Battery draining even though mains powered

Battery draining even though mains powered

Battery draining even though mains powered
Battery draining even though mains powered
2025-06-18 11:59:08 - last edited 2025-07-03 07:42:01
Tags: #Power supply
Model: Tapo D235  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: 1.1.19

I'm very happy with the camera that I recently purchased. A professional electrician installed it. However, I have noticed that the battery level is slowly dropping even though it is connected to the mains power supply as can be seen in the screenshot provided. Surely the battery level should not be falling at all? What could be the reasons for this and how can it be fixed?

File:
Tapo_D235_Power Level_20250618.jpgDownload
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#1
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2 Accepted Solutions
Re:Battery draining even though mains powered-Solution
2025-06-24 07:53:19 - last edited 2025-07-03 07:42:26

  @Cheetara_25 

 

The recording plan is configured separately, you don't have to enable it if it's not needed.

 

The power consumption is definitely higher when the always-on mode is enabled, as the doorbell is awake all the time instead of in sleep mode, but the exact amount depends on how the camera is utilized. Actually, if the doorbell isn't used frequently (e.g. 24/7 live stream or recording) and you don't need the battery level to be maintained at 100%, always-on mode is not needed.

 

For battery protection reasons, the doorbell won't recharge immediately after discharging, the re-charging starts after the battery level drops to a certain threshold. So under normal circumstances, you don't have to worry when seeing the battery level drops, the situation where the doorbell shut down due to empty battery is unlikely to happen.

Tapo P110M Matter 1.3 Release Energy Monitoring through Matter ▶ Smart HomeBase Tapo H500 - Even More Powerful Smart Hub ▶ First Smart Switch Module! Tapo S112 Smart Switch Module with Roller and Switch Dual ModesTapo Camera Image Style & Image Brightness Try out a different image style for your camera!
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#4
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Re:Battery draining even though mains powered-Solution
2025-06-25 16:07:04 - last edited 2025-07-03 07:42:01

  @Wayne-TP 

Thank you.

 

Since I switched the camera to Always-On mode, there was a notification that power had been switched from battery to mains.

After several days of monitoring the situation, the battery is no longer discharging and remains steady at 98%.

 

The other benefit now that it has switched to mains powered is that the camera is not missing any events at all.

Before when it was battery powered and the walkup time was too long, it was missing several events.

I did some tests to see what it was actually picking up verses what it was supposed to be picking up.

 

In short it is functioning as it should.

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#5
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Re:Battery draining even though mains powered
2025-06-19 03:45:44

  @Cheetara_25 

 

Please enable the Always-On mode. The charging power is lower if the always-on mode isn't enabled, so when the doorbell operates frequently and consumes more power, the battery level will drop due to insufficient input.

Tapo P110M Matter 1.3 Release Energy Monitoring through Matter ▶ Smart HomeBase Tapo H500 - Even More Powerful Smart Hub ▶ First Smart Switch Module! Tapo S112 Smart Switch Module with Roller and Switch Dual ModesTapo Camera Image Style & Image Brightness Try out a different image style for your camera!
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#2
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Re:Battery draining even though mains powered
2025-06-19 11:19:10

  @Wayne-TP 

 

Thank you. I will try that, but doesn't that mean it will use more power if it's on all the time? And does this also mean that it will be recording 24/7? I only want it to record when it detects an event, not everything.

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#3
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Re:Battery draining even though mains powered-Solution
2025-06-24 07:53:19 - last edited 2025-07-03 07:42:26

  @Cheetara_25 

 

The recording plan is configured separately, you don't have to enable it if it's not needed.

 

The power consumption is definitely higher when the always-on mode is enabled, as the doorbell is awake all the time instead of in sleep mode, but the exact amount depends on how the camera is utilized. Actually, if the doorbell isn't used frequently (e.g. 24/7 live stream or recording) and you don't need the battery level to be maintained at 100%, always-on mode is not needed.

 

For battery protection reasons, the doorbell won't recharge immediately after discharging, the re-charging starts after the battery level drops to a certain threshold. So under normal circumstances, you don't have to worry when seeing the battery level drops, the situation where the doorbell shut down due to empty battery is unlikely to happen.

Tapo P110M Matter 1.3 Release Energy Monitoring through Matter ▶ Smart HomeBase Tapo H500 - Even More Powerful Smart Hub ▶ First Smart Switch Module! Tapo S112 Smart Switch Module with Roller and Switch Dual ModesTapo Camera Image Style & Image Brightness Try out a different image style for your camera!
Recommended Solution
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#4
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Re:Battery draining even though mains powered-Solution
2025-06-25 16:07:04 - last edited 2025-07-03 07:42:01

  @Wayne-TP 

Thank you.

 

Since I switched the camera to Always-On mode, there was a notification that power had been switched from battery to mains.

After several days of monitoring the situation, the battery is no longer discharging and remains steady at 98%.

 

The other benefit now that it has switched to mains powered is that the camera is not missing any events at all.

Before when it was battery powered and the walkup time was too long, it was missing several events.

I did some tests to see what it was actually picking up verses what it was supposed to be picking up.

 

In short it is functioning as it should.

Recommended Solution
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  1  
#5
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Re:Battery draining even though mains powered
2025-06-26 09:43:55

  @Cheetara_25 

 

Thank you for your update, i'm glad to hear that!

Tapo P110M Matter 1.3 Release Energy Monitoring through Matter ▶ Smart HomeBase Tapo H500 - Even More Powerful Smart Hub ▶ First Smart Switch Module! Tapo S112 Smart Switch Module with Roller and Switch Dual ModesTapo Camera Image Style & Image Brightness Try out a different image style for your camera!
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#6
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