Ring Doorbell - which version can be both/either battery and mains powered?

Nov 23, 2020 Last reply: 5 years ago 5 Replies

I want to buy a 'Ring' Doorbell (probably Ring 2) and the Ring 'Chime' - and for initial simplicity I want to use it battery-powered. However, at a later date I might want to change it to wired power.



There's loads of information on the web, but I find a lot of it rather confusing (and even somewhat contradictory). Much of it sort-of avoids quite telling you exactly what you want to know, and the fact that there are so many different versions and models doesn't help matters.



I would have thought that an external power feed would be done by simply by removing the battery pack, and feeding it with the appropriate DC voltage. However, apparently that is not the way. Some websites say you use an 18V AC supply connected directly to the screws inside the doorbell - but the official Ring support site shows an 8 to 24VAC supply feeding it via a 25 ohm, 50W (!!!) resistor [I not it also says 'Don't use a diode' - so I guess when it says AC it really means it.]



Some sites do tell you that if you use an external power feed you have to retain the battery. This is because the doorbell does not run directly from the external power feed. Instead, it uses the battery as its power source, while the battery is trickle charged from the external feed.



So can anyone confirm that I have my facts right. Am I safe to buy a Ring Doorbell 2 and a Chime, and will later be able to add an external power feed?


Ring Doorbell 2 can be externally powered. Actually it works off the battery the external power just provides a constant trickle charge. I wired ours using the following charger

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At the time the resistor was unavailable from ring so I got these half price than the Ring version and you get two to boot if you consider a second camera

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Richard

The reason for the ac of course is that they know that many bells have a pretty bad dc or ac supply going to them already. Inside there is a circuit to rectify it and charge the battery, and the resistor is merely protection, if slightly inefficient at charging batteries, as it will get warm. I've seen this idea many times in the past on less techy door intercoms and the like. Brian

I have recently bought the "All-new Ring (2nd generation)", which is NOT the same as the Ring 2, and an "All-new Ring Chime".

Yes, the doorbell is battery-powered. Yes, you can add an external power feed later, which trickle-charges the battery. This is what I have done. It works well.

I'm not familiar with Ring doorbells. What I do know: I wouldn't buy Ring anything You can always feed dc to battery terminals. It's only with old mechanical bells & dingdongs that this can catch you out.

NT

Thanks for the advice (and from everybody). I would have gone for Ring 2 (because you can simply remove the battery), but they are now unavailable from John Lewis. I think I'll get Ring 3 - and might as well get the matching dual-band wi-fi Chime.

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