• Solar accessories can extend battery life indefinitely.

• Ideal for tenants; no permanent wiring is necessary.

• Solar energy allows placement far from energy sources.

Smart home doorbells are great in general, but they are difficult to wire. This is why I prefer to use my Ring doorbell on battery power. This means having to recharge it every few months, but with a solar accessory I almost never need to plug it in.

It significantly extends battery life

Firstly, it is possible to run a smart doorbell on solar energy indefinitely. As long as the solar panel provides enough power to maintain the battery charge, the doorbell will continue to work.

However, in many cases, solar mounts for a smart doorbell only delay the complete drain of the battery. For example, in my case, our front gate only receives direct sunlight in the morning and afternoon. So even though this means I only have to charge the doorbell once a year instead of every six months, I still have to charge the doorbell eventually.

This is obviously something you need to keep in mind if your intention is to run a smart doorbell off-grid without ever charging it. In this case, you will need to place it carefully and use a solar charger that produces enough power to prevent the battery from completely draining.

It’s perfect if you rent

Battery power options for smart doorbells like those made by Ring are already the go-to choice for those who rent rather than own their homes. This means you don’t have to spend the time and money on a new permanent hardwired installation in someone else’s home and, of course, in many cases your landlord won’t give you permission to do so. do in the first place.

If you are forced to use the battery mode of your doorbell anyway as a tenant, then a solar-powered accessory makes your life easier. Either by making recharging unnecessary or by increasing the periods between recharging.

You can place your bell away from the current

While it’s not difficult to extend a Wi-Fi signal across an open area, if you have a gate or other type of entrance far from your home, power may be an issue. With a solar-powered mount for your doorbell, you can essentially place your smart doorbell anywhere within your Wi-Fi signal coverage area.

Ring battery doorbell

With its 150-degree head-to-toe field of view, color night vision video, and extended battery life, the Ring Battery Doorbell is a great item for home security and personal convenience.

There are disadvantages

Objectively, the most reliable and stable way to install a smart doorbell is to hardwire it permanently. However, overall, battery and solar offer more flexibility and convenience, which is why I would recommend it to most people over a hardwired installation.

That being said, there are some downsides to consider when going the path of the sun. If, like me, you do not have the possibility of optimal placement, you will not take full advantage of the solar panel. If you have the option of using a detached solar panel, probably from a third party kityou can then configure the panel for optimal charging and run a wire from it to the doorbell. With an integrated solution like the one I’m using, the bell itself has to be in the right place, and that’s not always possible.

In addition to placing the panel in the correct position, the panel itself requires some maintenance. You will need to check that it is not covered in dust, and that there is no corrosion or other occasional damage. Other than that, it should be a simple and elegant solution to your doorbell power needs.