Long post, so sorry in advance. I have had the doorbell pro for a year or two, no issues at all. I decided I wanted the doorbell duo in black to match my front door hardware. Install went smooth and it is hardwired in. I noticed randomly it would have a little lightning bolt through the plug in indicator at the top of the screen.
I look this up and of course it said it’s not getting enough juice and using the battery instead of the electricity. So it lasted about a week before it went dead. I figured it needed a chime transformer to handle the extra power (even though the pro does fine). We bought the house after someone remodeled the basement and the transformer was probably behind sheet rock and I didn’t want to cut up my walls and look for it.
I just returned it, and put the doorbell pro back on. Everything was fine. So now we flash forward to now, we remodeled the bathroom downstairs and found the transformer behind a closet wall. So I replace it with a 30a one to get plenty of power, and decide now I can finally install the duo doorbell I wanted from the beginning. So I do, but not two hours after installing everything I have the dreaded lightning bolt back, and it will probably last 4-5 more days till the battery dies again.
What is going on? This doesn’t seem normal at all. First real issue I’ve had using a Wyze product.
I’ll start by saying that I don’t have Duo Cam Doorbell, but I’ve been using Video Doorbell v2 (which is wired only) for a couple of years, and I’ve also been using Battery Video Doorbell in a wired configuration. My first questions would be these:
What was the rated output of your previous transformer?
Were you using Video Doorbell Pro wired or battery powered?
What’s the actual rated output of your new transformer? I know you wrote “30a”, but my understanding of these transformers is that you should see output specified in Alternating Current Volts (V AC) and Volt-Amperes (VA), so, for instance, my transformer is rated for 16 V AC, 10 VA.
What’s the measured voltage across the wires where you connected your Duo Cam Doorbell?
What are you using for a chime? In other words, are you using Duo Cam Doorbell to actuate your home’s built-in chime (if it has one)?
I’m not sure, which is why I asked a bunch of follow-up questions. Hopefully those answers will provide some more insight into your situation.
I imagine that was probably rated for 16 V AC, 10 VA output, as I also measure in excess of 18 V from my transformer. The new transformer may have been unnecessary, but I don’t think it’ll hurt anything.
Does this mean that for Video Doorbell Pro previously (and now also with Duo Cam Doorbell) you used the Jump Wire installed in your chime box (like if your home has a built-in mechanical chime) to provide constant power to the doorbell camera’s wiring location? I’m trying to envision your wiring paths and what might be happening here.
What has Support said when you contacted them? The experience you’ve described so far is making me think of topics like Hardwire issues with duo cam doorbell, where a user who directly wired Duo Cam Doorbell to a transformer (no chime box in between) was still seeing a battery drain and not charge as expected.
@Cowboy - I have front and back door duo cam doorbells. First, understand that the duos power comes from the battery. The connections involving the transformer is for the purpose of charging the battery, nothing more nothing less, except activating the house chime thru the chime controller. The lightning bolt is a sign the battery is being charged and is normal. No lightning bolt means the battery is not being charged and will be exhausted in time. The transformer connection keeps you from having to remove the battery and charge it externally.
Did you include the chime controller with your installation to make use of your existing house chime or did you use the jump wire to bypass the chime and use the included wifi chime? I’ve had my duos installed since the launch and they are operating great. I use a 40/24 transformer because of the 2 doorbells with the chime controllers and set for mechanical chimes.
If your duo is losing power and you have it connected with a transformer thru the original wiring at the door, there is an issue that needs to be diagnosed. Remember, the lightning bolt is a good thing but more info on your setup would be helpful. Have you tested with a multimeter at both the transformer and the wiring at the doorbell for continuity of voltage? A 30/16 rating is sufficient for a single duo doorbell to keep the battery charged.
@Cowboy - You indicated you are using the included duo wifi chime. Did you install the jump wire in the house chime box? If not,this may be a source of your problem, depleting the battery and not sufficiently recharging it.
