Ring Pro cabling
Author
Discussion

FrankWebby

Original Poster:

18 posts

94 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
Afternoon all

I'm about to install a new Ring Pro doorbell. I currently have a crappy wireless one which I'm sick of, so it's time to do something a little more sustainable.

But as I have no wiring, I'm going to use a plug-in transformer (like this one - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P4N3H1F/ref=cm_sw_e...

The challenge I face is that wall socket I want to use is about 15m from where the doorbell will go, so I'm a little wary of voltage drop if I use bog standard 0.5mm bell wire.

So my thought is to take the transformer apart, replace the supplied cable with some 4 core alarm wire, and then run that to the bellpush. Presumably I can double up the wires so that there are two on each connection?

Or does that sound mental?

NorthDave

2,541 posts

263 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
FrankWebby said:
Afternoon all

I'm about to install a new Ring Pro doorbell. I currently have a crappy wireless one which I'm sick of, so it's time to do something a little more sustainable.

But as I have no wiring, I'm going to use a plug-in transformer (like this one - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P4N3H1F/ref=cm_sw_e...

The challenge I face is that wall socket I want to use is about 15m from where the doorbell will go, so I'm a little wary of voltage drop if I use bog standard 0.5mm bell wire.

So my thought is to take the transformer apart, replace the supplied cable with some 4 core alarm wire, and then run that to the bellpush. Presumably I can double up the wires so that there are two on each connection?

Or does that sound mental?
I wouldn't be overly worried about voltage drop. I would just buy an extension lead - either for the mains side or the low voltage side. This will give you less issues than adapting the power supply.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SpyCameraCCTV-Extension-F...

Mr Pointy

13,429 posts

190 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
The voltage drop will depend on the current being supplied & if the Nest doesn't take much current you may not have an issue.

I'd try it first before changing the cable as you may be lucky. If you do have an issue I'd look at 2 core 0.75mm like this:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/nexans-oval-flexible-ca...

The alarm cable CSA may not be any bigger even doubled up. Sleeve the cores though so someone doesn't think you are running mains to the Nest.

FrankWebby

Original Poster:

18 posts

94 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
Just to clarify, I've spoken to Ring at length on this point. Their own plugged transformer (https://en-uk.ring.com/products/plug-in-adapter-for-ring-video-doorbell-pro) outputs 24v at 20VAC. The requirements are listed here:

https://support.ring.com/hc/en-gb/articles/1150001...

Mr Pointy

13,429 posts

190 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
FrankWebby said:
Just to clarify, I've spoken to Ring at length on this point. Their own plugged transformer (https://en-uk.ring.com/products/plug-in-adapter-for-ring-video-doorbell-pro) outputs 24v at 20VAC. The requirements are listed here:

https://support.ring.com/hc/en-gb/articles/1150001...
From that information it seems it needs about 20VA at 16v, or 1.25A.
The 0.75mm Nexans cable has a resistance of 26 ohms per 1000m. Resistance for a 15m run is (26/1000)*15*2 (times two to account for both legs). That comes to 0.78 Ohms.

The voltage drop V=I*R = 1.25*((26/1000)*15*2) = 0.975v
So you should get 24-0.975 = 23v at your device. Should be plenty. May be too much?

(Stands back for someone to point out a maths error)

megaphone

11,709 posts

282 months

Saturday 31st August 2019
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Why not just test it with 15m of cable beforehand? If it works you're good to go.

SaTTaN

286 posts

278 months

Friday 20th September 2019
quotequote all
I wired mine in with a very similar transformer that came with 8m of cable, no issues and my Ring reports fine voltage.

I actually cheated as I was too lazy to unwire the existing traditional door bell so I just spliced the transformer cable on to the existing traditional doorbell wire so it's probably 10m or so.

Ring doorbell shows 'good' voltage at 4020 mV

Edited by SaTTaN on Friday 20th September 09:06

h0b0

9,093 posts

227 months

Friday 20th September 2019
quotequote all
mine is run from the basement to where the original door bell chime was meant to be and then back to the ring pro. I had to do it this way because the builder was going to put a traditional door bell in but did not do so. He simply looped the wire and came back down. No issues at all running with bell wire.

The App tells you if the voltage is good in the health section.

Cpl nobby nobbs

390 posts

168 months

Friday 20th September 2019
quotequote all
I got the ring pro kit that has a transformer with it. I then got this wire

https://www.screwfix.com/p/byron-7200-doorbell-wir...

Used all 9m of it to thetransformer in the garage. My ring reports good voltage 4050mv.
I have never metered the voltage at the door bell but the Ring transformer puts out 30v.

Been 6 months now and no problems at all.

Quite impressed when I could answer the door from Schipol Airport and tell the Amazon driver to put my package in the back garden. He could here me perfectly and I could here and see him.

I do have a good mesh wifi system it reports an RSSI of 52 so has a good connection that is really important for it to work well.