Doorbell Problem

TonyD

I cannot seem to figure this one out. I have a door bell that plays chimes..when hooked up to a simple button and pressed once and released the chimes will sound. When I hook it up to a lighted button, the chime will only sound if I press the button in and hold it. If I rease the buttom the chime will stop..

Any suggestions.

TonyD

mcvane

Hi There Tony

I'm not a doorbell expert, but perhaps the reason the chime stops when you release it, is that the 'lighted' one has a circuit that goes ON when you push it, but has to cut out (to switch to the light) when you release. Perhaps the old doorbell has power to it consistently and therefore the chime doesn't at all cut out.

It's just a thought.

McVane.

KUIPORNG

I replaced my door bell few months ago, that new door bell requires to put a special electronic component on the switch somthing like capacitor ... diot...etc. to delay current..etc. according to the installation instruction... otherwise, the bell will ring strangely like you described....

so look like the switch has a lot to do how the bell response.... try to look at your old switch... may be there is also some special component you need to include in the new switch...

joed

It's the light. It pulls a small amount of current through the chime to light the light.

AndrewH

If you look usually there is a diode that comes with the button, it is really easy to miss in the packaging. Installing that diode would probably solve the problem.

troubleseeker

Sounds like another problem with those damn electronic chimes.. remove the push button and you will find a tiny little diode that connects as a jumper between the button terminals. One of the wires is probably shorted or rusted through. Bring it to Radio Shack or similiar, you won't find replacements any more are the big boxes. Don't know what it's purpose is (except to cause trouble), but strange things happen when they go out; sometimes the chime will just sound a faint single note at random times.