Updating Your Old Doorbell to Ring 2 - DIY Solutions

Updating your old doorbell & intercom speaker to a modern Ring 2 video doorbell system can be tricky since the Ring 2 is smaller than your old one.

What do you do about that large hole by your front door when you remove the old Nutone or TekTone doorbell intercom?

Buy a blank vintage doorbell cover that's large enough to cover your old speaker and screws directly into the old box. Then, mount the new doorbell right to the blank cover

See blank doorbell intercom covers here.

The aluminum doorbell cover plates can easily be drilled into, so you can mount your Ring 2 doorbell right to the cover.

Below, an old doorbell and intercom speaker was removed and the large hole was covered with this blank aluminum plate. The homeowner drilled holes into the cover to mount the Ring 2 doorbell and camera directly to the plate.

There are a variety of old doorbell styles and sizes, as shown here:

Follow these tips to determine the correct plate to convert your old doorbell to a new video doorbell:

Remove the Old Speaker
Turn off power to the doorbell.
Unscrew the speaker and remove any wiring that's attached.

Measure the Box
Measure the outside dimensions of the box as well as the distance between the screw holes where the old speaker was attached.

Note: screw holes are measured from the center of one hole to the center of the opposite hole.

Find the Right Size Cover Plate
You'll need the outside dimensions as well as the screw spread.

Covers are available in 2 sizes:

• 6.38" H x 4.5" W
• 7.5" H x 5.5" W

If your box is recessed in brick or other siding, make sure there's clearance for the cover plate. You may need to order a smaller size and use weather stripping or a gasket under the cover.

Find the Right Screw Spacing
NuTone doorbells typically have one of 4 screw spreads:

• 3.75" (center to center)
• 4.5" (center to center)
• 5.25" (center to center)
• 6-5/8" (center to center)

Screw spacing of the new cover must align with the box that's currently there.

Find Your Plate

See all doorbell cover sizes here.

Once you have the correct cover to act as your back plate, follow the instructions included with your Ring 2 doorbell, modifying them as needed to mount the video doorbell to the aluminum cover.

Installing another video doorbell model besides the Ring 2? 

If your doorbell model sits back into the wall rather than sitting on the surface as demonstrated above, you'll need a different intercom cover with a cutout for the recessed part of the doorbell unit.

Learn how to find a cover for all video doorbell models here.