Question

Hi, I got my Ring Doorbell 2 late 2017 and was using it until recently only with battery. Now I invested some money, got a electrician and hard wired to power. Unfortunately, it does not work. The app shows that the doorbell is powered by the wire, but battery is still draining about 10% per day. The same situation as I had before without the power cable. I opened a case with Ring, they called today just to say me that they can see that my Ring Doorbell 2 is broken and they can’t do anything because I’m out of warranty. They offered a 30% discount voucher for a new purchase. I have to admit that I’m quite unhappy with that situation. I know I’m out of warranty and do not have a „right“ for a replacement. But I would expect a Ring Doorbell 2 to last longer than 2, 5 years. I’m wondering why the issue occurs just month after warranty ended. If I remember right, there are quite some users having problems with wired charging. Sounds more like a general Ring issue than personal bad luck. Do you guys have the same experience or is it really just personal bad luck?  

Answer 1

Can you “unwire” it? My brother who is super handy said he had nothing but issues with his 2 when wired. Switched back to just battery and it works great.  

Comments

@antidisestablishmen sure, I could unwire it. But that wouldn’t solve the issue I have with the battery drain. Since some software update in the past, battery drain is around 10% per day for me (on both batteries I own). So I’m not able to keep the Ring Doorbell alive while on summer vacation for example. That was the reason for the power wires.  

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@alberta498 Was it draining that fast before you wired it?  

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@antidisestablishmen Yes, it was. Maybe not always 10%, but it wasn’t able to achieve 3 weeks on one battery. When it got the ring, battery was lasting far more than one month. But sometimes in the last after one of the updates, battery draining was rising extremely. Maybe HD recording or something like this.  

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@antidisestablishmen Doorbell Pro

Answer 2

I would try a new battery @ $30 before replacing the whole doorbell

Comments

@kutaisi29 I have two batteries. One is only half es old as the other one. Both have the same behavior. So I don’t think a third battery will change the situation.  

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@alberta498 True.  

Answer 3

I don't have a RDB2. Can you run it without the battery if it's wired?  

Comments

@fairtrade don’t need a battery when your hardwired.  

Answer 4

I would just get a second battery and stay on battery power. I’m surprised Ring didn’t just send you a replacement and have you send your old Doorbell 2 back to them so their R&D can examine what failed.  

Comments

@lexis As said, even with swapping Batteries I can’t go on a summer vacation without organizing someone who changes my Batterie in the meantime. That’s not 2020  

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@alberta498 that’s a good point

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Maybe ask ring to upgrade you to a Doorbell Pro or you might switch to a Nest  

Answer 5

After 2. 5 years I'm not surprised. These gadgets go through a lot of weather. This is where the $10/mo plan for everything really shines. Extended warranty.  

Comments

@colbert I have the 1 device Plan without the extended warranty. Honestly, I don’t think 3 years is an acceptable lifetime for such a device. My Ring is unter a roof, no rain contact. Of course Temperatur chance. But no extreme weather.  

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@alberta498 Well that's kinda the way it goes sometimes. Some last a year or less, some last a couple years, some may last 10 years. You may feel it is unacceptable, but I don't think 3 years is unreasonable.  

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@colbert You are right. But I had the impression that the customer service was far better when Ring was smaller and not a Amazon company. Jennifer had a solution for everything. The way the “telephone supporter” tried to convince me that the 30% discount is such a great thing for me and proves that Ring really cares about me was total marketing bullshit.  

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@alberta498 I'm curious. What other consumer electronics company offers 30% off a new device if yours breaks after warranty? There are a few I'm sure but not that many.  

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@colbert Don’t get me wrong. I don’t try to put Ring as a product in a bad light. I liked the doorbell and still do, even recommended to friends. That’s the reason I’m so sad that it brakes. But the 30% is the normal saving amazon has every 2-3 month on the Ring and I can find the almost the same price right now in other online stores. So not the “special super offer for our lovely customer” as what they tried to sell the voucher to me. Edit: To be fair: I miscalculated. The current online prices is not 30%, only 20%. So the voucher is still better.  

Answer 6

Check the transformer

Comments

@prestige I did. Nothing wrong with it. It powers other device without issues. And the info, that the Ring is damaged, is an info from the Ring support directly.  

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@alberta498 does it gives you enough voltage, wattage and amps

Answer 7

Unplug the power source. Then remove the battery. Put battery back in. Then power source. Wait a min. Press doorbell. Mine would not recognise my hardwire kit until I had done that.  

Comments

@aroid10 The App shows that is is hard wired. Did your app show this as well before you did the trick?  

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@alberta498 Showed battery at first. Then hardwired afterwards.  

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@aroid10 My is already showing hard wired. But still battery drain.  

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@alberta498 start with a battery at 100%

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@aroid10 I did several times.  

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@alberta498 Take the db off the wall check the two screws on the back that the wires are firmly connected. It does not matter which way they go. Maybe re bare them and get a good solid connection.  

Answer 8

Hi @alberta498, I would appreciate the chance to take a look at this with you and hear more about your experience. If you can send me a direct message that would be great, thank you!  

Comments

@platinous Done  

Answer 9

Hi, just to give an update: Had a very friendly contact to Ring and finally I got a replacement which was delivered yesterday. Over the first night, the battery power increased by 2%. So no battery drain anymore and everything works as it should be. Very happy