Ring smart doorbells are very popular. Some models work with a battery or with wiring.
We often ask whether it is possible to connect a Ring doorbell to an existing doorbell. A good question, because if this is possible, you can replace your old Doorbell and you don’t have to worry about new connections. Connecting a ring doorbell to an existing bell or gong is certainly possible, but you have to take into account a number of things.
In short: You can connect a Ring doorbell to an existing doorbell and chime. However, you may need a doorbell transformer because a smart doorbell requires a higher voltage. The easiest way is to choose a Ring Doorbell Pro with a Plugin adapter. With this, you can connect it to the socket and neatly hide the old wiring.
Which Ring doorbell do you want to install?
The Ring has different types of doorbells, and some doorbells work slightly differently. For example, some doorbells work with a battery or with wiring. Both require a different installation, so it is important to know which Doorbell you want to install and how it works. View the different doorbells from Ring here:
Recently there has been a Ring Doorbell Pro with a Plugin adapter. This new Pro doorbell works with an adapter that you plug into the socket, making installation completely simple. All you have to do is neatly hide the cord from the adapter to your front door. The advantage of this Pro version is that the installation is really simple, and you don’t have to worry about an empty battery.
Ring doorbells with battery:
Ring doorbells that work with a battery are very popular also because they are easy to install. You can easily attach a doorbell with a battery to your door frame without drilling for the wiring. The disadvantage is that you have to charge the battery every now and then, and the Doorbell may be out for a while. You can easily solve this by purchasing an extra Ring battery. Below you will find all Ring doorbells that are equipped with a battery:
- Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2
- Ring Video Door Bell 3
- Ring Video Door Bell 4
Wired doorbells from Ring (also with plug)
Ring doorbell also has a selection of doorbells that can be wired. This can be wired via the bell transformer in your meter cupboard or a Plugin adapter. Installing a wired doorbell is more difficult but easy. For example, suppose you want to install the Ring doorbell on an existing doorbell. Holes are already drilled, and the wiring is probably already there!
You have to consider that a smart doorbell requires more energy than a “regular” doorbell. Therefore, check in advance in the meter cupboard whether the wiring of the Doorbell is connected to the correct bell transformer, which ensures that strong current is converted to weak current. The Ring doorbells below can be connected wired, so you don’t have to be upset about an empty battery with these models.
- Ring Video Doorbell Wired
- Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 Wired
The smart doorbells that work with a battery are the easiest to install. You only have to remove the existing Doorbell and possibly fix up the place where the Doorbell used to be. This is often unnecessary because the Ring doorbell is much larger than a standard doorbell and falls over the existing hole.
If you want to install a wired ring doorbell, that is a bit more difficult, and you have to consider some points. Below we tell you what you should consider when connecting a Ring doorbell to an existing doorbell.
What kind of existing Doorbell do you currently have?
To estimate your situation, you must look at what kind of existing Doorbell you have now. For example, do you have an old doorbell connected to the mains or a doorbell that works with a battery?
Is the Doorbell connected to mains power?
Do you have a mains-powered doorbell? Then you will notice when you remove the Doorbell from the door frame that power wires remain, you can use this power wire to connect the Ring doorbell. This is also the easiest situation when you install a Ring doorbell with wiring.
Is the Doorbell with a battery or accumulator?
Is your existing Doorbell equipped with a battery or accumulator? Then it is important that you first remove the Doorbell and see what exactly is behind the Doorbell; we often see with battery doorbells that there is already a hole behind it and even electrical wiring. In any case, this saves you drilling and wiring.
If this is not the case, you must first make a hole, lay the wiring and neatly hide it. Make sure that you drill the hole between 90 cm and 120 cm from the ground, as these are the sizes of a standard doorbell.
A smart doorbell needs power: bell transformer
Another important part of installing a wired Ring doorbell is the voltage. Always check before installing how much voltage your current doorbell transformer supplies because a smart doorbell needs more power than a regular doorbell; the Ring doorbell may need more power.
Therefore, check carefully how much voltage your current bell transformer supplies. For example, you need a transformer with a voltage of approximately 24 volts for a smart doorbell. These are often supplied with smart doorbells. If this is not the case, you can use this bell transformer, for example.
Please note: we recommend installing the belt transformer by an electrician or specialist. To install the bell transformer, you work with high voltage, which can be dangerous. View domotics installers here who can solve this for you.
Then the Ring doorbell installation can begin!
When the bell transformer has been installed, and the wiring has been extended, the real work can begin! Below we have made a simple step-by-step plan on how to install the Doorbell, and you will also find a handy installation video from Ring itself.
- Turn off the power connected to the wires to the Doorbell.
- Connect the power wires to the Ring Doorbell pro
- Place the front of the Ring doorbell at the correct height (90-120 cm from the ground).
- Make sure the front hangs straight, and mark the drill holes with a pencil.
- Pre-drill the holes and put the supplied plugs in the holes.
- Screw the front to the door.
- Turn the power back on and wait for the Ring doorbell to start talking to you.
- Continue installing the Doorbell in the app.
Watch the video of the Ring itself below. In the video, they show you how to install the Ring doorbell Pro.
