Troubleshooting a Door Bell Chime

How do I wire a doorbell chime unit? How to Fix a Door Bell Problem, The Most Common Problems with Doorbells and How to Fix Them. © By: Dave Rongey

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Guide to Doorbell Problems and How to Fix Them
Electrical Question: How do I wire a doorbell chime unit?

• I disconnected a doorbell chime unit to apply Venetian plaster and it was down for about 2 weeks.
• I reinstalled it using the one red wire and one white wire that I disconnected.
• Two days later everything on that circuit stopped working.
• I checked the breaker, but did not find any tripped. I even reset every breaker in the box to make sure I didn’t miss any.
• I then disconnected the doorbell and about 30 minutes later everything on that circuit was working again. I thought maybe I reconnected the wires on the doorbell backwards, so I connected them the opposite way and tried it again.
• The same thing happened, everything worked for about 2 days and then suddenly stopped.
• I have discovered that the breaker that is on may be a AFCI, but did not know that at the time.

I am not quite sure what the cause is, but I know it is with the doorbell, everything was fine before I disconnected it.  How do I fix my doorbell?
Thanks

This home electrical repairs question came from: Tammy, from Nashville, Tennessee.

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical troubleshooting question Tammy.

How to Repair a Door Bell Chime Problem

Application: How to Fix Door Bell Electrical Wiring.
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate – Best if wired by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools and Voltage Tester.
Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, comprehension, and ability to work with tools.
Precaution: Identify the supply circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the circuit wiring.

Electrical Wiring for a Door Bell

• Disconnected Doorbell Wires
  • When the door bell wiring was disconnected and if the wires were bare then it may have produce a spark. Even a small spark from a doorbell could cause the AFCI circuit breaker to trip OFF. When a doorbell is removed it is best to make sure the wires are capped off or covered with electrical tape.

• Door Bell Wiring
  • The most common doorbell system consists of a low voltage transformer and two wires that are installed between the transformer, the doorbell button on the porch, and the wall mounted doorbell chime.

• • • Doorbell Wiring Connections
      • Make sure the wiring connections are tight and well insulated to eliminate the possibility of bare wires that could create an arc or spark.
      • The most common way a doorbell is wired:
        • One pair of wires from the transformer to the chime where the white wire connects to one of the chime screw terminals.
        • Another pair of wires from the chime to the doorbell button which is basically wired as a loop from remaining red wire from the transformer, to the button, and back to the chime where it is then connected to the other chime screw terminal.

Common Problems with Doorbells and How to Fix Them

• How to Troubleshoot and Fix Doorbell Problems
  • Here are the 4 Components of a Doorbell System and How to Check Them:
    • Electric Line Circuit Power: This is typically 120volts which connects to the transformer. The circuit power should be tested and verified. A doorbell does not require a dedicated circuit, so typically it is on a shared circuit with other devices, therefore if the circuit power is not working then other devices may not be working as well.
    • The low voltage wiring from the transformer to the wall chime and the doorbell button. The low voltage may be verified using a circuit tester.
    • The doorbell Button: Sometimes the pair of contacts of the doorbell button will wear out and stop working, if so then simply replace the doorbell button.
    • The door bell wall chime: Standard door bell chimes will last a long time, but just like anything else it may need a little maintenance. Standard wall chimes have two plungers with a spring which can stop working due to rust or dust which can be easily solved by carefully cleaning these parts and then applying a very small amount of light duty lubricant.

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