The Google Nest Hello Video Doorbell remains one of our top recommendations for homeowners looking to better secure their front door. But since these doorbells are designed to replace a wired doorbell button, they are powered via the standard 2-wire doorbell wiring infrastructure—and many homes may not have the proper wiring in place to connect them. In some cases, the proper wiring may be in place but there is no existing doorbell transformer or door chime. Or in the case of the home depicted below, the wiring was installed on the wrong side of the door. In these scenarios, an accessory like the Ninety7 Indoor Power Adapter can be an excellent solution.
Ninety7 Indoor Power Adapter, a Made for Google Solution
The Ninety7 Indoor Power Adapter is certified by the company to work with the Google Nest Hello Doorbell, and as such has the Made for Google badge on its box. This adapter, then, is ideal for getting Nest Hello connected and powered for locations where existing doorbell wiring is not in place. Google sells it on the Google Store for $29.
We did our installation and testing process using this product, and found it to work as advertised with Nest Hello. A nice feature that sets this adapter apart from most others is the extra-long 20-ft. power cable, so you should be able to easily route it through the wall and then to a nearby indoor power outlet. Google has published detailed setup and installation instructions on their website.
What to Expect With an Accessory Power Adapter
Since this setup does not integrate with a conventional door chime, the most basic installation with a Nest Hello doorbell and the Ninety7 Indoor Power Adapter relies on the Nest app for notifications when a visitor appears at the door. For some homeowners, this may be an acceptable solution. But it’s more likely you’ll want to have chime capability with your Nest Hello in order to simulate a conventional doorbell.
So, to integrate chime capability, you can install one or more Google Home speakers or compatible third party smart speakers. When a Google Home speaker is integrated, a doorbell press event will then generate a chime at the speaker as well a generic “There is someone at the door” voice announcement.
You can also go a step further and install a Google Nest Hub display or a compatible third party smart display. In this case, a doorbell press event will generate a chime on the Nest Hub and also result in immediate display of the live video feed and a Talk button so you can answer the door directly.
Furthermore, depending upon the Nest Aware plan you have, Nest camera features such as Familiar Face Detection, Person Seen Alerts, Package Detection, and more may be enabled.
You will also need to drill a hole from the outside to the inside of your home for routing the power cable, which can be a somewhat daunting task. This will require a power drill and a specialized 11/32-in. (9 mm) drill bit long enough to do the job in a single boring operation. Also keep in mind you will need to route the power cable through the hole in the wall, then route the cable and attached plug-in adapter to the nearest available inside outlet.
Nest Pro Installers Rely on Them
If you are not excited about drilling entirely through your walls—from the outside to the inside—you can turn to a Nest Pro installer. These installers are quite adept at tackling standard, non-standard, and otherwise difficult Nest product installations.
We checked in with Jason Wade, owner of Doorbell Ninja in Winter Park, Florida, to see how his smart home integration services team handles some of these more difficult Nest Hello installations. Wade’s Nest Pro installation team primarily services the Orlando, Winter Garden, Tampa, Lakeland, Daytona, St. Augustine, Jacksonville and other areas in Florida with a broad array of smart home technology.
“We do quite a few installations of Nest Hello and other video doorbells with various power adapter kits, and they work very well where there is no existing doorbell wiring,” said Wade. “Our objective is always get a very clean, reliable installation, so we are very careful when drilling through exterior walls, making sure we plan ahead around how we are going to route the power cable and plug in the adapter once we are inside.”
Wade says not all installs are straightforward, but they always look for a creative solution where possible. “In some instances, we find there is simply no clean way to get power to the Nest Hello without major work. In some of these difficult cases, we are able to track down and tap into the existing doorbell wiring, determine where it goes inside the house, then install the power adapter in that remote location—which may be in the attic or elsewhere.”
Still another use for these Nest power adapters has been discovered by the Doorbell Ninja team. “While I may be giving away a trade secret here, we often use a power adapter to pre-configure the Nest Hello while still inside the home,” said Wade. “We can sit at a table, plug the adapter into a nearby outlet, then fully set up the Nest Hello and get it connected to Wi-Fi and the Nest cloud before we take it outside. That’s a lot easier than trying to configure it while it’s mounted on the wall.”
Nest Hello and Ninety7 Indoor Power Adapter: Basic Installation Steps
For many homeowners, this is the type of install that can be done as DIY. Here are the basic steps, but be sure to consult the detailed instructions on the Google Nest support site.
- Determine the desired installation location for the Nest Hello doorbell, ensuring there is a clear path behind the doorbell wall plate for drilling through the wall, and where there is a suitable electrical outlet within reach of the cable on the inside.
- Install the Nest wall plate on the outside wall, centering it over the desired location for the cable hole.
- Drill the hole through the wall, then route the Ninety7 Indoor Power Adapter cable from the inside to the outside.
- Connect the power adapter wires to the Nest Hello.
- Mount the Nest Hello to the wall.
- Determine final routing for the power cable on the inside, then plug the power adapter into the selected outlet.
- Configure the Nest Hello using the Nest app, connect it to Wi-Fi, and test out the video stream.
- Optionally, configure the Nest app and Google Assistant to work with Google Home speakers and Google Nest Hubs.
- Optionally, install on-wall cable concealment raceway inside to make a clean installation.
Other Options for a Nest Hello Power Supply
Alternatively, there are other similar power adapters readily available, and they should work in the same fashion. Before you order, make sure the manufacturer explicitly states the adapter is designed to work with Nest Hello. Among the options are those available from OhmKat, Wasserstein, and other manufacturers.
