Google has acknowledged that Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell batteries won’t charge in the cold.
9to5Google reports that Google recently published a support article detailing the differences between the Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell’s operating temperatures and the temperatures at which their batteries can be recharged in response to complaints from product owners.
“At temperatures below freezing, the lithium-ion battery in your Google Nest camera or doorbell won’t be able to charge,” Google says in the support article. “Many devices, including popular models of doorbell cameras and cell phones, use lithium-ion batteries for their high power and long life, but these batteries are also affected by temperatures below freezing.”
The company says these are the relevant temperatures for the Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell:
- Minimum operating temperature: -4°F (-20°C)
- Minimum charging temperature: 32°F (0°C)
“At temperatures between -4°F (-20°C) and 32°F (0°C), the battery can still power your device, but it won’t charge,” Google says. “It may also drain more quickly than usual. At temperatures close to -4°F (-20°C), your battery may have less than half the life that it has in warm weather.”
The company also says wired installations of the battery-equipped Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell can struggle in the cold—between -4°F (-20°C) and 32°F (0°C)—because they aren’t drawing power directly from the line. Instead they run on batteries that are “trickle charged” by the power line. (A Nest Cam that isn’t connected to the Wasserstein Solar Panel is the sole exception.)
Google says that Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell owners should bring their devices inside to charge when it’s colder than 32°F (0°C) outside. The devices will charge slowly at first, the company says, but will replenish their batteries faster as they approach room temperature.
