displayed “infinity” after several days of use the infinity changed to a percentage and continued to drop to zero requiring removal and recharging. I have since replaced my transformer and so far the infinity power status continues to display properly.

SteelForge
Community Member

I'm going through this right now. Can't figure out which transformer to buy though. The one I have wired to the Google Nest Doorbell battery does the same thing; shows an infinity symbol for a short while then the battery drains and it shuts off even though it's wired. I'm assuming the transformer isn't of sufficient voltage or something. It's not easy to find which one would work though. 

PaulK
Community Member

Hi SteveGorge,
The replacement transformer that solved my battery drain issue was a Hampton Bay 16VAC/30VA that I picked up at Home Depot. It’s interesting that my old transformer met the Google specs but was still unable to maintain a charge. No problems with the new transformer. Good luck.

Hey just curious. We’re you able to resolve it?

sdarisi
Community Member

On a related note, TechWithBrett, can you review and advise on an issue with chimes. BTW, excellent YT videos on the Nest Doorbell and other products. Keep up the good work.