Can You Install Ring Doorbell Without Turning Off The Power?

When you install a hard wired Ring Doorbell model, such as the Ring Doorbell Pro, you should always turn off the power. Doorbell wires are low voltage, but crossing electrical wires could cause a spark, blow a fuse, or damage the transistor. When installing a battery powered Ring Doorbell, you do not have to turn off the power.

Power should be turned off at your home’s circuit breaker or fuse box.

Make sure the power is off with a multimeter 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.

Doorbell wiring is very weak, so there isn’t much risk associated with working on it. But whenever you work on a live wire there’s always a small risk of shock or damage to the device if you wire it incorrectly. So I recommend turning off the circuit to be safe.

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

Do You Turn Off Power Before Installing Ring Doorbell?

Some Ring Doorbell models are battery-powered devices that are not wired to the home’s electrical system, so you don’t 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.

For a list of the best video doorbells without WiFi, click the link. Video doorbells without WiFi are hard-wired into the home’s electrical system and require an Ethernet cable. This means you have to turn off the power to install them.

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

In contrast, a Ring Doorbell Pro does not need to be charged because it’s hard-wired into your home’s electrical wiring 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 Ring Doorbell Pro, you need to turn off power to the circuit. Then, remove your old doorbell and wire the Ring Doorbell Pro in its place using the existing doorbell wiring.

You don’t have to turn off the main breaker to install a Ring Doorbell Pro. Just shut off the doorbell’s circuit or fuse.

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.

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 rechargeable battery and is not hard-wired.

A Ring Doorbell Pro 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 to communicate with your smart device via the Ring app.

So even if your battery-powered Ring Doorbell technically still works during a power outage, if your internet and WiFi are down, you won’t be able to access it unless you use a mobile hotspot.

This means that when someone approaches the door or presses your doorbell button, you won’t receive a notification, and the chime won’t make noise.

If you lose power, you should set up a mobile hotspot with your smartphone so you can still use your Ring. A hotspot turns your cell signal into WiFi, which allows you to connect with the Ring when you lose power.

In addition to power issues, you also have to install your Ring at the correct height. To find out how high to install Ring Doorbell, click the link.

Will My Ring Doorbell Work Without A Battery?

A rechargeable battery powers a standard Ring Doorbell. Without a battery, your doorbell will not function because it’s not hard-wired or plugged into an outlet.

A Ring 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 charge fully, 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.

In addition to power concerns, you should also consider the security of your Ring device. To find out if your Ring Doorbell is secure, click the link.

Are Ring Doorbell Wires Dangerous?

Ring Doorbell wires are low-voltage wiring, so there’s almost no danger of being shocked while working on the doorbell or chimes. However, crossing the wires can still cause a short that could damage the transformer or trip a breaker.

Ring Doorbell repair and installation is a good DIY project for homeowners who don’t normally do electrical work. However, basic safety precautions should still be taken.

I always turn off power to my Ring devices before working on them or doing an installation.

After the wires are connected, I cover them with a small wire nut and some electrical tape. The tape further insulates the connection and prevents the nut from coming off the wires.

Can I Install a Ring Doorbell With The Power On?

If your Ring Doorbell is battery-powered, you can install it with the power on. However, if you have a hard-wired model, you should turn off power to the circuit that supplies power before installing it.

There’s no need to flip the main breaker to your entire house; rather, turn off only the doorbell’s circuit.

Ring uses low voltage wiring just like a traditional doorbell, so the power is very low.

However, there’s always some amount of risk when working on live wires, so I always turn the circuit off.

Summary: 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 Doorbells with a battery are not hard-wired into the home’s electrical system, so you can install them without turning off the power.
• Ring Doorbell Pro models are hard-wired, so you should turn off power before installing them.

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.

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.

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.

If you have any questions about installing a Ring Doorbell, email any time.