When you purchase a Blink video doorbell device and you intend to install it yourself, it’s important to know how many volts are needed to properly run the device.
Actually, before you acquire the doorbell you need to make sure that the wiring and the voltage are compatible with the doorbell.
As per the manufacturer’s official listing, the Blink doorbell needs a voltage of 16 VAC and 10VA to properly function. Anything lower than this voltage will fail to power up the doorbell and not all the features will work.
Also, it’s important to power up the doorbell within the required parameters, if it’s lower then the unit may not work at all, but if the voltage is higher then there’s a risk to burn the whole unit.
Since this is an improper installation, the warranty will get voided. So, ensure you know what you’re doing and check the power parameters before proceeding. For more details, keep reading the next section.
How many volts do you need for a Blink doorbell?
There are two things you need to know when hooking up a doorbell (regardless of the brand): the voltage and the amperage. Usually, doorbells are designed to work in AC transformers with an output that varies between 5 to 24 VAC.
For installing Blink doorbells, you only need an amperage of 10 Amps, in other words, 10 VA (Volt-Amps) and 16 VAC (Volt Alternating Current). If your parameters in the installation spot are lower than this, the provided power is not enough to power the unit or ring the chime.
The maximum power rate of the Blink doorbell is capped at 40VA, which indicates the highest power capacity that the doorbell can handle (and work properly).
If your parameters are higher than these numbers, then the doorbell may be damaged beyond repair (burned circuit). While providing less power won’t necessarily damage the doorbell, sending out more power than the rating will certainly burn the unit.
To conclude, when running the wiring for a Blink doorbell device, you need to provide 10VA and 16VAC for the unit to work properly with all the extra features.
What voltage is required for Blink’s chime wiring?
Doorbells that use chimes need other power levels to function properly. For Blink doorbells you need to provide 16 to 24VAC at 50/60Hz, these parameters allow the device to emit sounds when the button is pressed.
Another thing to consider, mechanical and digital chimes use different voltages depending on the model, the manufacturer specifications, and the installation methods.
With that being said, measure the voltage in your wiring before purchasing the chime system. Check the specifications and ensure the wiring provides the required power. As a general rule, if the voltage is less than 16 VAC, the Blink doorbell will not be able to complete the chime setup.
How to check the doorbell’s transformer voltage?
Before starting any type of installation, you need to test out the wiring, the voltage, and the current in the terminals to ensure that the doorbell will function properly. Actually, this is a standard procedure.
For this procedure, you can use a voltage multimeter such as the ones shown here (get the ones with good reviews and high ratings). Then you can check out the voltage and our parameters as shown below:
- Set the multimeter to test the AC Voltage. If you’re not clear, you may need to quickly consult the meter’s manual (usually, it’s very intuitive).
- Hook up the two probes to the multimeter
- Put the probes on the two wires and the multimeter will measure and display the reading on the screen.
Note: If you have an existing doorbell, carefully dismount the backplate and expose the wires. Even though the wires are low voltage, avoid touching them (you may even use proper gloves).
If the reading shown by the multimeters is more than 16 VAC, then the wiring and the power is compatible with the Blink doorbell system. If it’s less than 16 VAC, you need to upgrade the transformer and ensure the reading is correct.
How to replace the transformer and generate more power for the Blink doorbell?
If your transformer is not bringing enough juice to the doorbell, then you can upgrade it to a higher one that provides enough power for the devices. A proper transformer guarantees a stable power supply and protects the unit from any damage.
Follow these steps to replace your doorbell’s transformer:
- Switch the doorbell transformer power off using the power breaker in the location. Then you can use the multimeter or a power tester to see if there’s power in the wires. This is very important, you need to make sure the power is off.
- Carefully disconnect the old transformer’s wiring.
- Connect the new transformer to the wires.
- Switch the power back on using the power breaker.
Next, you can install the Blink doorbell and utilize all the amazing features that the device has to offer. If you’re confused by the wiring, you can either consult the manual or contact a professional installer. However, it’s pretty easy to do it yourself.
Conclusion
The Blink doorbell requires 16 VAC and 10 VA for it to work properly. Before purchasing a system, it’s important to check the wiring and the power.
You can use a multimeter to measure the voltage and the current and if it’s lower, you may need to replace the transformer.
If your doorbell is not working properly, not chiming, or showing other power-related issues, take a look at the transformer and ensure that the terminals are providing enough juice for the device. Moreover, an improper voltage may damage the unit and void the warranty.
