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You could go the wireless doorbell route, but hardwiring has its benefits. And the job is easier than it seems.

Video doorbells have evolved to become an essential part of any smart home over the past few years. Unfortunately, so have their power requirements. Video doorbells function like mini-computers, with Wi-Fi components and cameras sucking up more than the standard 14 volts of older analog models. Modern smart doorbell power requirements hover between 16 and 24 volts.

This could be a problem if your transformer is too weak or too far away from your doorbell. Copper wiring, for as good of a conductor as it is, has resistance that impedes electrical power over long distances. By the time the electricity reaches your doorbell, the voltage can drop. Like any device, smart doorbells need to receive the correct amount of voltage to function. A lack of power hurts the connectivity, image quality, and even the ability to turn on.

While testing home security systems, I had to install a transformer and new power line in order to test some wired video doorbells, which can be a headache. While I complained about this to my colleagues, my fellow Test Editor Roy Berendsohn mentioned that a friend of his had a similar problem—the transformer was too far away from the doorbell, which meant the under-powered device didn’t operate properly. And for Test Editor Brad Ford, stone walls in his home presented a barrier to easily running wire to his doorbell, so he tapped into the electrical box for a porch light to power the transformer. So if you’re considering buying a video doorbell, and you don't have the requisite wiring, this is one way to make things work.

Here’s how Ford installed a wired video doorbell, without drilling through walls to run wiring. This method can save time and effort if you happen to have a porch light:

If your house, like mine, was built before traditional electric doorbells were a thing, it may be difficult to run a low-voltage doorbell circuit for a wired video doorbell. Sure, it’s possible to use a battery-powered doorbell—but I’ve got more than enough devices I need to monitor and keep charged up—I didn't want one more.

Wired was my preference, but I didn’t really want to run the wiring through a 24-inch thick stone wall. The solution was to tap into the electrical box for the overhead porch light. I used the tri-voltage transformer that’s designed to attach through a knock-out in a traditional electrical box—just like the one my light is attached to. The only place I had to fish wire was through the porch ceiling toward the house—then I dropped it through the ceiling, at the door frame, and followed the doorframe to where the video doorbell was mounted.

The one catch is that if someone turns off the light, they also turn off the doorbell. So, I used a switch lock-out device to prevent the switch from being flipped off. Then I used a photo-cell switch in the light circuit to automatically turn the light on when it get dark, and off when it gets light.

Of course, the the simplest way to install a video doorbell is with battery-operated devices like a Google Doorbell or Eufy 2K Battery. With these models, you don’t need existing wiring to add them—you simply screw in a mounting plate and snap the fully charged doorbell into it. You can even slap these on a back or side door—they’re protected from the elements and record at a high resolution, the same as their wired counterparts. This route is the simplest method. However you’ll have to recharge the batteries about every three months. For rentals or the least intrusive installation option, this is your best bet. Just keep in mind that the ease of use comes at a cost.

If your voltage is too low, it can slow down the speed at which the doorbell sends notifications, worsen the image clarity, or not function at all. If your existing transformer supports multiple voltages, you can connect the wire going to the doorbell to a higher voltage terminal. This will account for the resistance-induced dip and ensure more voltage makes it all the way down the line to the doorbell. If you have an older tranformer that provides less than 16-volts, they're easy enough to replace with a model like the one below. And if you don’t have an existing transformer at all, or you don’t have one that supports multiple voltages, buy a model like the one below. This attaches to and picks up power an existing electrical box—just make sure it's not controlled by a switch—and can hardwire your doorbell for uninterrupted voltage and consistently strong performance.