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Can I add additional Nest Doorbells (wired, 2nd Gen) without the doorbell? Camera function only?

Jackel1
Community Member

Already have 1st gen Ring doorbell on main entrance. 

Have two other entrances that require Ring cameras. Can I add the additional Ring doorbells to the transformer only and will the wifi camera signal still connect and broadcast?

Thank you in advance!

1 Recommended Answer

MplsCustomer
Bronze
Bronze

@Jackel1 

Do you have a "Ring doorbell" and are you asking about "Ring cameras"? If so, you should probably go to the Ring Community:

https://community.ring.com/

On the other hand, if you actually have a Google Nest Doorbell and are seeking to add additional Google Nest doorbells or cameras at your other entrances, here are a few observations that would apply to Google Nest options:

1) Your post and comments indicate you have a 2nd gen Google Nest Doorbell, but your post refers to the Nest app. The 1st gen Google Nest Hello Doorbell is installed in the Google Nest app, while the 2nd gen Google Nest Doorbell is installed in the Google Home app.

2) If you want a camera function only at your other two entrances but want to use Google Nest DOORBELLS for this purpose, you'd have to figure out how to wire them both to your doorbell transformer, turn off the "Indoor chime" option, and ensure that you have a transformer capable of powering three video doorbells. Google Nest provides only appropriate guidelines (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9247132), but many of us Google Nest customers have found we needed a 16V 30VA transformer to make our Google Nest Doorbells function correctly. If this what you want, Google Nest is only selling the 2nd Gen Google Nest Doorbell and the 2nd gen Google Nest Battery Doorbell, both of which use the Google Home app.

3) If you want just the camera function at your other two entrances without any doorbell function, then you could purchase 2nd gen Google Nest Battery Cameras, since that's the only outdoor option Google Nest currently offers. If you install them as battery-powered only, without being plugged in, you should be aware of the cold weather limitations (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/11830989). We've had a battery camera for over 2 years, plugged in with the optional power cable, and it works fine in Minnesota winters and summers.

4) If you currently have a 1st Google Nest Hello Doorbell, which runs in the Google Nest app, you'll need to consider migrating your Nest Account to a Google Account (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9297676), so you can have access to your 1st gen doorbell and any 2nd gen cameras or doorbells on the same Nest Aware subscription in the same Google Nest "home/structure", though you'll have to use both the Google Nest app and the Google Home app.

5) You could also check secondary markets like Etsy or Amazon for reputable sources for 1st gen Google Nest Hello Doorbells or 1st gen Google Nest Outdoor Cameras if you have a 1st gen Google Nest Hello Doorbell and want to stay in the Google Nest app.

View Recommended Answer in original post

3 REPLIES 3

MplsCustomer
Bronze
Bronze

@Jackel1 

Do you have a "Ring doorbell" and are you asking about "Ring cameras"? If so, you should probably go to the Ring Community:

https://community.ring.com/

On the other hand, if you actually have a Google Nest Doorbell and are seeking to add additional Google Nest doorbells or cameras at your other entrances, here are a few observations that would apply to Google Nest options:

1) Your post and comments indicate you have a 2nd gen Google Nest Doorbell, but your post refers to the Nest app. The 1st gen Google Nest Hello Doorbell is installed in the Google Nest app, while the 2nd gen Google Nest Doorbell is installed in the Google Home app.

2) If you want a camera function only at your other two entrances but want to use Google Nest DOORBELLS for this purpose, you'd have to figure out how to wire them both to your doorbell transformer, turn off the "Indoor chime" option, and ensure that you have a transformer capable of powering three video doorbells. Google Nest provides only appropriate guidelines (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9247132), but many of us Google Nest customers have found we needed a 16V 30VA transformer to make our Google Nest Doorbells function correctly. If this what you want, Google Nest is only selling the 2nd Gen Google Nest Doorbell and the 2nd gen Google Nest Battery Doorbell, both of which use the Google Home app.

3) If you want just the camera function at your other two entrances without any doorbell function, then you could purchase 2nd gen Google Nest Battery Cameras, since that's the only outdoor option Google Nest currently offers. If you install them as battery-powered only, without being plugged in, you should be aware of the cold weather limitations (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/11830989). We've had a battery camera for over 2 years, plugged in with the optional power cable, and it works fine in Minnesota winters and summers.

4) If you currently have a 1st Google Nest Hello Doorbell, which runs in the Google Nest app, you'll need to consider migrating your Nest Account to a Google Account (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9297676), so you can have access to your 1st gen doorbell and any 2nd gen cameras or doorbells on the same Nest Aware subscription in the same Google Nest "home/structure", though you'll have to use both the Google Nest app and the Google Home app.

5) You could also check secondary markets like Etsy or Amazon for reputable sources for 1st gen Google Nest Hello Doorbells or 1st gen Google Nest Outdoor Cameras if you have a 1st gen Google Nest Hello Doorbell and want to stay in the Google Nest app.

Jackel1
Community Member

Thanks mplsCustomer! 

You addressed the question marvelously and answered it with all available options.

Kudos 👍

EmersonB
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi everyone,

 

@Jackel1, thanks for reaching out here in the Community. In case you have questions with your Nest devices, you know where to find us. 

 

I appreciate the help, MplsCustomer.

 

Regards,

Emerson