Understanding why your Ring doorbell might not charge properly can be quite straightforward. Often, the main culprits are simple things like bad batteries, shaky Wi-Fi connections, or frayed wires. Luckily, these pesky problems are usually easy to fix. Grab this chance to uncover useful tips and tricks for keeping your doorbell in tip-top shape. Dive right in, and discover the secrets to a perfectly powered device.
Why Won't My Ring Doorbell Charge?
Firstly, many factors can contribute to your Ring doorbell’s charging problem. It can be due to issues with its installation, problems with the power supply, and even a faulty Wi-Fi connection.
Charging problems can also be due to external issues such as the weather, defective chargers, and faulty power supplies.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these issues.
Reasons Why the Ring Doorbell Isn't Charging
1. Battery Status Not Updating on the App
Sometimes, while your Ring doorbell is charging, its battery status on the app does not automatically update. There is an easy fix to this particular issue – all you need to do is ring the doorbell twice, and the app will automatically refresh itself and display the correct battery percentage status.
2. Faulty Wi-Fi Connection
The battery status of a Ring doorbell updates when it is connected to a Wi-Fi network. If the Wi-Fi connection is weak or slow, the battery status on the app will be inaccurate or slow to change.
Additionally, if the Wi-Fi signal is weak, the doorbell's battery will drain quickly as it is constantly searching for a signal. Here's how you can check the Wi-Fi signal on the app.
- Open the Ring app.
- Select your device.
- Select Device Health.
- Under Network, you should see Signal Strength. This feature displays the Wi-Fi's signal strength.
If the signal indicator is below -60, it means the connectivity is poor. You can solve this by moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the doorbell or using a Wi-Fi range extender.
3. Faulty Installation
Some Ring doorbell models can be hardwired to your house's doorbell wiring for charging. However, if these wires aren't connected to the doorbell properly, it will have problems charging.
For first-generation Ring doorbells, check if the contacts on the mounting plates are touching the contacts on the doorbell. Also, check if the wires are correctly connected and screwed into the doorbell for second-generation doorbells.
Furthermore, if these wires are corroded or stripped, the doorbell will have problems charging. To solve this, start by turning off the power at the circuit breaker.
Next, inspect the wires to see if they are properly connected. Each wire must be properly wrapped around the screws, and the screw should be tightened properly.
4. Defective Chargers
A faulty USB charger can also be the reason why your doorbell isn't charging. If the cable and the charging brick are damaged, the doorbell will charge slowly or not at all.
So, check your USB-C cable to see if it's working correctly. Also, always use a wall outlet with a power brick rated at least 2.1 A to charge your Ring doorbell.
5. Extreme Temperatures
Extreme heat or cold conditions can be very bad for your Ring doorbell's battery. The battery will not hold a charge in these conditions, and its capacity will even reduce.
Sadly, there isn't much you can do about this. However, you can try bringing your doorbell indoors from time to time to charge it.
6. Circuit Breaker
Hardwired Ring doorbells will not charge if the circuit breaker controlling their power supply is turned off. Check the electrical panel in your home and turn the breaker back on if it has tripped.
7. Low Voltage
Sometimes, the voltage coming through from the wires is not enough to charge the doorbell. You can check the voltage in the app.
If the voltage supply is lower than 16 V, you'll need to install a new low-voltage transformer to boost the voltage for charging.
Checking the Battery
Here’s how you can charge a Ring doorbell using a USB charger.
- First, check the battery’s health in the app.
- Open the app and tap on the three lines on the upper left corner of the screen.
- Tap on Devices and select the doorbell you want to check on.
- Tap on Device Health and check the percentage of the battery.
- To charge a Ring doorbell, remove the security screws from the bottom of the device and lift it out of the bracket. Some models, like the Ring Video Doorbell 2, 3, and 3 Plus, have removable batteries. So, remove the front plate, press the tab on the battery and slide it out.
- Charge it using a USB charger connected to a wall outlet.
- Once the light on the ring is solid blue, it’s fully charged. If you are charging the removable battery, once the orange light disappears, it's fully charged.
- Replace the ring or the battery and screw in the security screws.
- Replace the ring on the mounting bracket outside and screw in the security screws.
- Test the doorbell and refresh the app by ringing it twice.
Inspecting the Connections
If your Ring doorbell is hardwired to your home’s electric circuit, it will be able to charge without needing to be removed.
However, if there is a fault in the wiring of your home or the connections, it will not charge. Here’s how you can troubleshoot this issue.
- First, you have to check if the circuit breakers in your home are turned off. They might’ve been tripped off by an electrical incident.
- Locate the mainboard in your house and check if the switch leading to the doorbell is turned on.
- Next, check if your transformer is supplying enough voltage to the doorbell for charging.
- Open the Ring app, under Device Health, check on Transformer Voltage.
- If the voltage supply is less than 16 V, you need to use a more powerful transformer. Also, if the wire from the transformer is too long, it can contribute to the low voltage. Try and reduce the wire’s length or get a more powerful transformer to make up for the lost voltage.
Hardwired Doorbell Charging Solutions
If you’ve checked your home’s electrical circuit and you didn’t find any fault, then the problem might be with the hardwiring installation.
Let’s look at how you can troubleshoot this issue.
- First, switch off the doorbell’s circuit breaker.
- Unscrew the Ring doorbell from its mounting bracket and disconnect the wires.
- Check the contacts and screws at the back of the ring. If they are dirty or rusty, clean them with a solvent.
- Plug in the Ring unit to a USB charger and let it charge while you inspect the wiring.
- Inspect the wires providing power to the ring. If they are rusted or frayed in any way, strip them and expose fresh new contacts.
- Once the Ring doorbell is fully charged, replace it on the wall. Make sure the screws connecting the wires to the ring are tightened properly.
- Turn the circuit breaker back on and test the unit to see if it's working and charging correctly.
Other Charging Solutions
If you are still having problems with charging your Ring doorbell, there are still several alternatives.
You can use these methods to charge your Ring device and stop the battery from draining quickly.
Solar Charging
Ring sells solar chargers for its second and third doorbells. These chargers provide a greener alternative for charging your doorbell.
The charger comes in a mounting bracket with solar panels around it. Once you successfully connect the Ring doorbell to the bracket, it will convert sunlight into electricity and keep it charged.
Reduce the Doorbell's Sensitivity
If your doorbell covers a large area and is very sensitive, its battery will drain quicker. This is because it will spend a lot of time operating and recording false positive events.
To avoid this, optimize your motion zone settings. Reduce your device's motion range and sensitivity to a more manageable level.
Use Better Wi-Fi
Constantly searching for a weak Wi-Fi signal is one of the big battery drainers for Ring doorbells. If the Wi-Fi signal reaching your Ring device is weak, either invest in a range extender or bring the router close to your doorbell.
The Verdict
Keeping your Ring doorbell charged ensures it has enough power available to perform its functions and keep your home safe. By checking hardware issues such as the battery and wiring, it will help eliminate any fundamental errors.
From there, you can check more manageable things such as Wi-Fi connections and power levels to fix your issue. By trying these solutions, you will soon get over your battery woes and no longer wonder why your Ring doorbell isn’t charging at all.