There’s a good chance your home’s old transformer is to blame.
Here’s what you should probably know (and what to do about the problem).
What’s a Doorbell Transformer?
A doorbell transformer is a key in of electrical transformer called a step-down transformer.
Why Does Upgrading Your Transformer Fix Video Doorbell Problems?
Video doorbells, however, change the equation.
This HD video doorbell detects who is at your door and notifies you, plus it has built-in Alexa Greetings.
Why does it matter?
Sometimes even upgrading from one video doorbell to another can reveal the problem.
I swapped out the original doorbell in my home with a Nest Hello years ago and had no issues.
Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek
The older Ring models only required 16V 10VA, but the newer models require 16V 30A.
Here are some common problems that indicate your transformer is underpowered.
How Do You Upgrade Your Doorbell Transformer?
For the majority of people, a 16V 30VA doorbell transformer is the right choice to upgrade an old doorbell transformer to support the increased power demands of modern video doorbells.
Death and property damage can result from improper handling or installation of a doorbell transformer.
Identify Your Current Hardware and Video Doorbell Requirements
First, you have a little sleuthing to do.
Locate your doorbell transformer.
If you have an older home, it’s a crap shoot.
When you locate it, check the label.
Typically the voltage and VA rating of the transformer is stamped right into the metal.
Most doorbell transformers have two contact points.
In addition to locating your doorbell transformer, go to your chime assembly and look for a label.
What we’re looking for is the recommended voltage.
My home has a very old-fashioned brass-tube mechanical chime.
The chime is rated for 16V.
So in my case, I had a 16V 10VA transformer.
Thankfully 16V 30VA doorbell transformers are abundant and cheap.
Once you’ve done so, it’s a simple swap job.
see to it to use a piece of masking tape to label the low-voltage wires going to the transformer.
A doorbell transformer has two low-voltage contact points.
Then attach the doorbell wires to the terminals.
Separate the wires and energize the system by flipping the circuit breaker or whole house breaker.
Multimeters are cheap, but video doorbells are not.
And that’s all there is to it!
If you’re comfortable wiring an outlet, wiring up a new transformer is no big deal.
