It is an AC device and that is a typical installation. Two wires run from the transformer to the door bell box. If there are three terminals on the door bell box then probably the transformer wires go to the outer two terminals where they share connection with one of each pair from the front and back door buttons. the other two wires, one from each button probably share the middle terminal.
You are unlikely to hurt yourself much playing with it although if you keep the transformer shorted across it's terminals for long you might burn it out. Just make the transformer connection then take a wire or screw driver and make the connection between the other terminals to discover which is the front and back door. The bell mechanism may include coils depending on the type which can give you a pretty good single shock as the connection is made and broken but nothing more than to startle you if your fingers are damp. ----- Original Message ----- From: Art Rizzino To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 8:37 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] Diagnosing a doorbell Hi Dale, The transformer (I think) is a separate device from the doorbell box. It only has two terminals on it and is mounted directly to an electrical junction box cover. The three terminals that I asked about are in the doorbell box it self. How might I determine if DC or alternating current device. Thanks. Art ----- Original Message ----- From: Dale Leavens To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 9:10 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] Diagnosing a doorbell The transformer may be a 16 or 24 volt reducing transformer. It supplies power to the bell. There are three terminals, one is a common, one wire from each bell button goes to that terminal. The second wire from the front door goes to one of the other terminals and the second wire from the back door goes to the other terminal. Pressing one button drives power to one bell circuit, the other to the other circuit. It is most probably an alternating current device. Hope this helps. ----- Original Message ----- From: Art Rizzino To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 7:32 PM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Diagnosing a doorbell I would like guidance diagnosing my house two door doorbell setup. The wiring always looked shaky to me. Today I was coming down out of the attic and my shirt got caught on the door bell wires and pulled them apart. Well I guess this is the time to figure out the system and make better connections than twisting wires together and let exposed bear wires dangle. This is how it was when we bought the house. The front door you hear two tones and the side door there is one tone. I assume each door's button should have two wires coming from it. The doorbell box has four wires in two pairs of two wires. There are three terminals in the doorbell box, the center terminal has two wires one from each set. What is the center terminal, negative or positive? What might be the voltage required to activate one of the doorbells? There is what I assume is an AC to DC transformer included in the system. This little box only has two terminals on it, is this a typically a steady DC voltage supply? What might be the correct way to connect the wires for such a system? Ideas, guidance and suggestions welcome. Thanks. Art [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
