doorbell voltage

[sgweb]

I got the wired doorbell for the increase range detection.

I didn't realize it did not have a battery backup.  So if I loose power, I loose sight. 

It appears that my only options are (1) going wireless, 

or (2) , applying the 24ac to a battery backup instead, then transforming back to ac.  Sounds like a stupid solution. 

question: What will happen if we supply these things with 18VDC ? Are the rectifiers in half of the bridge capable of sinking the power it needs? Or will I see smoke?

[StephenB]

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@sgweb wrote:

It appears that my only options are (1) going wireless, 

or (2) , applying the 24ac to a battery backup instead, then transforming back to ac. 

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Well, there is an option (3).  You could connect a UPS to the high-voltage side of the transformer.  That would require a bit of wiring, but would keep the doorbell running through a power failure.

Note in all cases, you also need to make sure your home network (and arlo base(s) if you use them) are also protected by a UPS - otherwise you won't have solved the problem.  Even then there is still some risk that whatever killed your power might also have killed your internet.

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@sgweb wrote:

question: What will happen if we supply these things with 18VDC ? Are the rectifiers in half of the bridge capable of sinking the power it needs? Or will I see smoke?

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Never tried, but I think smoke is likely.  Either in the doorbell, or the chime, or both.