Doorbell G410 - batteries

[D1G1TALR0B0T]

Hi all,

Hope your week is going well.

I am hoping to upgrade to the G400 when available in the UK and power via POE. I currently have the G410, powered by doorbell wiring.

I am thinking of reusing the G410 in another area where there is no wire, but can use batteries.

I was just wondering are there any particular batteries recommend for the G410 and are rechargeable batteries suitable?

Thanks for your help.

[matthew_king1114]

I’ve been using the Philips rechargeable AA lithium batteries. Bought them on Amazon and they work great. Bought an extra set to keep charged for when I need to replace the ones in the doorbell. Don’t last super long but super easy to change out

[D1G1TALR0B0T]

Thanks so much, how long do they last for you?

[matthew_king1114]

Just started using them like 3 months ago. It last about a month. But I have cold winters here so idk if the summers will be better

[JohnD]

Take a look here. I’ve already written something a little more detailed about it.

@JohnD

Since users are reporting battery drops on the G410, especially in cold weather, here is a breakdown of how different battery chemistries behave in this specific device:

1. Alkaline (Standard / Included – e.g. Voniko)

• Chemistry: Zinc-manganese dioxide with a water-based electrolyte.
• Voltage: 1.5 V nominal (drops continuously to ~0.9 V).
• Cold Resistance: Poor.
• Rechargeable: No.
• Optimal Range: 15 °C to 25 °C (59 °F to 77 °F).
• Functional Range: Rated down to -10 °C, but in real-world practice, performance is severely limited below 0 °C (32 °F).
• In the G410: Because the electrolyte is water-based, internal resistance spikes in the cold. Under high load (e.g. Wi-Fi or video streaming), the voltage sags instantly. This explains why the app might report a drop from 100% to 70% in 30 minutes. It’s often the firmware misinterpreting the voltage sag under load. This is not necessarily a “bug.”

2. NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride – e.g., Eneloop)

• Chemistry: Nickel hydroxide / Metal hydride.
• Voltage: 1.2 V (very stable discharge plateau).
• Cold Resistance: Fair.
• Rechargeable: Yes.
• Optimal Range: 10 °C to 30 °C (50 °F to 86 °F).
• Functional Range: -20 °C to +45 °C (-4 °F to 113 °F).
• In the G410: These are problematic due to their low starting voltage. Six cells provide only 7.2 V instead of the 9.0 V provided by alkaline batteries. This means that the G410’s electronics may reach their lower voltage threshold very quickly, resulting in “Low Battery” warnings even when the cells are freshly charged.

3. Lithium Primary (The “Winter Kings” – e.g., Energizer Ultimate Lithium)

• Chemistry: Lithium-iron disulfide.
• Voltage: 1.5 V (extremely stable under load).
• Cold Resistance: Excellent.
• Rechargeable: No.
• Optimal Range: -20 °C to +30 °C (-4 °F to 86 °F).
• Functional Range: Down to -40 °C / -40 °F.
• In the G410: This is the most reliable choice for battery-only outdoor use. They show significantly less capacity loss in freezing temperatures compared to any other AA type. They are lightweight and stable but expensive and non-rechargeable.

4. Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Batteries – e.g., Hixon)

• Chemistry: Lithium-Ion cell with an integrated step-down converter.
• Voltage: Constant 1.5 V (artificially regulated by an internal chip).
• Cold Resistance: Good (though slightly weaker than Lithium Primaries).
• Rechargeable: Yes. (charging should only be carried out at temperatures above 0 °C)
• Optimal Range: 10 °C to 25 °C (50 °F to 77 °F).
• Functional Range: -20 °C to +60 °C (-4 °F to 140 °F).
• In the G410: It’s a great economical choice, but the power reporting is inconsistent. If the protection circuit throttles under a high load or in extreme cold conditions, the G410 may appear ‘dead’ one moment and ‘full’ the next once the load is removed. As the internal chip maintains a constant voltage of 1.5 V, the Aqara app will typically display 100% capacity until the very last moment. Once the internal cell is depleted, the protection circuit cuts power instantly. The display jumps from 100% to 0%, dropping off a “cliff”.

5. Li-Po (Lithium-Polymer)

• Chemistry: Lithium compound in a gel-like polymer matrix.
• Voltage: 3.7 V native (requires a converter for AA).
• Cold Resistance: Sensitive.
• Rechargeable: Yes.
• Optimal Range: 15 °C to 35 °C (59 °F to 95 °F).
• Functional Range: -10 °C to +50 °C (14 °F to 122 °F).
• In the G410: Rarely found in AA format. Not recommended for harsh winters as the gel electrolyte becomes sluggish in the cold, leading to significant power loss compared to standard Li-Ion cylindrical cells.

[D1G1TALR0B0T]

Absolutely fantastic, thank you.

[coletti.robert]

Great resource!