Worried with Ecobee Doorbell Red Light? (Solve It Fast!)

The Ecobee doorbell red light means that the doorbell’s voltage is insufficient.

It often occurs during the initial setup of the doorbell and compromises the security of the home. Unacceptable!

The issue may be related to the system’s transformer, wiring, circuit breaker, or the Ecobee chime adapter’s installation.

So, by the end of this guide, you will know the purpose each of the components serve and how to recognize system underpowering.

How to Fix the Ecobee Doorbell Red Light? 

Note: Have you tried waiting out the red light on your doorbell for 1–2 minutes?

1. Reset the Circuit Breaker

Each wired doorbell system interconnects with your home’s circuitry and has a separate switch on the breaker.

We recommend starting with a simple power drain of the system through the circuit breaker’s switch.

1.1 How to Identify a Doorbell A/C Breaker?

Your circuit breaker panel’s location depends on your home’s wiring. It could be in your garage, basement, crawl space, or even the attic.

Once you’ve found the panel, lift the security latch and identify which of the levers controls the power of your doorbell’s system.

Search for a sticker that says “Doorbell”, “Chime,” or even “Ecobee” in the panel.

1.2 How to Power Reset the Doorbell System?

To initiate a power reset of the doorbell system, push the switch toward the “OFF” position and wait for 15–20 seconds.

Now, slowly push the switch upwards to resume the system’s power supply, and head back to your front door to check the doorbell.

The indicator ring may be initially red, but as soon as your system drains sufficient voltage, it should turn solid blue. 

2. Check the Terminal Wiring

We will proceed with the next simplest cause for the red light–the doorbell’s terminal wiring.

The wired doorbells, Ecobee included, connect with your chime over a “TRANS” and “FRONT” adapter. 

If these adapters are not wired properly with the mounting plate’s terminals, the doorbell may still power on but refuse to draw in a sufficient amount of voltage.

Here’s how to access the inspect Ecobee’s terminals:

1. Push the two release tabs on the side of the doorbell.
2. Carefully detach the faceplate from the mounting base.
3. Alert! Turn off Ecobee’s power at the circuit breaker.
4. Locate the conducting terminals on the mounting plate.
5. Check if each of the wires is secured to the terminals.
6. Now, remove each wire from the backplate’s terminals.
7. If necessary, use a wire clipper to bare the wires more.
8. Complete several rotations around each A/C terminal.
9. Reinstall the faceplate onto the Ecobee mounting base.
10. Check if the doorbell indicator is still showing a red light.

The “TRANS” and “FRONT” or “REAR” wires connect with the chime of your system via the Ecobee chime adapter.

The adapter then plugs into the transformer and leads the voltage cable to the switch in your circuit breaker box.

3. Inspect the Chime Adapter

Well, installing Ecobee’s chime adapter is extremely important for stabilizing the voltage of your system and delivering sufficient power to the doorbell.

If not present in your setup, the doorbell’s power supply may fluctuate constantly, according to the transformer’s voltage.

3.1 Where to Find the Ecobee Adapter?

The chime adapter interconnects the doorbell, transformer, and chime.

So, if there’s one already present in your setup, it must be next to the transformer or in the crawl space behind the chime.

It’s not recommended to use the Ecobee doorbell without a chime adapter, as this increases the chances of a red light and a potential hardware malfunction.

3.2 How to Properly Connect the Adapter?

There are several steps for installing the Chime adapter:

Adapter position:

• Position the chime adapter behind your doorbell, chime, or transformer.

Lead preparation:

• Unite the chime, doorbell, and chime wires, but do not touch them to one another.

Adapter connection:

• Connect the “FRONT” wire of the doorbell to the side of the chime adapter, the transformer’s “TRANS” wire into the front, and then tie the adapter’s wires with the chime.

The chime adapter is compatible with both mechanical and digital chimes, and the installation procedure depends on the type you have.

The terminals on both chimes are at an identical spot, but the sound production and infrastructure are different.

4. Check/Replace the Transformer

The Ecobee doorbell red ring appears whenever there’s a fault with the system’s transformer.

The transformer is responsible for stabilizing the system’s electricity and converting it from the standard 120V to values compatible with your doorbell, 16V–24V in your case.

First, let’s learn about Ecobee’s transformer requirements!

4.1 The Ecobee Transformer Requirements

An Ecobee-compatible transformer has these values:

• A voltage rating between 16V and 24V.
• A minimum power rating of about 10VA.

4.2 How to Locate the Doorbell Transformer?

The transformer of your doorbell can be difficult to locate. It’s a small appliance with the shape of a square.

It has two terminals and can either be behind or next to your chime box, near your breaker, or even in the basement or attic of your home.

4.3 How to “Read” the Doorbell Transformer?

Reading the transformer of your doorbell system is essential in identifying whether or not it is compliant with your system.

As established, it must have a sticker or a label that states the voltage and power rating.

Check if the voltage is between 16V and 24V, then search for a VA value that must be below 10.

The transformer’s frequency of function should also be 60 Hz.

If the transformer doesn’t meet these requirements, it must be replaced.

4.4 How to Replace the Doorbell Transformer? (Advanced)

Warning: If you’re uncomfortable working with your system’s electrical wiring, consult with a pro or a qualified technician!

1. Disable the system’s A/C supply at the breaker.
2. Locate the doorbell and find the security screws.
3. Use a Torx or Phillips screwdriver for the removal.
4. Once the transformer is loose, carefully detach it.
5. Now, position the new transformer on the latches.
6. Install the existing screws to the new transformer.
7. Next, connect the “TRANS” and “FRONT” wires.
8. Isolate the transformer, then reactivate the power.
9. Check if the doorbell is still displaying a red light.

Alert: Do not touch the transformer while there’s electricity in the system!

5. Verify the Chime Connections

The chime’s wiring is important for the functionality of the doorbell, as the chime’s terminals interconnect with Ecobee’s adapter “TRANS” and “FRONT/REAR” wires.

It’s essential to close off the circuit between your doorbell, breaker box, adapter, and, of course, the system’s chime.

5.1 How to Locate & Access the Chime?

So, the chime of your doorbell is generally located in the hallway of your home, above the front door or, in some cases, in the living room.

The location of the chime corresponds with how the terminal wires coming out of your doorbell are led and whether they’re built into the walls or not. 

5.2 How to Check the Chime Wiring?

Once you’ve located the chime, uninstall the front plate, and there should be the “FRONT”, “TRANS,” and “REAR” terminals that connect to your doorbell.

Deactivate the power at the circuit breaker and check whether each of the wires is secured with the chime’s terminals. 

Each of the terminals on the chime has a screw that secures the wire once it goes into the terminal.

So, ensure each of these screws are tightened to hold the doorbell’s wires secure. 

6. Bridge the Chime with a Diode

You can use a diode to bridge the wiring of your chime, especially if your system relies on an old installation.

This will help smoothen any potential voltage fluctuations and resolve the red light on your Ecobee doorbell by additionally regulating the transformer’s electrical output.

6.1 What Diode to Use for Bridging?

For example, you can use a 1N4007 diode that matches the 16V- 24V voltage requirements of the doorbell and chime.

The bridging itself creates a reverse polarity that not only helps with the voltage smoothing but also with potential voltage fluctuations producing the Ecobee red ring.

Note: A diode can help protect your chime or doorbell during a power outage! 

6.2 How to Install a Chime Diode?

You’re going to need:

• A 1N4007 diode with set inductance
• A screwdriver and a wire stripper tool
• A heat shrink tubing or a wire stripper

To install the diode:

1. Disable the system’s power at the circuit breaker box.
2. Remove the doorbell chime’s housing from the front.
3. Expose the terminals of the Ecobee doorbell’s chime.
4. Connect the cathode end with the “FRONT” terminal.
5. Now, install the anode end with the “TRANS” terminal.
6. Now, tighten the terminal screws of the doorbell chime.
7. Use the electrical tape or the tubing for the diode leads.
8. Turn the power back on and check the doorbell’s lights.

Warning: It’s important to use a compatible diode, otherwise, you may overload the system!

7. Factory Reset the Doorbell

If the Ecobee doorbell red light is still there, and nothing helped perhaps a factory reset will!

There’s a dedicated “Reset” button on the back of the faceplate that resets all settings of the doorbell when pressed for longer than 5 seconds.

To start the reset, disable the power at the circuit breaker, push the faceplate’s release latch, and then hold the button for 10 seconds.

The doorbell will immediately power off and then enter a factory reset state.

Then, reinstall the faceplate after approximately 60 seconds and check whether the red light indicator is still there. 

Note: If your Ecobee doorbell is still in red, contact Ecobee customer service or try to replace your doorbell by claiming your warranty.