How to Install and Mount Your SkyBell Doorbell Camera

The SkyBell Doorbell Camera does not come with a wireless installation option. Instead, you will need to connect your camera directly to your current doorbell wiring.

The first thing you need to do is determine whether your doorbell is digital or mechanical.

Please watch the following video on installation before reading the rest of this article:

 

What You’ll Need

• Pencil or Marker

• Phillips Head Screwdriver

• Power drill (For Stucco or brick)

• Tape (electrical is generally best used for this)

Step 1: Test your current doorbell

Ring your current doorbell. If you hear the classic ding-dong noise, you have a mechanical doorbell. If you hear a melody or tone from a speaker, you have a digital doorbell. If your doorbell does not ring at all, you will need to contact an electrician to make sure your doorbell wiring is working correctly.

Step 2: Turn off your doorbell breaker

Now, you’ll need to go to your breaker box and turn off your doorbell breaker. If you’re not sure which breaker powers the doorbell, you can just flip the master breaker. Test your doorbell to make sure it no longer rings before proceeding.

 

Step 3: Remove your current doorbell

Unscrew your current doorbell from the wall, then pull on the doorbell to expose the two wires connecting your doorbell to the wall. Untwist the wires from your current doorbell, and tape them on the outside of the wall, so that they do not fall into the hole and get lost in your wall.

Step 4: Install the mounting plate

Pull the rectangular mounting plate out of the packaging. You will notice a small piece of tape at the bottom of the bracket. Remove that tape, but do not remove the screw.

If you have purchased a wedge mount, you will need to install that before installing the mounting plate. Place the mounting plate on top of the wedge, making sure the wiring is fed through the holes in both the wedge and the mounting plate, and screw the plate and wedge in place using the screws provided with the mounting plate.

Feed the 2 wires (the ones you taped to the wall earlier) through the center hole on the mounting plate. Place your mounting plate at the desired height/location. Using a pencil, mark where the screws will go. 

**Note: If you have stucco, brick, or stone siding, remove the mounting plate and use a 6mm (¼”) drill bit to drill holes where you have marked. Place anchors in the holes, and replace the mounting plate.**

Screw the mounting plate into place using the provided screws. Make sure the screws are firmly attached, but not so tight that they cause strain on the mounting plate.

 

Step 5: Secure the doorbell wiring to the mounting plate

Now, loosen the 2 terminal screws located near the bottom of the mounting plate. Curl the copper ends of each of the 2 wires (from your doorbell wiring) and wrap each of them around the threads of one of the screws (one wire per screw). Tighten the screws enough to secure the wires in place.

Step 6: Place the doorbell camera on the mounting plate.

Now, grab your doorbell camera. Locate the screw at the very bottom of the mounting plate (initially this screw was covered with tape). Loosen the screw with just a few twists, until the top of the screw is flush with the plastic ring. Do not remove the screw. 

Secure your camera in place by first locating the lip on the top of the camera, then lining it up with the corresponding grooves on the mounting plate. Snap the bottom of the camera into place.

Tighten the small set screw on the bottom of the mounting plate. Be careful not to over-tighten it (do not use a drill). The LED indicator light should begin flashing red and blue if the camera is attached correctly. If the LED light does not turn on, you may need to remove the camera and ensure the wires are attached correctly.

 

Step 7: Turn the breaker back on

Turn your breaker back on and go back out to the doorbell camera. If there's a light on the device it means it's working. Allow 15 minutes for the doorbell camera to charge before syncing to the Cove app. Once the doorbell camera is charged, the indicator light should turn solid yellow. If 15 minutes have passed and the indicator light is still flashing red and blue, please call our customer service team.