How to Build a DIY Smart Doorbell for Only $20 That’s Better Than Ring

Introduction

I want to build my own smart video doorbell that has all the features of a Ring doorbell for a fraction of the cost. In this article, I will walk through my complete process for creating a DIY smart doorbell using common hardware store items and basic electronics supplies for around $20.

Reasons to Build Your Own Smart Doorbell

There are a few key reasons why I want to build my own DIY smart doorbell rather than buying a commercial product like the Ring doorbell:

• Cost - Commercial smart doorbells can cost $100-$500. My DIY version has similar functionality for only $20 in parts.
• Customization - I can choose components to get the exact features I want.
• Privacy - I control the data and video feed, not a third-party company.
• Learning experience - It's fun and educational to build your own electronics project.

Component Selection

The main components I used for my DIY doorbell build are:

• Raspberry Pi Zero W - The brains of the doorbell. This microcomputer handles video processing, connectivity, and stores footage. Only $10.
• Raspberry Pi Camera Module - An attachable camera for the Pi. Provides 1080p video. Around $7.
• MicroSD Card - To store the operating system and video footage. I used a 16GB card I had on hand.
• Push button - Any basic doorbell button you can wire up to the Pi GPIO pins. I used one from an old doorbell kit for $2.
• Jumper wires - For connecting the various components. I already had a pack on hand.
• DC power supply - A 5V power supply to power the Pi. I used an old phone charger.

Why Raspberry Pi?

I chose the Raspberry Pi Zero W for this project because:

• It's an inexpensive single-board computer perfect for DIY projects.
• It has built-in WiFi capability with the Zero W model for wireless connectivity.
• It can run a standard Linux operating system like Raspberry Pi OS for easy software installation.
• It has GPIO (general purpose input/output) pins that can integrate with sensors, buttons, cameras, etc.

Assembly Steps

With my components selected, I followed these steps to assemble my DIY smart doorbell:

1. Set up the Raspberry Pi

• Install Raspberry Pi OS on the microSD card.
• Connect the Pi to power and enable SSH so I can access it wirelessly.
• Enable the camera module in the Pi configuration.
• Update the OS packages and install any dependencies I'll need.

2. Wire the button

• Connect one side of the push button to GPIO 4 and the other to ground.
• Test it by watching the console output when pressed.

3. Mount the camera

• Attach the camera module to the Pi. Make sure the ribbon cable is aligned properly.
• Enable and test the camera with the raspistill command.

4. Write doorbell software

• Write a Python script to watch for a button press and trigger video recording.
• Set up motion detection on the camera feed to also begin recording.
• Configure the software to store video clips locally and upload them over WiFi.

5. Install the doorbell

• Mount the Pi and camera module outside near my door. Make sure the camera has a good view.
• Attach wires from the button to mount it outside as well.
• Seal connections and mount hardware in a weatherproof electrical box.

Doorbell Software Features

My DIY doorbell runs custom software in Python to provide key features:

• Button Press Detection - Script watches GPIO pin 4 for a button press to start recording.
• Motion Detection - Uses OpenCV library on camera feed to detect visitors.
• Video Recording - Records 10-30 second video clips when button pressed or motion detected.
• Cloud Upload - Uploads recordings to Google Drive account for remote access.
• Smart Alerts - Pushes notifications to my phone when someone is at the door.

I can also view a live feed from the camera using streaming software like ffmpeg.

The software runs automatically when the Pi boots up so the doorbell is always active.

Remote Access from Anywhere

With finished hardware and software, my DIY doorbell has all the key features of a commercial smart doorbell:

• Get notifications on my phone whenever someone presses the doorbell or triggers the motion detection.
• View the video clips uploaded to my cloud storage in real-time no matter where I am.
• Stream a live video feed from the camera using my phone.
• DIY build with common hardware cost me only $20 compared to $100-$500 retail smart doorbells!

Conclusion

Building your own DIY smart doorbell is a fulfilling electronics project that can save money compared to commercial options. The core component is a Raspberry Pi microcomputer coupled with a camera module and basic doorbell button. With custom Python software running on the Pi, I was able to create a video doorbell with motion detection, cloud upload, and mobile notifications for under $20. Now I never have to miss a visitor or delivery when I'm not home!