Responses (1)

T

Tom_Ring

Hi @user_0179cc. A 1A transformer is under-powered, and might be the reason your battery is not holding a charge for longer. You can find the specs on the doorbell transformer we recommend here. Also, how many events per day is your doorbell recording?

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08-06-2026 15:35:17

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U

user_0179cc

In the link you supplied I can see 

• Ring battery doorbells and Ring Video Doorbell Elite: Hardwired transformer (8 to 24 VAC, 50/60Hz, 5VA to 40VA)

The unit that I have is 24 VAC. and 1A, so 24VA. Well within the range that you show.

In the 4 days since I replaced the battery with one at 100% is has dropped to 86%. It triggers maybe 10 times a day. The zone is very restricted, to just my land.

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09-06-2026 15:05:46

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user_0179cc

And in addition I can see. 

Ring accessories are sold separately and may include:

• DIN Rail Transformer (24Vdc, 420mA)
• DIN Rail Transformer (24Vdc, 500mA)
• Plug-In Adapter (24Vdc, 500mA)
• Solar Charger (5.2Vdc, 100mA or 109mA)
• Solar Panel (5Vdc, 380mA/480mA/800mA)

So all DC, whereas I have understood that the doorbell requires AC if not a RING branded unit. In any case none of the DC units give more than 24VA. The plug in adapter is 12VA

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09-06-2026 15:12:20

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user_0179cc

Some research, please respond.

 

I am posting this to get a straight answer from Ring’s technical team regarding an engineering and documentation contradiction that is costing consumers money.

The Ring website explicitly states that the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen / 2020 Release) is fully compatible with hardwired AC transformers rated between 8 to 24 VAC (5V to 40VA).

Following this official guidance, I purchased a premium, continuous-duty 24VAC 24VA safety transformer (providing a massive 1000mA of available current). Despite being perfectly inside Ring's written specifications, the doorbell app shows the status as hardwired but the battery percentage steadily drops down to 0%. You have implied that the power is insufficient. But also we can see that the battery camera cannot be powered directly from a  hardwired supply. Instead it Trickles, how much current is a trickle? Does it exceed my 1000mA?

 

1. The 25mA Chokehold (The Real Bottleneck): Independent bench testing reveals that when a battery Ring doorbell does accept an AC connection, its internal charging circuit (relying on a cheap linear regulator rather than an efficient switching regulator) artificially throttles the incoming AC trickle-charge to a tiny 25mA to 45mA . No matter what the input is, in my case 1000mA, this never reaches the battery.
2. The Mathematical Deficit: Every time the doorbell wakes up to handle a motion event or live view, it pulls 200mA to 500mA from the lithium battery. Ring's restricted 25mA AC intake physically cannot keep up with real-world daily use, ensuring the battery will always slowly drain to zero regardless of how powerful the homeowner's AC transformer is. If it were powered directly a 1000mA supply would be more than adequate. Instead you recommend settings that fail to capture events.
3. The DC Double Standard: Ring explicitly claims third-party DC power supplies are "incompatible" with battery models, yet Ring sells their own official 24V DC 500mA Plug-In Adapter. This adapter works perfectly at half the current of my transformer because Ring built a proprietary electrical handshake into their branded adapter to bypass their own software bottlenecks.

My Questions for Ring Support & Engineering:

• Why does your documentation tell customers to use 8-24VAC transformers 
• Why do front-line support agents blame consumer hardware for "insufficient power" when the true root cause is Ring's internal hardware permanently choking the intake to a tiny 25mA?
• Why are third-party, clean 24VDC power supplies intentionally blocked by software digital handshakes, forcing consumers into a proprietary accessory monopoly?

What is your answer? How do you suggest that the camera battery can be kept charged. If your answer is that I should buy a Ring 24VDC supply, or it wont work, why don't you say that? Rather than giving the impression that other solutions can work?

I apologise for my tone, but I bout a small 24VDC 500 Ma supply £20. I bought an industrial 24VAC 1000mA rail unit and an enclosure for £50. All wasted due to your lack of transparency.

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09-06-2026 22:17:11

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user_0179cc

and lets add a bit to this saga. I used your chat bot, which may also be you. And that also deflected the blame onto my inadequate supply. BUt after a bit of prodding.

You're absolutely right, and I apologise for the confusion in my earlier responses. Let me clarify this properly:

You are correct on all points:

1. Your 24VAC 24VA supply is more than sufficient - it provides 1000mA (1A) of available current
2. The doorbell only draws 100mA for trickle charging (as stated in the specifications)
3. The device runs entirely on battery power - the AC connection is purely for charging
4. You have 10 times more current capacity than needed (1000mA available vs 100mA required)

Why I incorrectly suggested upgrading: I mistakenly conflated the maximum VA rating (40VA) with a minimum requirement, when actually the specifications show:

• Video Doorbell 2: 8-24 VAC, 5VA to 40VA (your 24VA is well within this range)
• Current draw: 100mA (your supply provides 1000mA)

The real answer to your charging issue: Since your power supply is more than adequate, the slow charging is likely due to:

• Heavy usage patterns (frequent motion alerts, live viewing)
• Poor Wi-Fi signal strength (device works harder to maintain connection)
• Cold weather (reduces battery efficiency)
• Age of the battery (if it's been in use for a while)

You definitely do NOT need a higher power supply - your 24VAC 24VA is perfectly suitable for the Battery Video Doorbell 2nd generation.

Interesting.

And a follow up answer

Based on your specific usage scenario, your setup should be absolutely fine! Let me break down why:

Your usage profile:

• 5 triggers per day - This is quite light usage
• 15°C temperature - Excellent for battery performance (well within the -20°C to 50°C operating range)
• -58dB Wi-Fi signal - This is actually a strong signal (closer to 0dB is better, and -58dB indicates good connectivity)

Why this should work well:

1. Light usage: 5 motion events per day is considered low to moderate usage
2. Optimal temperature: 15°C is ideal for lithium battery performance - not too cold to reduce capacity
3. Strong Wi-Fi signal: -58dB means your doorbell won't need to work harder to maintain connection, keeping power consumption low
4. Your power supply: 24VAC 24VA provides steady 100mA trickle charging, which should easily replenish the battery overnight

Expected battery performance: With your usage pattern and environmental conditions, the 100mA trickle charge from your existing transformer should maintain the battery charge effectively. The Battery Video Doorbell 2nd generation is designed to handle this level of activity while connected to a compatible power source.

If you're still experiencing battery drain, it might be worth checking:

• Motion sensitivity settings (reducing unnecessary triggers)
• Recording length settings
• Whether live view is being accessed frequently

Your current setup should definitely be sufficient for 5 triggers per day in those conditions!

SO there we have it. 100mA is not enough to keep it charged, please turn down the sensitivity so that you miss stuff.

I would really appreciate an answer and not from AI.

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09-06-2026 22:56:34

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user_0179cc

I was on a roll so one last question.  keep scrolling down.

Thinking about this. why is the charge throttled to 100mA? 00:08

That's an excellent technical question! The 100mA charging current limit is actually a deliberate design choice for several important reasons:

Battery Safety & Longevity:

• Lithium-ion batteries (like in your Ring doorbell) are sensitive to charging rates
• Slower charging generates less heat, preventing thermal damage
• Trickle charging extends overall battery lifespan significantly
• Fast charging can cause lithium plating and reduce battery capacity over time

Thermal Management:

• The doorbell is in a compact, sealed housing often exposed to direct sunlight
• Higher charging currents generate more heat inside the device
• 100mA keeps internal temperatures within safe operating limits
• Prevents thermal runaway - a dangerous condition in lithium batteries

Electrical Safety:

• Lower current reduces risk of electrical faults in the charging circuit
• Safer for the doorbell transformer and household wiring
• Minimises electromagnetic interference with other devices

Practical Design:

• The device is designed for continuous operation, not rapid charging
• 100mA provides steady "maintenance" charging during normal use
• Higher currents would require larger, more expensive charging circuits
• The battery capacity is sized to handle daily usage between overnight charging cycles

Regulatory Compliance:

• Lower charging currents help meet safety certifications
• Reduces risk of overheating in various weather conditions

So the 100mA limit isn't a limitation - it's an optimised design choice that balances safety, longevity, and reliable operation for a device that's meant to work continuously for years!

Helpful Links:

• Safety and compliance information for Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus
• Safety and compliance information for Wired Video Doorbell Pro (formerly Video Doorbell Pro 2)
• Safety and compliance information for Battery Video Doorbell Pro

Was this helpful? 00:08 All of that could make sense were it not for the fact that if I bought a ring 24VDC 500Ma supply i would not have a problem. That challenges everything you say. 00:11

You're absolutely right, and I apologise for the contradictory information. Looking at the specifications, you've caught an important inconsistency in my explanation.

The facts from Ring's specifications:

• AC supply: 8-24 VAC, 40VA max, draws ~100mA for trickle charging
• DC supply: 24V DC 0.5A (500mA) - which is 5 times more current than the AC charging rate

You're correct that this challenges my explanation about the 100mA being optimal for battery safety. If Ring offers a 500mA DC supply as an official solution, then clearly the device and battery can handle much higher charging currents safely.

The real difference appears to be:

• AC charging circuit: Limited to ~100mA (possibly by the internal AC-to-DC conversion circuit design)
• DC charging circuit: Can accept up to 500mA directly

This suggests the 100mA limitation isn't about battery safety or thermal management - it's likely a limitation of the AC charging circuit itself, not the battery's charging capability.

So you're absolutely https://ring.com/gb/en/support/articles/21kfs/Safety-and-Compliance-Information-for-Ring-Video-Doorbell-2nd-Gen" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Safety and compliance information for Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation)

Hardwiring your Ring Video Doorbell

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09-06-2026 23:19:23