Swapping camera

[Winny1]

I currently have a Google Nest floodlight camera. Is it possible to remove the existing battery camera and replace it with the new Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 2nd gen)?

Many thanks. 

[BamaHellcat]

Same question, or will Google also release a new Floodlight Camera...

[KyuuET]

Same here. Would very much appreciate it. Installing the floodlight requires an electrician, but just changing the camera could be done on your own.

[Jmela28]

I haven’t tried myself, but I don’t believe so. Judging by the photos online and a quick chat with a confused customer service rep, I think the power connectors for the previous nest camera with the floodlight is different than the new nest camera. For whatever reason. It’s honestly got me looking into a different system entirely.

[BamaHellcat]

That's exactly what I am trying to find out.... the power connectors.  Like you I am honestly looking at moving away from the Google camera systems as they just aren't keeping up with competitors. I'd be happy to upgrade my four Floodlight cameras and doorbell if the enhancements were worth it. 

[mantisXP]

I have 2 Nest Floodlights and 3 Nest Doorbells.  I just upgraded all 3 of my doorbells from the Gen 2 Wired to Gen 3 Wired, and I can say it was the most noticable jump in quality I have ever seen gen to gen.  My other home is all Ring, and when I went to their 2K doorbells and floodlights it was better, but not "as noticable an improvement" as the Nest bump was.  This kills me, because I don't rely on my doorbells for most of my viewing, and the floodlights really need the 2K HDR bump.  I get google used a battery cam for the floodlight (which btw, makes NO sense since its a permanently hardwired product), but dang it google....get your act together.  

I do look forward to updating my Ring setup to the new 4K Retinal stuff as soon as its out, because maybe that will have as noticable of a bump up as I felt seeing the Nest stuff.  The increased field of view alone on the new 2k nest doorbells is worth the price of admission.  I went from seing my front yard to seeing all the way down the wall of the house.  I mean Gen 2 Wired Nest to Gen 3 on the Doorbells is a HUGE upgrade. 

[mantisXP]

Let me clarify, if your on the fence about the Gen 3 Nest Doorbell Wired with 2K HDR because you already have the Gen 2, it's 100% worth the upgrade.   Its a plug n play swap, as its nothing more then remove doorbell 1 and install doorbell 2.  All brackets are the same, wires are the same, they are literally physically the same doorbell.  So the actual process of upgrading is as simple as it gets. 

The Gen 3 gets such a bump up in terms of field of view its mind boggling, and the 2K HDR is actually quite noticable even viewing on my phone. 

The Gemini AI stuff is neat, but be warned, your gonna have to pony up for the $20/mo plan to use it, and you annoyingly have to enable it on each camera manually in the app.  I mean, I would rather the camera tell me "red car parked in driveway, person exited" then the generic garbage of my Gen 2 where it would say "vehicle spotted".  

[BamaHellcat]

I have the Doorbell 2nd gen along with 4 floodlight cameras. We are definitely a Google home, Pixel phones, hubs etc... My issue is trying to determine staying with Google or moving to something else. There are currently outdoor cameras with 4K, twin lenses, motion tracking.... and I can't understand why Google would finally upgrade the outdoor cameras after several years and not provide an upgrade path for the floodlight cameras. Little issue have really started bothering me with Google. After years of the Google Home App being released, you still can't assign a unique sound to each camera so you immediately know where the alert is coming from. I have setup automated routines to provide that, but it should be as simple as just selecting a sound for each notification. I am still on the fence... so I'll continue watching closely, but in my opinion Google really needs to start stepping it up to remain competitive with other companies. 

[mantisXP]

So I faced the same dilemma.  I feel Amazon has done a vastly better job with Ring then Google has with Nest.  For one, the "Home" app sucks in that it doesn't let you see all the cams at once the same way the Ring app does.  I don't want big bubbles I have to scroll when I have so many cameras.  I want thumbnail previews like the Ring app so I can see 9 cameras at the same dang time.  I also have 2 additional Floodlight Cams I have not installed, but ultimately need to.  However, the cost of ripping out all the google gear and going with Ring at this house was the only thing that stopped me...  I would need 4 floodlights and 3 Ring Doorbells (all of the new 4K Retinal Variety).  So were talking $1000 in hardware, and the associated pain of having to pull the doorbells out, change out the chime connector, etc...it's just a pain to switch at this point.  I am hoping Google releases a new 2K Floodlight soon...as it makes no sense not to since its a hardwired product (though oddly with a battery powered camera).

[BamaHellcat]

Funny you mentioned Ring as I just got done looking at their new 4K Retinal devices, which look pretty impressive. At the same time I was looking at the Alexa displays and impressed with the selection there as well with the new Alexa +.  Even though I would hate to split my home between Google and Alexa/Ring, I am starting to lean that way. I think I will give it until Black Friday to see if Google is going to release any additional updated products and if they don't I'll pull the trigger then and make the switch. I also looked at some of the other cameras, like the Eufy, but feel more comfortable going with Ring and Alexa if I make the move. 

[TechPix]

Something I want to know too, the mag connector looks similar in photos, but given that it's no longer a battery cam I wonder if the floodlight functionality is powered by the camera VS the wiring since mine works if the switch is off and the cam has charge.  Could be the very reason it's not going to work.

But if the connector is just DC in with some data pins then I can't see why it wouldn't - unless in true Google fashion the connector is shaped *slightly* different.  Preventing use of existing hardware, killing off yet more products with one single upgrade.

None of the support reps know anything, so I think it will be down to someone investing in a new camera for another location and then testing it with the floodlight as a courtesy to us!

[rickytenzer]

Subscribed. This will determine whether I buy one or two, as I don't have a floodlight in the back, but have one in the front and want to continue using it.

[Smanley929 · Accepted solution]

I have a Floodlight  and just got the new camera.  The connectors are not similar at all.  The 2nd gen wired has a pigtail with sort of a pinned barrel connector that connects to the longer wire that has the brick.  Not the magnetic connector of the battery camera.  It replaced a 1st gen wired camera and is a substantial improvement,  I do hope a better camera for the floodlight becomes available 

[BamaHellcat]

Thanks for the info Smanley929, it helps clarify things. It's a shame Google didn't think about all of the current floodlight camera owners with regards to the connection. It's also odd they didn't release a new floodlight camera or even mention if one is coming. 

[TechPix]

I'm pretty sure they did, and they saw more £££ signs coming from our wallets because we were all dumb enough to spend almost £300 on a floodlight with a camera stuck to it.

The price for convenience eh? ☹️

[TechPix]

**bleep** that's disappointing, I hadn't looked at the tech sheet to see a breakdown, only looked at the product pictures.

Then again, I'm in no way surprised Google decided to forget about anything to do with first gen hardware and accessories.

Welp... Let's hope the battery camera comes out with a similar connector... If they ever go back down the battery route - or at least some form of camera with an adapter or the same port on it (also highly unlikely)

Thing cost an arm and a leg to begin with for what it was, not exactly looking forward to replacing it with a "Gen 2" variant for the upgraded quality...

Maybe it's time I move all my cameras over to Ubiquiti 😮‍💨

[Smanley929]

The floodlight using the battery camera was a design compromise IMO.  It obviously didnt need a battery camera.  Google used what HW they had available.  Let’s hope a new 2k battery camera comes along that can fit the existing floodlight. 

[Smanley929]

Thinking about this a bit….In my case the outdoor camera and doorbell camera are at the front of the house.  Both important and the new 2K versions were nice upgrades from the OG versions.  The floodlight is in the back of the house.  Backyard, deck coverage.  I may get occasional alerts where there are deer back there.

If you really wanted to it seems you could put the new camera in place of the battery camera.  I’m sure it would magnetized mount fine.  You would have to power it which isn’t impossible if you are handy.  A routine could say “if motion/people/vehicle seen, turn on floodlight, pause xx sec, turn floodlight off.  I’m not sure if not having the battery camera connected would bother it though.  

You could easily test this.  Remove the battery camera and set up the routine with a different camera that s in place somewhere like a doorbell cam.