Rigging up a small solar panel to doorbell/camera

[Admiral Blue]

I am looking at a doorbell with a small camera in it. It runs off of a rechargeable battery, constantly powered by AC. I do not have an exterior outlet nearby and do not want to drill through brick and interior walls. If I used a solar panel off of a landscaping light and just soldered that to the cord instead of the AC adapter, do you think it would work? :bigears:

[DAB]

IQ America Wireless Battery Operated Doorbell Push Button - White-WD-6104A at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/IQ-America-Wireless-Battery-Operated-Doorbell-Push-Button-White-WD-6104A/202278758)

[Admiral Blue]

I want a camera and intercom. I can use an intercom off of my whole house audio system which would be nice, but then I have to keep that on all the time to have the bell ring---don't want to do that because it is a waste of the equipment and produces a lot of heat.

[Sea Six]

What are the voltage and amperage requirements for the device, and what is the voltage and amperage produced by the solar cell in question?

More importantly, you'll have to consider that even though your doorbell may contain a batt-try, there will be much more frequent blackouts in video surveillance due to cloudy days and solar events (such as the moon blocking the sunlight for a large portion of the 24 hour day).

[syf350]

I am looking at a doorbell with a small camera in it. It runs off of a rechargeable battery, constantly powered by AC. I do not have an exterior outlet nearby and do not want to drill through brick and interior walls. If I used a solar panel off of a landscaping light and just soldered that to the cord instead of the AC adapter, do you think it would work? :bigears:

no

[Admiral Blue]

Thanks. I could not find the power rating on the intercom, but I was skeptical in thinking it would work.

[Sea Six]

Well, if you think about it, those little solar cell powered landscaping lights can't even provide enough light output to compete with a full moon.

[Admiral Blue]

Yes, but for a small blue light on a doorbell and a mini camera that only goes on when the button is pushed, it should not require much power?

[syf350]

here's the deal. if your doorbell plugs into an outlet, then somewhere along the lines is a transformer/charger to step down the 110vac to the operating voltage of the unit (which may or may not be the battery voltage) It is possible that you could bypass that part, but you would need to make sure that your solar cell is putting out what the transformer/charger is putting out. Simple enough to find if the plug in has a power supply on it you can look at the ratings. If that matches, you're a step in the right direction. If they dont match, then you would need to make sure your solar cell matches you battery voltage, and bypass everything and go straight to the battery.:cheers:

[Admiral Blue]

Whoa. Thanks for the detailed info and explanation. This would entail MUCH more effort than I imagined and while perhaps not overly complicated in the grand scheme of things, much more work on a marginally rated overseas product that has limited positive reviews without tampering!

Thanks again!