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How Long Do Ring Batteries Last? And How to Extend Their Life [2023]

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Security systems fail without durable batteries. Since hardwiring isn’t always feasible, ensuring your camera stays powered for those critical moments is essential.

Explore the battery life of Ring doorbells, stick-up cams, and spotlights, and learn simple tips to extend their power.

How Long Do Ring Batteries Last?

Ring devices typically sport a battery life of 6–12 months with minimal use, but real-world conditions often shorten this duration.

Ring batteries typically last 3–6 months, but heavy use can shorten this to 1–2 months.

Ring doorbell battery life

The Ring Video Doorbell 4’s battery life stretches from 6 to 12 months per charge, but that’s in perfect scenarios – minimal activity and most fancy features disabled.

Frequent use can drain your doorbell camera’s battery in just a month, but typically it lasts 2-3 months.

The new model’s battery lasts 30% longer than the Ring Video Doorbell 3.

The Doorbell 3 and 4 models have made life easier with their removable batteries. Unlike the Ring Video Doorbell 2 and its predecessors, where you had to unmount the entire device to charge it, now you can simply replace the battery if you have a spare.

Ring stick-up camera battery life

The Ring stick-up cam runs up to 6 months on a single charge with regular use, or even a year with lighter use.

Some users notice their battery drains within a week. This often happens when the camera is used outdoors, as it tends to activate more often, leading to quicker battery depletion.

Ring spotlight camera battery life

The Ring spotlight cam, designed to last 6–12 months on one charge, often runs out in just a few months. It shares its battery with other Ring devices, but this battery also has to fuel both the camera and the spotlight, reducing its lifespan.

The Spotlight Cam from Ring stands out by supporting an extra battery pack. This means it seamlessly switches to a backup battery once the first one runs out, ensuring continuous operation.

The spotlight cam includes just one battery pack, but buying an extra one is a smart move. This way, your camera can run smoothly for 6–12 months without needing a recharge.

How Long Does a Ring Battery Take to Charge?

Ring batteries are rechargeable, needing 5–10 hours to charge fully. Given the lengthy charge time, it’s smart to have an additional Ring battery on hand for uninterrupted home security.

03/14/2024 09:27 pm GMT

Keep your battery charger inside where it’s warm. Cold slows down the charging process significantly.

Why Do Some Ring Batteries Die Faster?

Ring batteries might drain quickly due to frequent use, specific feature settings, connectivity issues, and weather conditions.

  • Frequent activation events: Ring cameras are mostly idle when they aren’t recording or transmitting. But their battery usage increases drastically every time they have to jump into action.
  • Features and settings: Features like Live View are particularly bad about draining batteries. Any setting that increases the camera’s sensitivity will cause more activation events and faster battery drain.
  • Wi-Fi connection problems: Attempting to reconnect to Wi-Fi is a huge power sink. Your Ring device needs a steady connection for optimal battery life.
  • Environmental factors: Every battery has an ideal operating temperature. Ring batteries will drain faster in excessively cold climates (below 40 degrees Fahrenheit). High temperatures likely won’t cause faster battery drain, but they can cause the camera to overheat.

How to Extend Ring Battery Life

Turn off excess features (especially Live View)

Turning off extra features boosts speed and extends battery life.

Using Live View often drains your battery quickly. However, if you’re subscribed to Ring Protect, it’s not essential. Should you require Live View, consider powering your device with a solar panel or switching to a model that connects directly to your home’s power supply for a more reliable solution.

Improve Wi-Fi strength

In the Ring app, select your device and tap on Device Health to see your Wi-Fi signal’s strength.

Understanding the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) can boost your Wi-Fi experience. Think of RSSI like a Wi-Fi health meter. A score between -40 and 0 means strong signal. Between -60 and -40, it’s decent. But if it falls between -90 to -60, it’s time to enhance your Wi-Fi setup.

Explore these top methods to boost your Wi-Fi signal effectively.

  • Move your router to an open, central location.
  • Buy a better router. This is definitely a good idea if you’re using a mediocre router from your internet provider. I suggest the TP-Link AX6600 if you plan to have a lot of smart home devices. The TP-Link AX1800 is an excellent budget alternative.
  • Switch to a mesh Wi-Fi system. These systems are great ways to get strong Wi-Fi throughout even the largest homes. My recommended system is the Google Nest Mesh Wi-Fi System.
  • Use a Wi-Fi extender. If your current network works for all but one area of your home, a Wi-Fi extender can boost the signal in that specific area. The TP-Link AX1500 is a solid option.

Change motion frequency

Adjusting motion frequency sets the pause between activations, extending battery life by preventing your camera from reacting repeatedly to the same incident.

Frequency settings range from Frequently to Regularly, and then Periodically, with the latter ensuring the longest battery life. Opting for Regularly strikes a harmonious balance between conserving battery and maintaining security.

Reduce motion sensitivity

Adjusting motion sensitivity affects how easily your camera is triggered. Set it high, and you’ll catch more activity, but brace for more false alarms. It’s a balance between staying alert and avoiding unnecessary alerts.

Lowering your device’s sensitivity can extend its battery life, but ensure it’s still set high enough to detect any trespassers.

Turn off detection zones

Adjust your camera settings to overlook specific areas. This way, it won’t alert you about movement in those ignored zones, but it will still record any activity happening in the areas you’re monitoring.

Turning off zones in your camera settings can significantly save power, especially if it often captures busy streets or areas with lots of movement.

Turn on scheduling

Not every camera needs to monitor for threats around the clock. With the Ring app, you can set specific active and inactive periods for each camera. Turning your camera off for 12 hours daily can almost double its battery life!

For cameras watching busy spots at specific times, adjusting settings is key. This way, you avoid unnecessary alerts, like when your kids are just playing outside. It’s a smart move for both peace and practicality.

Add a Ring solar panel

Ring’s solar panels can keep your device charged with sunlight, potentially eliminating the need for manual recharging. Ideal for continuous battery power.

When it comes to powering your outdoor security cameras, you have two main options: the Ring standard solar panel or the more powerful Ring super solar panel. If you’re wondering which one to pick, the Ring website offers a comprehensive guide. However, I’ll break it down to make your decision easier.

If your camera is mostly in the sun and triggers less often (under 10-30 times daily), opt for the standard solar panel. If not, consider the super solar panel. Despite costing more, the super panel has no drawbacks.

What’s Next?

Security is a cornerstone for any smart home setup. Choosing between Ring or Alexa-compatible Blink cameras is just the start. It’s crucial to have durable camera batteries and address problems like motion detection failures promptly.

After securing your home, explore ways to cut energy bills. Check out these smart plug suggestions to reduce your smart home’s energy consumption. They complement your Ring cameras’ battery-saving measures perfectly.

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