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. |
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.
- Doorbell Wiring Connections
-
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.
- Here are the 4 Components of a Doorbell System and How to Check Them:
More about Home Electrical Wiring
Repairing Electrical Wiring
Electrical Splices – Part 1 – Emergency electrical wiring repairs should be made using the right materials for your particular application. Here are a few choices to help you decide what you’ll need.
The following may also be helpful for you:
Learn more about Home Electrical Wiring
|
||||||||
Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.
The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!The Non-Contact Electrical TesterThis is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.
The Quickest Way to Check for Faulty Electrical Wiring!The Plug-In Outlet TesterThis is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring. It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included Tests standard 3-wire outlets UL Listed Light indicates if wiring is incorrect Very handy and easy to use.
Strip Off Wire Insulation without Nicking and Damaging the Electric Wire!The Wire Stripper and Wire CutterMy absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires. This handy tool has multiple uses: The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation. The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets.. The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use. |
||
| More articles about Door Bell, Electrical Troubleshooting and Home Electrical Wiring: | |
| « Previous | Next » |
| How to Wire Switches using the Godown Method | Baseboard Heater Electric Circuit |
My current home had a monitoring system that included a radio, room-to-room communication, and the doorbell. From any room you could monitor and/or communicate with anyone that rang the doorbell at the front door. The monitoring/communication aspect of the antiquated system has long stopped working. However, the doorbell system works fine. I decided to purchase a wireless video communication/doorbell system that can either be wired into the existing two wire doorbell system or by using a supplied battery pack. However, when using the battery pack, you lose a lot of the functionality of the wireless system. I made an attempt to wire in the doorbell/transmitter into the old system with no success. I made a call to the manufacture who indicated that at least 16-20 volts must be present at the doorbell for there system to work. I placed a meter on the two conductor wires for the doorbell and found a fluctuating 20-47+ volts (not sure what that is about). I was wanting to know if I could somehow step down the voltage from the current voltage to the acceptable range of 16-20 volts A/C?
Hi Michael,
It sounds like you would like to have the existing intercom system working, so you may consider troubleshooting the system and making the necessary repairs. From the information you have provided the problem may be that the power supply is at fault and needs to be replaced. As you have discovered, the original manufacturer may be of assistance and have the necessary replacement parts.
I hope this helps,
Dave
My doorbell chime has a light “knock” sound coming from the resonator box on one side of the chime. The sound is reoccurring about every three minutes. The chimes work fine but this sound sounds like a footstep in the hallway. Can this be fixed or do I need to replace the chime?
Hi Henry,
Inspect the chime and remove any dust that may have accumulated around the door bell parts, then apply a small amount of light weight oil to the chime plunger. Tri-Flow type spray works well for these types of problems.
I hope this helps,
Dave