WITH sunnier days ahead, it’s important to know just how much heat your Ring home security device can take.
If we see a sweltering heatwave like we did last year, Ring devices may have their performance affected by the weather.
You don’t want to be caught out on a sunny day when your doorbell or security camera won’t work.
“While Ring devices are engineered to work in a variety of weather conditions, extreme heat conditions and exposure to direct sunlight can cause overheating and damage the internal components of your Ring device,” Amazon-owned Ring says in an FAQ on its website.
“Your devices are therefore programmed to shut down and not ring before the heat tolerance of the device is exceeded.”
It should be noted that this behaviour is normal for many electronic devices, even iPhones.
The device will reactivate again when the temperature cools.
But Ring advises customers to bring their device inside when it gets too hot.
“Bring the entire device inside, take out the batteries and allow both the batteries and the unit to cool to room temperature,” the security device company says.
“Do not charge the batteries until they have cooled to room temperature.”
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Here’s the temperatures you should watch out for:
- 50°C: When the environment hit this temperature, the device will shut down immediately to avoid damaging internal components.
- 45°C: Your Ring device may operate at this temperature, but prolonged exposure may also cause the device to shut down.
“Keep an eye on the daily weather,” says Ring.
“While your Ring device will operate at 40°C, a couple of days at the temperature may trigger a shutdown. “
Theses temperatures are usually pretty rare in the UK, and are more common in parts of the US.
But with global temperatures rising, temperatures in the UK reached 40°C in some areas last summer.
It also depends where your Ring doorbell is placed, as nearby materials and colours may attract more sunlight during hotter spells.
“Remember that direct sunlight may heat up your Ring device to hotter than the ambient temperature and trigger a shutdown,” the company explains.
“If possible, install your device in an area that gets shade at least a few hours a day.”
Alongside the device getting too hot, the sun glare may also render your doorbell useless.
But there’s a cheap accessory that seeks to remedy this: a weather shield that keeps the camera unobstructed by water droplets and blazing sun.
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