# WiFi Doorbell Camera Powered by Existing Low-Voltage AC?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wifi-doorbell-camera-powered-by-existing-low-voltage-ac/976455
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 13, 2022, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wifi-doorbell-camera-powered-by-existing-low-voltage-ac/976455 "2022-12-13T15:09:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2022, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wifi-doorbell-camera-powered-by-existing-low-voltage-ac/976455/1 "2022-12-13T15:09:52Z")
I have several POE exterior cameras, plus a couple interior wifi cameras, all using Blue Iris software.
My Google/Amazon/eBay-fu is failing me. I would like to find a doorbell camera unit that:
1. Is powered by the existing low-voltage (24-28 VAC) wiring to the old doorbell.
2. Uses wifi (and ONVIF) to connect to my Blue Iris PC.
3. Maintains the doorbell function (ding-dong).
4. Doesn’t rely on a third-party service or subscription.
Theoretically, I could probably just figure out a way to mount a small wifi camera above the existing doorbell and make a parasitic connection to the doorbell power supply (i.e., convert 24 VAC to 5 VDC), but I think that would look like crap.
Has anybody seen or used a product that would do this? I’m not really interested in two-way audio or alerts to my phone, but I wouldn’t turn something down because it has those features. I just DO NOT want to deal with third-party cloud or server services.
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### Author:  [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wifi-doorbell-camera-powered-by-existing-low-voltage-ac/976455/2 "2022-12-13T15:21:04Z")
I have one of these. It has ONVIF, and supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wifi.
> **[Amazon.com: DS-HD1 Hikvision USA Original 3 Megapixel HD WiFi Video Smart...](https://www.amazon.com/DS-HD1-Hikvision-Original-Megapixel-Doorbell/dp/B0837BTDT2)**
>
> Buy DS-HD1 Hikvision USA Original 3 Megapixel HD WiFi Video Smart Doorbell - Wireless Intercom Camera, 3MP, 180 Degree Ultra Wide Angle, Motion Detection, Video Recording Night Vision Video Audio: Dome Cameras - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on...
You can connect to it with this URL in the software of your choice (I use zoneminder):
rtsp://admin:PASSWORD@IP ADDRESS:554/Streaming/Channels/1?transportmode=unicast&profile=Profile\_1
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### Author:  [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wifi-doorbell-camera-powered-by-existing-low-voltage-ac/976455/3 "2022-12-13T15:27:35Z")
That looks like a possible option. Thanks!
I think that Amcrest also has a unit that is similar to what I’m looking for. I’ll have to take a deeper dive into both units.
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### Author:  [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2022, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wifi-doorbell-camera-powered-by-existing-low-voltage-ac/976455/4 "2022-12-13T16:55:26Z")
I have a Google Nest doorbell - it connects to the existing outside wires. There is also a dongle that is installed in your chime box. The software is “Google Home” which is a smart phone/android thing but there is also a Windows version (which I haven’t tried yet).
But… you said 24 volts. Google Nest specifies 16 VAC which I thought was standard for doorbells.
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### Author:  [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wifi-doorbell-camera-powered-by-existing-low-voltage-ac/976455/5 "2022-12-13T18:36:26Z")
Thanks! The voltages vary. It’s not unusual in houses like mine (1960s) for the original transformer to be 24 VAC. It would be easy for me to change it, if necessary, but not at all easy to run new wire. If 16 VAC is required, I can provide a 16 VAC transformer.
However, I see that the specs say 16 VAC to 24 VAC.
It does appear to require a Google app. If that’s the case, it’s out of the question. But I’ll check into it.