Can You Install Ring Doorbell Without Turning Off The Power?

Ring manufactures two doorbell models: Ring Doorbell and Ring Doorbell Pro. The main difference between the two is how they’re powered. Ring Doorbell has a battery and is not hard-wired. So you can install them without turning off the power. Ring Doorbell Pro is powered by a hard-wire and not a battery. So to install one you need to turn off the power first. You must turn off the doorbell’s power source at your home’s circuit breaker or fuse and test that the power is off before installing the device. Installing a Ring Doorbell Pro without turning off the power can be dangerous.

The Ring Video Doorbell Pro requires a doorbell transformer rated at 16-24 VAC 50/60HZ, 10-40VA max. A Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 needs slightly more power, requiring a doorbell transformer rated at 16-24 VAC 50/60HZ, 30-40VA max. This amount of power is considered low voltage, but it still could be dangerous to work on while powered.

Whenever you work on a live wire there’s always a risk of shock or damage to the device if you wire it incorrectly.

By turning off the power before installing a Ring Doorbell Pro, you eliminate the risk of shock and/or damage to the device.

Do You Turn Off Power Before Installing Ring Doorbell?

Ring Doorbell is a battery powered device that is not wired to the home’s electrical system, so you do not have to turn off the power in order to install it. However, Ring Doorbell Pro is hard-wired into your home’s electrical system, so the power must be turned off before you install it.

A Ring Doorbell comes with a battery pack that charges using a micro-USB cable. Typically the battery lasts between 6-12 month before needing a re-charge.

In contrast, a Ring Doorbell Pro does not need to be charged because it’s hard wired into your home’s electrical system. This is both a pro and a con. On the plus side, you never have to change or charge a battery. But when the power goes out you lose the Ring because it doesn’t have a battery backup.

To install a Ring Doorbell Pro, you need to first turn off the power. Then remove your old doorbell and wire the Ring Doorbell Pro in its place using the same wiring. Installation is something most people can do by themselves.

If you don’t have an existing doorbell I’d call an electrician because you’ll need new wiring.

You don’t have to turn off power to the entire house to install a Ring Doorbell Pro. Just shut off the doorbell circuit or fuse.

Can You Use A Ring Doorbell Without Power?

Some Ring Doorbell models will work without power and some won’t. The regular Ring Doorbell will work without power because it runs off a re-chargeable battery and is not hard-wired. A Ring Doorbell Pro does does not have a battery of any kind. Rather, it’s hard wired into your home’s electrical system. So if the power goes out it will not function.

Something to keep in mind is that all Ring Doorbell models require both an internet connection and WiFi. So even if you’ battery powered Ring Doorbell works without power, if your internet and WiFi are down you won’t be able to access it. If this happens you should setup a mobile hotspot with your smartphone. A hotspot turns your cell signal into WiFi which allows you to connect with the Ring when you lose power.

Will My Ring Doorbell Work Without A Battery?

A standard Ring Doorbell is powered by a re-chargeable battery. Without a battery your doorbell will not function because it’s not hard-wired or plugged into an outlet. A Ring Doorbell Pro is hard-wired into your home’s electrical system and does not have a battery. So it will work fine without a battery but still requires power from the house.

A Ring Doorbell battery takes about 5 – 10 hours to fully charge and the battery typically lasts about six to 12 months. Once the battery is dead, the device will stop working. You can either switch it for a charged battery or re-charge the existing one with a micro-USB cable.

It’s a good idea to keep a spare battery charged and available for when the primary goes dead. There’s no way to power a Ring Doorbell without a battery by hard-wiring or plugging it in while the battery charges. Until you re-charge and replace the battery, your Ring won’t function.