Is Your Simplisafe Doorbell Not Charging? (Working Fixes!)

We understand the concerns that arise, especially when the SimpliSafe doorbell not charging the backup battery, leaving your security at risk during power outages.

When the backup battery reaches a threshold of around 30%, the SimpliSafe app will send you a notification, informing you that the battery is not receiving enough charge.

Well, that doesn’t mean your SimpliSafe doorbell will turn off and stop working–let’s learn why!

SimpliSafe Doorbell–Backup Battery Explained

The SimpliSafe doorbell is hardwired, always connected to an existing wiring, and the backup battery’s purpose is to keep the doorbell running in case of power fluctuations or inconsistency.

The built-in battery is small and non-replaceable, requiring up to 3.7V at 500mAh and 1.85Wh.

The small built-in battery cannot support prolonged power outages but can easily keep your doorbell running in case of power fluctuations.

When the built-in battery is not charging, your SimpliSafe doorbell will turn off even after the slightest voltage insufficiency from the wiring.

Hence, when the backup battery has no charge, the SimpliSafe doorbell won’t turn on until the voltage consistency is fully restored. This leaves your security at risk, so let’s find a way to fix it.

SimpliSafe Doorbell Not Charging Backup Battery – How to Fix!

Note: In case of a recent power outage, the voltage could remain weak for a few hours after the power kicks back in, so if that’s the case, remain patient.

1. Reset the Doorbell’s Power Supply

The first and easiest step would be to reset the power supply to your SimpliSafe doorbell, which will hopefully address potential voltage insufficiency.

• To reset the power of your doorbell wiring installation, you would need to flip the fuse/switch in your circuit breaker.

With most doorbell installations, you’ll find a label marking the switch, but if not, you’ll need to disable the power for the entire room.

Wait for 60 seconds with the power disabled, then flip the switch on and wait until your doorbell turns on and starts working.

If you still receive the charging error notification, continue reading!

2. Check for Doorbell Installation Issue

The next step is to check and potentially solve SimpliSafe installation issues, which could be preventing the built-in battery from charging.

The voltage may be enough to support the basic SimpliSafe doorbell functions, but not enough to also supply charge to the small backup battery.

Hence, the problem can either be related to the wiring or the transformer itself, so there are a few things you should check to identify and troubleshoot the culprit.

2.1 Doorbell Wiring Inspection:

The installation of a doorbell consists of 2 wires, one of which supplies your doorbell with power from the transformer, and the other completes the circuit routing it through a mechanical chime.

To expose the terminals you will need to undo the security screw on the bottom of the faceplate.

When you remove the faceplate, you’ll expose the terminals. The recommendation here is to:

• Undo both terminals and disconnect the wires.
• Cut the exposed ends of both doorbell wires 
• Using a knife, expose 2 inches of the copper
• Wrap the wiring copper ends to both terminals 
• Use a screwdriver to tighten the wire terminals

This way, you can be sure that the wiring is secured to the “Front” and “Trans” wiring terminals.

Warning: Turn OFF the power to your SimpliSafe doorbell wiring before interacting!

2.2 Test Transformer’s Voltage:

Alert: This test involves interacting with live wires, so if you’re not experienced, skip this step!

To test the voltage from the doorbell wiring, you need to turn on the power, so we recommend stepping on a carpet or wearing flip-flops.

In addition, equipping an insolation glove is advised.

• To test the transformer’s voltage, you’ll need a Multimeter set to AC voltage!

Well, to get your reading, touch the red (positive) probe to one terminal and the black (negative) probe to the other.

If you get no reading, just switch the probes to the other terminals and check.

The reading must be between 8–24V AC range. Anything less than that means insufficiency.

If you detect voltage insufficiency, this explains why the doorbell battery is not charging, hence, the problem comes from the transformer.

Note: If you still get no reading, turn off the power, undo the terminals, remove the wires, and touch the live ends using the probes instead.

3. Replace your Electrical Transformer

If you’ve identified that the voltage readings show power insufficiency–lower than 8–24V AC, perhaps the transformer is to blame.

Weak voltage is the main reason why your SimpliSafe doorbell is working while the battery is not charging; hence, replacing the transformer helps!

Replacing your transformer is quite straightforward as long as you’re comfortable with basic electrical work.

The process involves:

• Acquiring an 8-24-volt AC (VAC) replacement transformer.
• Turning off the voltage to the transformer from the breaker.
• Dismounting the transformer from the wall or electrical box.
• Undoing and disconnecting the low voltage OUTPUT wires.
• Also, disconnect the 2 x 120V wires from the INPUT side.
• Mount the new transformer to the wall or the electrical box.
• Reconnect the INPUT & OUTPUT wires to the transformer.

When you’re ready, you can perform another multimeter test to check whether the transformer is now sending the correct voltage to your doorbell.

4. Use the SimpliSafe Chime Connector

If you are not using the supplied chime connector, perhaps your Simplisafe doorbell battery is not charging because of voltage insufficiency.

The mechanical chime and its connector act as a resistor and stabilize the voltage to the doorbell.

If your chime is electronic, missing, or bypassed, power delivery can be inconsistent, starving the battery’s charging circuit even if the doorbell works.

How to Install SimpliSafe Chime Connector?

1. Stop the power from the circuit breaker.
2. Eject the cover from the mechanical chime.
3. Locate the Front, Trans, and Rear terminals.
4. Undo and remove the “Front” terminal wire.
5. Clip it to the blue chime connector terminal.
6. Clip the other blue wire to the empty “Front”.
7. Do the same with the “Trans” terminal wire.
8. For the “Trans” terminal, use the white wires.

In short, you want the blue and white wire from the chime connector to clip into the chime Front and Trans terminals, respectively, while the old wires enter the chime connector instead. Simple!

When ready, turn the power back on and check whether you’ll see any doorbell charging errors.

5. Consider the Environmental Factors

The backup battery of your SimpliSafe doorbell may not be able to charge because of different environmental factors.

For instance, if your doorbell is freezing or overheating, the device may continue to work, but when the battery escapes the thermal margin, charging will come to a halt.

• The recommended operating temperature of a SimpliSafe doorbell is between -4°F and 122°F (-20°C to 50°C).

Hence, if you’re concerned that your SimpliSafe doorbell might have been exposed to extreme conditions, we strongly recommend trying to normalize the temperatures.

If it’s too cold, bring your doorbell inside to warm it up, and if it’s too hot, power off the doorbell for an hour or more.

Is SimpliSafe Doorbell Battery Replacement Possible?

Unfortunately no. The built-in SimpliSafe doorbell battery is integrated into the circuitry of the device, and there is no way to replace it. 

So, if your SimpliSafe doorbell is not charging, regardless of what you’re trying, chances are that the small built-in battery is defective.

You have a few options, though, considering that the doorbell does not need this battery to work as long as the transformer’s power supply is consistent.

You can just continue using the doorbell without a working backup battery or try claiming a full doorbell replacement using your warranty.

Whatever you decide to do–best of luck!