How To Test Doorbell Voltage or Doorbell Transformer Voltage

Value Multimeter: amzn.to/2NX6hzF
Favorite Smart Home Devices: www.amazon.com/shop/onehoursm...
In this video we show you how to test your doorbell voltage. If you are planning on upgrading your doorbell to a smart doorbell it's a good idea to test your doorbell or doorbell transformer voltage so that you know if your new smart doorbell will work with the existing voltage your doorbell transformer and wiring provide.
To measure your doorbell voltage or doorbell transformer voltage you will need to remove your existing doorbell with the power still on and use a multimeter to measure the doorbell voltage at the doorbell. By setting the multimeter to the correct setting and measuring the doorbell voltage with a multimeter probe on each side of the doorbell you will be able to determine how much voltage your existing doorbell transformer produces.
Most smart doorbells require more than 10 volts of AC power but many will require at least 14-16V of AC power. Some doorbells require less than 10V and some even require up to 24V of AC power. Below we've listed several options for smart doorbells with less than 12V of power.
Ring Wired Doorbell Voltage Requirement (10V) : amzn.to/2P9xnUK
Ring Doorbell Voltage Requirement (8V) : amzn.to/3tPreMa
Ring Doorbell 3 Voltage Requirement (8V) : amzn.to/3rqMWV8
Ring Doorbell 3 + Voltage Requirement (8V) : amzn.to/3lS5bSi
Doorbells That Require More Than 12V of Power:
Nest Hello Doorbell Voltage Requirement (16V)
Ring Pro Doorbell (16V)
Ring Pro 2 Doorbell (16V)
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[@ryangrant5879]

Not all hero’s wear capes. Some show you how to test voltage for a smart doorbell. Thank you!

[@OneHourSmartHome]

Thank You! I had a good chuckle reading this. Glad to help!

[@buz5678]

I got zero volts till I saw your video... I was on DC!!! Switched to AC and got 13.2VAC! THANK YOU!!!

[@umarakhtar]

love your non-bs and to-the-point videos. thanks

[@WenisTRON]

This was great, very concise and explaining exactly what is needed.

[@patricknelson]

Awesome, gave me the confidence on how to interpret all these numbers. Thanks!

[@chelin7023]

Well, the devil is in the details! I would have never thought of voltage levels for a smart door bell. Thank you; I learned something new today.

[@thecoppertopdesigns5873]

Thank you for the incredibly concise and helpful video!

[@luvdocumentary]

Thanks for going straight to the point, covering all the safety precautions, and not giving us the history of transformers and doorbells.

[@user-do1mz9iu3q]

Is there a video as to upgrade the voltage regulator? Thank you. Great video thank you.

[@jimm.1166]

THANKS for making it SIMPLE!!!

[@OneHourSmartHome]

I try! Thanks for watching!

[@wynnewoodcivicassociation1691]

Nice, would be helpful to see you measure voltage before and after transformer

[@Los714]

Great video thank you

[@AncientAviator]

Thank you! Great job! Much appreciated sir!

[@OneHourSmartHome]

Thank You! Thanks for being a subscriber it's appreciated.

[@notmycupotea]

Thanks for the vid!

[@shadowpapito]

Thank you

[@benitocamelo3408]

You sir have earned yourself a subscriber!

[@OneHourSmartHome]

Thanks for being here and the subscribe!

[@330Dodge]

Same here!

[@sandywjo5]

At the risk of sounding like an idiot, my old transformer installed in 1970 will at least be that 8V requirement right? We can not find it anywhere to replace if needed. If that is the case I'll just check your list of ones that work with the 8V. Thank you so much for your great videos!

[@johnmanfra4224]

Haha you got me this far. Now where is the how to upgrade doorbell transformer video haha

[@JWolff-md3ij]

Question: Would the rating for the light bulb inside the button be the same voltage as the voltage read from the wires completing the circuit?

[@kennyplay5982]

Is there a video as to upgrade the voltage regulator? Thank you

[@josep2807]

Hello. I want to disconnect my rear doorbell. Obviously I would remove the doorbell but to make sure there’s no live wire going, do I simpy disconnect/unhook the rear wire from transformer?

[@joseluissosa-kx4nj]

My doorbell dont work I tested terminals like you did my Voltage is 97 AC volts ¿¿can you tell me the reaspn Im getting that reading??

[@tomjungmeyer352]

Reading voltage with ac current setting? Current is amperage not voltage. Also testing at switch will be reading a voltage drop through coil of the doorbell. Better to test at transformer to get accurate voltage with multimeter set to ac voltage, not current.

[@kevinagullana742]

Interesting..I cant get my ring wired past the power error during setup. I test my doorbell voltage and it is 10 on the nose..yours is 11.5. I just bought the ring wired and echo during amazon black friday. I don't know if they updated the software to only accept voltage 16v and above to force home owners to buy another product...!!

[@clisaa6974]

^When ur installing... do u need to turn the power off? Also if u install a new ring pro... and it's not the right voltage what will happen?

[@lixrvs6853]

What if both wires are the same color, how can I find out which is hot, unfortunately both wires are grey. Also can't find the transformer 😅, why are they so hard to find.

[@MeatsackMiracle]

ac or dc? makes a huge difference...

[@Majik260]

just got a new wired ring doorbell but i cant find my doorbell transformer. I think my friend has a meter like this though so can i just have him check this way to see if it will work instead of finding the transformer or would i still have to find the transformer as well?

[@cjunker04]

I get 19v at the transformer, 15v at the chime and only 2v at the doorbell (doorbell goes to 0 when pressed). Doorbell doesn’t work. Which part should I replace first to troubleshoot? Or could it somehow be the wiring?

[@filipinoy7937]

ring is suggesting 16vac with 30va amp?

[@papothetech]

I installed the latest ring doorbell video battery pro. Now my mechanical doorbell does not work. Can you tell me why?

[@metalpractor5150]

Does Red have to go with red when testing?

[@troyhenry3267]

How easy is it to replace existing doorbell transformer to a higher voltage transformer rated at 16-24 volts? Can you provide a link or how to video on this?

[@flipnap2112]

I just did it and its easy, im not an electrician. you just have to find it. if you have a basement it'll probably be down there. get a multimeter and check voltages on it. they all pretty much look the same. only issue ive ever heard is people confusing the thermostat transformer with the doorbell transformer.. but I think those are all built in these days.

[@frankmcgrogan1607]

Hello, I purchased a Ring 3 video doorbell,I also bought a Ring chime plug in. I have an existing door bell that works. The voltage reading on my multimeter is 14.8 - 15.2 v. On the transformer. If I decide to use the Ring chime instead of my exsiting bell is it a problem setting it up that way? Is the battery just to run the camera? Thanks

[@platinum9898]

Is it a must to change transformer? Whats the power pack on the chime for?

[@intelin123]

That just activates the chime.

[@unstableentropy5477]

I’m trying to install a SimpliSafe doorbell camera and when I test the voltage it goes from about 16v and drops immediately to less then 1v. If I take the probes off and try again it goes back to 16v but a split second. Any idea why this would be the case? I’ve hooked up the doorbell and after a while it turns green but as soon as you click it it turns off. It chimes but then dies.

[@unstableentropy5477]

Edit: I’ve tried looking behind the main panel of our doorbell intercom system and the transformer is this big box that I can’t seem to find a replacement for.

[@prairiedoggy1]

Can you do the voltage check at the chime box?

[@tomjungmeyer352]

Yes, check ac voltage across doorbell while someone pushes the button at door.

[@tfun101]

EVERY time I test voltage at the doorbell or the address lights it is 30% higher than what the transformer setting is.

[@iammdeepak1]

My doorbell wires show 34v. Is that too much?

[@ACMaverick]

Do you need to ring the doorbell to get a voltage reading?

[@azgardener79]

No

[@TheRealityTwister]

What can it be if my Door bell is getting to HOT

[@rayolson9922]

Has anyone actually been injured by 24 volts?

[@beboystyle620]

Sound like robot some time

[@aqualane1]

Can I touch the wires with my tongue?

[@ralfsbeitans3769]

Make sure to dry your tongue with a paper towel first.

[@DenzelHenderson-js1ko]

Of course

[@dawng5890]

Idk why I laughed this hard😂😂

[@bdormer1]

Voltage (as long as it’s 12 volts) DOES NOT MATTER !!! Current is what matters. An old/ existing doorbell transformer PROBABLY does not put out enough current to run a video doorbell. Check with the manufacturer of the new doorbell or a licensed electrician for the requirements.

[@KLRFJR]

Good video, helpful information. One bit of hopefully constructive feedback for you though--"go ahead and..." is a pervasive verbal tic in your presentation. Very distracting after the third time in less than 3 minutes.

[@bingosunnoon9341]

Be sure you have your meter set to AC current?? Did you really say that?? You have no business giving advice about electricity.

[@skipm2703]

Sorry Bingosun, he was correct. The voltage was AC at the bell switch, NOT DC.

[@michaelwinans4853]

Lol you do know that old mechanical doorbells use an AC voltage right? Guess not.