What Voltage Does the Nest Hello Need?

The Nest Hello doorbell is a great way to always be in the know about what is happening at your doorstep.

Many people are installing this Google device to enhance the security of their home; it’s easy to set up as long as you have a compatible doorbell system or if you can connect it to an indoor power adapter. Whatever way you choose, you should know your Nest Hello needs the power to work, and it doesn’t support any batteries.

Voltage Requirements for Nest Hello

Choosing the Nest Hello system means you will need more power than for a regular doorbell.

Traditional doorbells don’t use much power as they are not always in use. However, the Nest Hello has a camera that records 24/7, which means it needs a stable source of energy to avoid skipping or freezing.

Make sure you only use the cable and the AC adapter that came with your Nest Hello. Otherwise, Google doesn’t guarantee the quality of the video.

The Nest Hello system can’t use any external batteries, but it has an internal one that is powered by low voltage wires. The wires have to deliver at least 10 VA and 16 to 24 V AC if you live in North America. It is slightly different for European homes: at least 8 VA and 12 to 24 V AC.

The internal battery is supplied by power as soon as you plug in your Nest Hello system. However, there is another way to charge the battery if it’s been disconnected for too long and, therefore completely dead. Use the USB port on the back of your Nest Hello device to connect it to your computer or laptop. This way, you can recharge the battery and gain access to the device’s software.

Checking the Voltage

If you have followed the instructions carefully and installed your Nest Hello system correctly, but it isn’t working, your doorbell may not be compatible with this Google device.

If you don’t want to do this on your own or you don’t know how to do it, you can contact a professional to measure the voltage for you. There should be a Nest Pro electrician available to you, though it may depend on your location. If you think you can do this, but it’s the first time you measure voltage, it’s probably a better idea to seek help from a professional.

If you know where your transformer is, you can check the voltage without measuring it because it’s usually written on the label.

Using a Multimeter

You can check the voltage on your Google Nest with a multimeter. Be sure to use the one with metal probes and not the pen-shaped no-contact testers. The latter can sometimes give you inaccurate results. Also, make sure you test the voltage with caution to avoid potential injuries.

1. Disconnect your Nest Hello doorbell button, as well as the wires.
2. Measure the voltage.
3. For the Nest Hello system to work in your home, the voltage should range from 14 to 30 V AC. If the value you get is under 14 or over 30, you might need to have your transformer upgraded to use Nest Hello.

Another way to solve this issue is to set up a Nest Hello plug-in adapter. This way, you can connect your Nest Hello to an indoor outlet, but you won’t hear your doorbell chime if you do so. You will receive a notification or a Google Assistant alert on your smartphone instead.

Check the Voltage Before the Purchase

We recommend checking the voltage before making the purchase. If your current doorbell can’t support the Nest Hello system and you can’t get an adapter for some reason, you’ll waste your money. There are plenty of other options for those who don’t have a compatible doorbell system.

Is your doorbell compatible with the Nest Hello? Do you plan on getting one? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!