The Home Improvement Thread

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Is there really a need for a doorbell in today's day and age?

Deliveries are left on the step, friends text when they arrive. If someone is canvassing they knock.

The bell hasn't worked from the time we moved in. We haven't missed it.

I'm not arguing against doorbells, just curious as to your reasoning for needing one.

[krynski]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

No buzz or hum just a chime from the doorbell itself on the outside of the house when you press the doorbell. I have the indoor chime turned on (app setting) and same thing. My guess is it’s the chime itself which costs $30 but looks like it has about $0.30 of parts in it. I’m gonna swap that out and see if that’s it. If not it’s the transformer. The kit comes with a new transformer which is 16V which should be enough for the doorbell, I just really don’t wanna take apart the whole electrical panel to replace the transformer

I replaced this last year after I bought my house. The chime was fried, and the transformer ended up being fried too.

I'm glad I bought the kit, because I ended up using most of what was in it. Really though, the transformer wiring took me maybe 10 minutes and was a lot easier than I expected. The crappy thing is the chime is in a different shape than what the previous one was, so I need to paint the wall the chime sits on.

[krynski]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Is there really a need for a doorbell in today's day and age?

Deliveries are left on the step, friends text when they arrive. If someone is canvassing they knock.

The bell hasn't worked from the time we moved in. We haven't missed it.

I'm not arguing against doorbells, just curious as to your reasoning for needing one.

In all honesty, I don't think so, but I don't think there was a big need for one in the first place.

I think the biggest feature today is the camera options that you can use for security or checking on package delivery.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Is there really a need for a doorbell in today's day and age?

Deliveries are left on the step, friends text when they arrive. If someone is canvassing they knock.

The bell hasn't worked from the time we moved in. We haven't missed it.

I'm not arguing against doorbells, just curious as to your reasoning for needing one.

I live in a basement suite with a second door downstairs and I definitely need a doorbell. Always have to tell delivery drivers to text on arrival lol.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Is there really a need for a doorbell in today's day and age?

Deliveries are left on the step, friends text when they arrive. If someone is canvassing they knock.

The bell hasn't worked from the time we moved in. We haven't missed it.

I'm not arguing against doorbells, just curious as to your reasoning for needing one.

I don't care so much about the bell itself, but the camera is almost a must have. See who's at the door from wherever I am in the house, notifications on my phone when a package is left on the step, home security, etc. The wifi bell is just a nice addon

[Calgary14]

So I swapped out the doorbell chime and it still doesn't work. There are 2 doorbells - back door (regular one) and front door (Nest). The backdoor one works fine which makes me think it's either the wiring on the doorbell itself or maybe the transformer can't handle the power for the Nest. I am trying to avoid swapping out the transformer as I dont wanna take apart the electrical panel.

Not ready to give up just yet but it's been a pain trying to get it to work. It is very nice to have the camera in the front to see if anyones arriving, deliveries etc

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

So I swapped out the doorbell chime and it still doesn't work. There are 2 doorbells - back door (regular one) and front door (Nest). The backdoor one works fine which makes me think it's either the wiring on the doorbell itself or maybe the transformer can't handle the power for the Nest. I am trying to avoid swapping out the transformer as I dont wanna take apart the electrical panel.

Not ready to give up just yet but it's been a pain trying to get it to work. It is very nice to have the camera in the front to see if anyones arriving, deliveries etc

Your chime should ring if you take the 2 wires going to the front doorbell and touch them together, closing the circuit. That's all a normal button does. So you should be able to easily test the front door wires.

[PaperBagger'14]

I doubt it's an issue with the transformer, that seems pretty unlikely. Do you have a voltmeter to test if there's power to the doorbell? The 2nd thing I'd check is what voltage your nest needs to run, doorbell circuits are typically 24V I believe.

[CroFlames]

1000% its your transformer.

I've installed 3 or 4 smart doorbells and its always the transformer.

Super easy to swap out. https://www.lowes.ca/product/doorbel...nsformer-63548

and it's on sale.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

1000% its your transformer.

I've installed 3 or 4 smart doorbells and its always the transformer.

Super easy to swap out. https://www.lowes.ca/product/doorbel...nsformer-63548

and it's on sale.

What was the issue with the transformer that caused it to not work?

Edit: I did some quick reading and in older homes you may have a 10V doorbell transformer, most modern homes are 24V output. The voltage should be stamped on the transformer or its frame somewhere.

[Calgary14]

I just tried messing around with the app settings. One of the settings is 'chime duration' for an electronic chime. I don't have an electronic chime but thought I'd try anyway. I rang it once with that setting on and both the outdoor and indoor chime worked. Then I turned that setting off, and same thing - it rings indoors and outdoors. I don't know how to get it to only ring indoors lol.

I dont think it's the transformer now as I dont think I would get any sound at all if it was, but if I need one I'll pick up the one linked above.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

What was the issue with the transformer that caused it to not work?

Two times it was a 16v transformer, so not enough power. Video doorbells need 24v.

One time it was a 24v/16v but was old and the doorbell didn't work great.

All three times I replaced with a new 24v, I had zero problems.

[PaperBagger'14]

Makes sense, the minimum the nest requires is 16V, so if the voltage dips below that even a touch the unit would power off.

Calgary14, if your transformer has 3 settings like the one croflames posted you can simply swap the wires from the 16V settings to the 24V setting amd save yourself a few bucks. If not swap it out and its really easy to do.

[Calgary14]

My transformer is this one: https://www.broan-nutone.com/en-ca/accessory/c905

If the doorbell rings inside now and outside, but I don't want it to ring outside (only inside), will a new transformer solve this?

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

My transformer is this one: https://www.broan-nutone.com/en-ca/accessory/c905

If the doorbell rings inside now and outside, but I don't want it to ring outside (only inside), will a new transformer solve this?

I can't say for sure, but what I know is that when they don't work properly, it's usually because they don't have enough power.

If you are having issues, I'd swap out of a 24v and see.

[Fuzz]

I'd have to assume you turn the outdoor chime off in the app.

[SilverKast]

I had the exact same issue when I tried to install a Ring doorbell/camera on my front door. I ended up swapping out the transformer and it still wouldn't work. I tried everything I could read up on but nothing worked.

I called Pete the Electrician and they came out and simply said the Ring unit was defective. I got a new one and tried again and still nothing. I ended up putting the original hardware back on out of frustration.

Whatever you do don't use Pete the Electrician - those guys were useless.

[puckedoff]

Swap out your malfunctioning transformer for Optimus Chime

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

My transformer is this one: https://www.broan-nutone.com/en-ca/accessory/c905

If the doorbell rings inside now and outside, but I don't want it to ring outside (only inside), will a new transformer solve this?

That transformer can only give you 16V, once you factor in volt drop over distance plus other voltage loss factors, that won't work for you. Get the transformer croflames posted and connect the wires to the indicated 24V terminals.

[Nufy]

have you replaced the thermocouple ?