Hi all, I recently bought & fitted a doorbell camera. All seems good & it works better than expected as it's located about 35 mtr's from my front door. My problem is that the rechargeable batteries only last a week & not the 2 or 3 months I was expecting. This is prob because they are only cheapies bought online but I'm now inclined to hardwire the thing to bypass this issue altogether.  My question therefore, is it ok to simply use an old spare plug-in 9v adaptor for the job? (The dooorbell spec states 8/24 v) external power required, or should I buy a purpose made transformer?.  Oh, & pls no smart ars remarks like 'why not google it' etc. as I've serched the web for ages & haven't found a simple answer so far. 

 

What current (mA) does the camera require?

 

What current (mA) is the adaptor capable of?

 

If adaptor is greater than camera then all should be good.

Hi Crossy, (now here's a name that I know & trust over the years), thx for the quick reply...I should explain that whilst I'm ok to fit plugs & extension outlets etc. I'm certainly not a competant electrician but I know enough to give the subject extreme respect :-)...Here's a couple of pic'e that should answer your question...

Power supply 9V 850mA (0.85A) - Camera 170mA working current.

 

Should be just fine ???? 

 

41 minutes ago, rayinkrabi said:

(The dooorbell spec states 8/24 v) external power required

8/24 Volt   ?????

12 minutes ago, johng said:

8/24 Volt   ?????

 

12 minutes ago, johng said:

8/24 Volt   ?????

_{My guess is it's saying anything between 8 & 24 volt output is ok...Why do you ask?}

16 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Power supply 9V 850mA (0.85A) - Camera 170mA working current.

 

Should be just fine ???? 

 

Thanks Crossy, thats exactly what I was thinking. Thx again for quick & clear answer. Cheers, Ray.

18 minutes ago, johng said:

8/24 Volt   ?????

 

8V to 24V evidently internally regulated.

4 minutes ago, rayinkrabi said:

 

_{My guess is it's saying anything between 8 & 24 volt output is ok...Why do you ask?}

Well it gets  more confusing   now  AC  from 8 to 24Volts  

(AC maybe a misprint in the user manual ? )

the transformer you posted details of says its a DC transformer..

USB supplies 5Volts DC     Battery is DC too.

 

 

Yep, I agree Crossy, I've read & learnt a lot today about adaptors & transformers.  I've got lots of tech 'spares' here including many old heavy adaptor transformers that weigh a ton & not safe (imo) to plug in due to the 'loose fit' of the pins.  They certainly have come on a great deal over the years, so I'm going to use the one that came with my TP Link router.

Yes Johng, thats just one of the things I origionally questioned but I now gather they convert it from ac to dc. Aint technology grand ????

29 minutes ago, johng said:

Well it gets  more confusing   now  AC  from 8 to 24Volts

 

It may well have an internal rectifier, it will work just fine on DC.

 

@rayinkrabi does the camera power connector have a polarity (+ -) indication?

 

11 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

It may well have an internal rectifier, it will work just fine on DC.

 

@rayinkrabi does the camera power connector have a polarity (+ -) indication?

 

No but I read on-line that it doesn't matter which way it's wired (?)

1 minute ago, rayinkrabi said:

No but I read on-line that it doesn't matter which way it's wired (?)

 

It's probably intended to work from a doorbell transformer which are AC out, DC will be fine either way round.

Sorry Crossy but now I'm a bit confused re your sentence 'DC will be fine either way round.'  Yes, I've read that it can be used with an existing doorbell transformer (which I don't have ), isn't the power socket I'll plug the adaptor into AC out & the adaptor then converts the current to DC to power the bell? .  Although it clearly states 'AC' on the doorbell backplate, plus 'M5 (whatever that is) so maybe the bell itself converts the current & not the adaptor?.

7 minutes ago, rayinkrabi said:

Sorry Crossy but now I'm a bit confused re your sentence 'DC will be fine either way round.'  Yes, I've read that it can be used with an existing doorbell transformer (which I don't have ), isn't the power socket I'll plug the adaptor into AC out & the adaptor then converts the current to DC to power the bell? . 

 

A doorbell transformer is just a transformer (about 12V AC out) without the salad dressing needed to create the DC. Don't worry about it, hook up your power supply either way round and it should be good.

No problem keeping the doorbell on 27/7 power, but maybe you should check the settings.  Sounds like the motion detect is constantly being triggered, therefore, it's constant filming and using battery power. 

 

If it has an SD card to store the footage, this will kill the SD card quite quickly as it's "looping" a lot.

 

Motion detect should be set for anything approaching your front door, or maybe anything in your yard, but not for every car that drives past.