AD410 and 8V transformer

[geni78]

I've finally received my AD410 and I am trying to figure out how to wire it with my existing transformer/doorbell.

This is the transformer I currently have; as far as I know it can provide 4V, 6V or 8V depending on which contacts are used. From earlier measurements the current mechanical doorbell is using 8V.



My intention would be to wire it with the chime kit (small stabilizer box) provided in the AD410 box, but voltage/amperage don't match what is suggested in the setup guide.

Is this doable, or I am going to fry the AD410?

Thanks!

[Revo2Maxx]

In AC it needs 16-24v.. So to use with a doorbell inside chime of a lower voltage you would need to get a 16v power supply and a relay so when the button is pressed it uses the relay to power the indoor chime with the correct voltage..

In stand alone the doorbell camera will work with Ac-DC 12-24v.. Meaning setting up the camera without a chime inside and not using the chime kit that comes with the camera..

However as said before, if you want doorbell chime inside then would need correct sized power supply of 16v 30va

If you try to use your current power supply it can damage the camera as it could pull the voltage down and current up and over load the camera.. If not able to source the correct power supply I wouldn't try to install it..

[geni78]

In AC it needs 16-24v.. So to use with a doorbell inside chime of a lower voltage you would need to get a 16v power supply and a relay so when the button is pressed it uses the relay to power the indoor chime with the correct voltage..

You cannot use the AD410 with a relay, it defeats the whole purpose of putting the pre-existing doorbell in parallel with the chime kit. Have you ever installed an AD410?

If you try to use your current power supply it can damage the camera as it could pull the voltage down and current up and over load the camera..

Sorry but this is a bit hand-waving. What is the reason that you think it would damage the camera? There is no "voltage down pulling" and overloading, using lower voltage (8V << 16V) is safe, in particular because the device internally works at 5VDC (unless I missed some other circuitry, like heat resistor?)

[Revo2Maxx]

Yes a relay can be used. There are many different brands and many different people that have already ran into the same issue as you.. I have personally done it and even more that I have not talked about.. Been in Electronics for over 45 years..

So I am clear 12v to 24 AC-DC is able to be used on the camera 2 pins in the back.. That is going to a Power Board in the camera that then steps it down to the voltage that the camera needs to runn.. Max is 32v as per the circuits in side but I am sure there is something that makes that to much and so the say the Max should be 24 as you never want to power something at the highest voltage full time as things turn to heat and heat can damage..

So why does the camera take 5vDC well that is because that input area is past the Power Board and is at the start of another circuit area where the incoming voltage is 5v.. Then from there the main board takes that 5v and converts it to even a lower voltage to power things that need 3.3v and 1.8v and so on.. 2 different parts of the camera circuit.. The main power area has Buck converter to lower the incoming voltage and after smoothing and regulation and all the things needed the camera board gets 5v..

However when there is a Transformer involved, The voltage is raw and not regulated.. What can happen and I am not saying that it will but what can happen is that if you were to put a 8vac power supply on the doorbell it will try to power the camera and it won't be able to. This pulling the voltage down on the power supply and when a non ruglated power supply voltage goes down the current ramps up..

For instance..If you were to take a 24vac transformer that was rated for 2.45amps and cause it to short to lets say 2.5v or as I will call it a near short would reduce the resistance in the transformer causing excessive current flow and while I am not here right now to do math but with Ohm's law would show transformer in near short could cause more then 40amps of current and well with a 8v and lower current normal setup might not cause the same overly high current flow but if the over current don't kill the camera the under voltage can..

I am not here to stop people from using Amcrest devices.. I am here to help or try and help and for my Answer when you asked your question was to try and help you from killing your doorbell camera.. By the way the camera being dead 1 way using the power supply in the back could still work with 5v in the USB.. Then you know camera is fine but power supply circuit is bad.. It has happened and I have fixed a good few ot these cameras even some of the Lorex cameras that are almost the same circuit inside but is different just enough that I like the Amcrest optoins offered more..

Be safe sorry you didn't like my Answer.. Just trying to help.

[geni78]

Yes a relay can be used. There are many different brands and many different people that have already ran into the same issue as you..

The official Amcrest installation guide does not mention any relay, and I can't imagine how more complex and ugly this setup with relay would be.
The device comes with a chime kit and it's not going to be easy/elegant to put it in an isolated setup with relays and the chime kit in-between. There is a reason this setup is not even mentioned in the installation guide.

I have personally done it and even more that I have not talked about.. Been in Electronics for over 45 years..
[...]
However when there is a Transformer involved, The voltage is raw and not regulated.. What can happen and I am not saying that it will but what can happen is that if you were to put a 8vac power supply on the doorbell it will try to power the camera and it won't be able to. This pulling the voltage down on the power supply and when a non ruglated power supply voltage goes down the current ramps up..

For instance..If you were to take a 24vac transformer that was rated for 2.45amps and cause it to short to lets say 2.5v or as I will call it a near short would reduce the resistance in the transformer causing excessive current flow and while I am not here right now to do math but with Ohm's law would show transformer in near short could cause more then 40amps of current and well with a 8v and lower current normal setup might not cause the same overly high current flow but if the over current don't kill the camera the under voltage can..

You mention the case of a short, and Ohm's law, but given two transformers with same power and different voltage (8VAC and 24VAC), the damage would be much worse with the higher voltage one (24VAC), so I don't see how any of this applies to my original question.