Hi and help please

[Amador]

Hi, new and needing advice about a hard wired doorbell please but DIY forum is locked. Should I post question here?
Thanks
April

 

[Marvo]

Hi April, I've moved the thread for you and given you permissions for the DIY forum.

So..... tell us about your doorbell problem

 

[Amador]

Hi Marvo, thanks for that.

This is probably going to be really confusing as I don't really know what I'm talking about so please forgive me :stooge_curly:

I have had a hardwired doorbell for 35 years and for the last two years it has not been working. It has a surface bell push and an underdome bell. I am not sure what the transformer voltage is - it has 5v, 6v and 8v on the front of it.

The bell push sparks when pressed and I can hear the transformer buzzing when I press it so I assumed there must be a fault in the wiring somewhere. However, the wires in the underdome are registering a voltage so I thought maybe that had worn out and proceeded to buy a new underdome bell.

After wiring this up the bell still does not work and I cannot work out what could possibly be wrong as everything seems to be working! The underdome requires an 8v transformer which I think mine must be.

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

April

 

[Richard Burns]

If you have a multimeter or any meter that can measure the voltage then it would be worth testing to see if you have 8V at the bell when the bell push is pressed.
Another thing to consider is if the bell requires a direct current supply (this is probably unlikely) as most bell transformers will supply an alternating current 8V supply.
If you have this symbol ~ then this is a.c supply, --- this symbol is a d.c supply.

It is possible that the bell push (being the most exposed part) has deteriorated so it would be worth as a test connecting the two wires of the bell push together and seeing if the bell rings, if it does then a new bell push would be in order.
The only other problems I could envisage are poor connections in a joint in the cable somewhere between the transformer, the bell push and the bell, this can cause a low voltage to be seen at the bell, so there is not enough power to supply the ringing.

 

[Amador]

Hi Richard,

I connected the 2 bell push wires but the bell doesn't ring and I have now fiddled about so much with those wires over the last few days that one of them has snapped off and I cannot get any more wire through :6: so it looks like I am going to need an electrician to re-wire.

Would you have any idea, please, how much it would cost just to put a new wire in as I already have all the equipment?

Many thanks for your help,

April

 

[telectrix]

whereabouts are you. the cost should only be £30 - £40 for a spark to come out. one of us may be close to you. or you could consider scrapping it and fitting a wireless unit.

 

[Amador]

Hi Telectrix,

I'm in Leigh-on-Sea near Southend, Essex.

I would rather try and get this fixed as I really don't want a wireless bell unless the re-wiring is cost prohibitive. I am in a first floor flat - converted house - not sure whether or not that would add to the cost?


Thank you,


April

 

[telectrix]

couple or so members in your area. this is because us northerners won't grant visas to essex boys. lol.

 

[Amador]

Well that's not much good for us Essex girls is it! :stooge_curly:

Might they be willing to give me a quote do you think?