How to charge Ring Doorbell is a common question among homeowners, and it’s so for a reason. This innovative device stands out among the many smart home devices, letting you monitor your front door’s activities from your smartphone. Many of them, however, are battery-powered, meaning they require regular charging. So, do you know how to charge Ring Doorbell?
Generally, every Ring Doorbell model has specific charging instructions. Despite the different models, the instructions are mostly the same. The major difference is if the doorbell will be removed entirely from the wall or if it has a quick-release battery pack, allowing you to remove the batteries only. Regardless of your doorbell, this detailed blog answers every nitty-gritty question. We also provide quick tips on how to extend your battery’s life.
Ready for the guide? Let’s plunge in.
Factors Affecting Your Ring Doorbell’s Battery Life
At the heart of your Ring device is a battery that powers all its functions. The battery’s longevity depends on various factors, including the model, frequency of activations, and temperature. On average, the battery charge life ranges from a couple of days or months. Ring says the battery should last six months to a year under normal usage.
Here is a breakdown of the factors affecting your Ring device’s battery.
Signal Strength
A poo Wi-FI signal may cause your doorbell to connect and disconnect, thus consuming more power.
Frequency of Use
Under normal circumstances, your Ring’s battery can go for months after a recharge. However, sometimes the battery may drain out fast and go for a few weeks. In most cases, this results from increased usage, meaning the device consumes more energy.
Ideally, if you frequently use your Ring Doorbell or have many motion alerts, the battery life will be shorter. Thus, you’ll be required to charge it more often than when there’re few alerts. Also, if you use the Live View feature that gives real-time video footage, the device will use more energy and won’t last long.
Prevailing Weather Conditions
Does cold weather affect the battery life o your Ring Doorbell? This is a common question among homeowners. Essentially, the lithium polymer batteries in your smart device function sub-optimally in cold weather (below 40 °F).
These batteries hold less charge in such temperatures, meaning you’ll be required to charge them often. However, they will hold power for longer when it becomes warm, thus serving you better.
Power Settings
This is an easy-to-ignore feature but a significant drainer of your battery if not well-set. The settings are accessible through the Ring app, allowing you to see what components consume the most power. To get a glimpse of what’s happening, follow these steps:
- On the top left corner, tap the three lines
- Then tap on “Devices.”
- Tap the specific device you want to check (either the doorbell or security camera)
- Follow by tapping the “Power Settings” icon. Here you can check the Battery status, which is the battery level percentage
To see the feature power usage: On the right of the feature name, tap the small arrow. You can tap the < sign on the top left to navigate back to the main screen
Under the features, you can also check what’s affecting the life battery and adjust the following:
- Snapshots captured
- The motion frequency
- Any advanced motion detection
- The length of the video recorded
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Charge Ring Doorbell
Charging your Ring Doorbell is a relatively straightforward process, as every device has instructions on how to do it. However, if you’ve lost them, here is an easy step-by-step guide on charging the batteries.
Charging 1st and 2nd Generation Ring Video Doorbells
1. Start by checking your smartphone’s notifications to see a red alert of the battery running low.
- Alternatively, open the Ring app and check the battery-shaped icon for the percentage.
- Ring also sends an email notifying you the battery is running low.
2. Using the orange screwdriver provided in the Ring Doorbell box, unscrew the two security screws.
- The screws are on the bottom side of the doorbell, and you’ll turn them anticlockwise to open.
- If you don’t have the orange screwdriver, use any star-shaped screwdriver
3. Slide the doorbell up to dismount it from the wall. Do this by holding the device with your fingers on one side and the thumb on the other, then gently pulling it up.
4. Plug the USB’s small end into the doorbell’s back. The device has a small orange USB, but any cable will do if you’ve lost the orange one.
5. Plug the other end of the cable into a power source
- If a blue light moves around the circle, it indicates a perfect connection, and the doorbell is charging
- If the light is solid blue, the device is fully charged and should be disconnected.
- If your app shows the battery is still low, don’t worry, this will reset once you re-attach the device
Charging a Ring Doorbell With Quick Release Battery Pack Type
These Ring Doorbell types allow you to remove the battery rather than the entire doorbell. They include:
- Ring Video Doorbell 2 and 3
- The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus
- The Ring Video Doorbell 4
- The Battery Doorbell Plus
To charge these types follow the following steps:
1. Check the battery’s percentage level. You can do this by
- Checking your email
- Looking at the smartphone notification
- Checking the Ring app battery
2. Unscrew the security screws to detach the battery
- Use the small orange screwdriver in the provided toolbox or a star-headed one
3. Lift the faceplate
- Start by placing your fingers under the video camera lens on the silver face plate’s top.
- Rest your thumb on the faceplate’s center bottom and gently pull it forward and away from the wall.
4. Press the quick-release tab (black) to remove the battery.
- If you have another battery, you can insert it as this one charge
5. Plug the small end of the provided orange USB cable into one end of the battery and the other into a power source
- Orange and blue lights indicate the battery is charging correctly, while a green light shows it’s fully charged
- Using a 2.1-amp wall charger is the best as it’s fast, taking about 5 hours to fully charge, compared to a laptop which takes 10 hours and will last between 6 to 12 months
6. Replace the battery by pushing it back until it clicks
Quick Tips for Extending Your Ring Doorbell’s Battery Life
Having a Ring Doorbell is a convenient way to enhance your home security. This means ensuring its battery life lasts as long as possible is important. Fortunately, there are several methods you can employ to extend your Ring doorbell’s battery life. These include:
Doorbell Setting Adjustments
By accessing the settings on the Ring app, you can significantly prolong the battery life. For instance, you can reduce the rate of motion detection notifications, reducing the number of times the doorbell is activated. This not only helps conserve battery power but also prevents unnecessary alerts.
Additionally, adjusting the video recording length can also help extend battery life. Setting a shorter duration for recording clips can help conserve energy. This is especially useful if you have a high volume of motion activity around your doorbell, as it reduces the amount of footage being recorded and ultimately saves battery power.
Other crucial setting adjustments include:
- Changing the smart alert settings from standard to light
- Adjusting the light sensor settings that they turn on when necessary (when it’s very dark)
- Reducing the doorbell’s brightness
- Disable motion detection alerts, especially when working in the garden or if kids are playing outside. Alternatively, snooze these alerts.
Ensure You Have a Strong Wi-Fi Connection
This will reduce the connection and disconnection frequencies which use more energy.
Power-Related Tips
These are battery-extending and power-source tips and include the following:
- Fully charge your batteries before installation and use
- Use manufacturer-recommended batteries
- Switch to newer battery models with enhanced battery-saving features, thus extending life.
- Use a solar charger during the day, if your device allows and supports it
- Hard-wire your doorbell. This entails connecting the device directly to a power source, thus no worries about charging
Software Tips
One important aspect of maintenance is ensuring that your device’s software is up to date. Ring frequently releases software updates that include energy optimization features. By keeping your device’s software up to date, you can take advantage of these optimizations and prolong the battery life.
Get a Smart Solution from ONIT Home
Ring Doorbells are must-have home security gadgets for modern-day homeowners. When fully charged and with appropriate settings, they can last about 6-12 months, thus offering much-needed security in your living space. Vow that you know how to charge ring doorbell, you can confidently keep your home security on at all times. At ONIT Home, we provide the best solutions for your smart home security needs. Our wide range of products and cutting-edge technology ensures that your Ring Doorbell and other home security devices stay functional and your home protected.
Call us at 1-833-433-0331 and speak to one of our experts, who can also provide a free quote to help you make a more informed decision. For all your home security needs, we’re ONIT!