can I power a camera from the doorbell circuit ?

[johnjo]

Hello, I want to put a camera on my front door somewhere, and I notice the only power I can see is the feed for the doorbell. Can I hook up a camera to this and if so how? I'm thinking a wifi camera, the one I have here takes DC5V2A but probably will buy a new one. let me kn0ow if you can help, thanks

 

[Pete999]

Hello, I want to put a camera on my front door somewhere, and I notice the only power I can see is the feed for the doorbell. Can I hook up a camera to this and if so how? I'm thinking a wifi camera, the one I have here takes DC5V2A but probably will buy a new one. let me kn0ow if you can help, thanks

I have one on my front door powered by battery, hole drilled though door, lens on the outside, camera and push button on the inside, plug and play job £49 from The Orange shed

 

[SparkyChick]

My advice would be no because the camera (whether it's 5V, 12V or whatever) is going to want a nice clean smoothed supply. I think it's highly unlikely a doorbell transformer will be clean or regulated enough.

 

[Octopus]

I would be asking the camera manufacturers....

 

[DPG]

A few possible problems here.
1) Is the doorbell just a momentary switch? If so then you may not actually have power available.
2) is the voltage the same?
3) is there enough capacity to feed the camera?
4) The regulation/smoothing of the DC voltage, as per Sparkychick's post.

 

[davesparks]

Do you mean from the mains supply to the doorbell transformer or from the LV side of the doorbell transformer?

 

[westward10]

This is what I thought but if it is from the secondary it will be AC not DC.

 

[Dave OCD]

I reckon the OP is thinking about the wired bell push !

 

[DPG]

I reckon the OP is thinking about the wired bell push !

That was my thoughts too.

 

[dmxtothemax]

NO !
You cannot power a camera from your bell push.
if it is illuminated bell push
then you have a switch loop so no neutral.

 

[freddo]

Get one of those Ring doorbell things that combine a camera and doorbell, they can be powered by a standard doorbell setup.

 

[johnjo]

Well, the bit of wire where the bell connects ...

I reckon the OP is thinking about the wired bell push !

yeah I think its the bell push wire, haha !

 

[DPG]

That'll be a no then!

 

[Specialist]

As DPG said, that will be a definite no. Apart from the fact that the voltage is different, the transformer wouldn't handle the current required.

 

[DPG]

As DPG said, that will be a definite no. Apart from the fact that the voltage is different, the transformer wouldn't handle the current required.

And the fact that it's a switch feed and return, so there isn't even a negative!

 

[johnjo]

And the fact that it's a switch feed and return, so there isn't even a negative!

whatever that is ...

 

[DPG]

whatever that is ...

Your camera needs a positive and a negative, like any low voltage DC powered stuff does. All you have there is a postive feeding your switch, and then a switched positive coming back. There is no negative (aka 0V) to complete the circuit. Does that make sense?

 

[Specialist]

whatever that is ...

Sorry whatever what is ? DPG's fast on the draw

@DPG: Makes perfect sense.

 

[westward10]

The bell transformer is ac anyway so it is irrelevant.

 

[Pete999]

whatever that is ...

Well there would be a positive but no negative, if it was DC if it was AC there would be a Live but no Neutral.

 

[DPG]

The bell transformer is ac anyway so it is irrelevant.

AC or DC, you still need a return path -negative or neutral.

 

[westward10]

AC or DC, you still need a return path -negative or neutral.

The op needs a dc supply for his camera so a bell transformer will not operate it regardless.

 

[DPG]

Well you're correct yes, but other options may have been available if he had an actual power feed rather than a switch cable!! That's a bit more of a fundamental problem

 

[freddo]

I posted a link to the solution!

 

[dmxtothemax]

WRONG !
As it is a switch loop
So it doesn,t matter weather it is AC or DC
There is no negative
They are both positive
This is why it cannot be used.

 

[DPG]

WRONG !
As it is a switch loop
So it doesn,t matter weather it is AC or DC
There is no negative
They are both positive
This is why it cannot be used.

As I said some time ago.

 

[freddo]

Wifi camera, powered from bell push wiring, also rings your existing door bell.
Wiring diagram: