How To Check And Replace A Defective Door Bell? – Checking And Replacing Defective Door Bell

Imagine who could have invented the doorbell. He must surely be someone who had suffered the most standing outside a locked door. Trying hard to get the attention of the residents inside, he must have banged the door with his fist or a piece of wood. To his wonder, he found out that in this way, he can even wake up anyone sleeping inside. “Now”, he thought, “let’s see how my wife pretends to sleep while I wait outside for her to open the door”. The next time he doesn’t wait, but straight away knocks with a wooden handle which he has designed specifically for the purpose. Then he must have thought that why not fix it on the door and thus was born the early version of the doorbell, which is the knocker. One advantage with the knocker is that since it is not mechanical, it does not get out of order. On the other hand the modern doorbell, which are electric and battery powered, frequently gets defective. Calling a mechanic every now and then can be quite expensive (sometimes he may charge you more than what you had to pay for the bell) so, it is better to learn how to check and replace the doorbell. This is fairly easy as doorbells do not have complex circuitry. Anyone with a little bit of guidance can check and replace the doorbell without any difficulty. To help you in this read the article below for tips on checking and replacing a doorbell.

Checking And Replacing Defective Doorbell

Locating Trouble In Bells & Chimes

To test the wiring arrangements for doorbells use a low voltage circuit tester. It is readily available in most of the hardware stores.
Most of the problem takes place because of faulty doorbell buttons. So, first of all the functionality of the button should be checked. In most cases, the buttons fail because of spring fatigue or weather corrosion, which unhinges the contact point.
Inspect the complete wiring, after checking on the bell button, to see signs of any breakage or mechanical damage. Also, inspect all the other visible sections of the doorbell.
Using a low voltage tester check for any breaks in the wiring.
You can identify a short circuit on the doorbell if it continues ringing even when the button is not pushed.
Some transformers have an overload protection device. So, when there is a problem with the doorbell the transformer should also be checked, as any shortage in the power will make the device cut off the secondary power.
While checking, approach the transformer with care. Disconnect one wire from the secondary screw. Now check the terminal and the disconnected wire with the low voltage tester.
If there is short circuit in the wire, the bulb will light. The tester bulb should match the voltage in the transformer.
To check the doorbell button, connect the button from one transformer terminal to the bulb tester along with the other terminal. If the bulb lights when the button is pushed then it means that the button is working.
The bell and buzzer problems are mostly related to the connections at the contact point. Each wire should be removed and filed with sandpaper and then replaced.
Wireless units may not work either because of a weak battery or if the sound unit is out of range of the push button.

Replacing The Defective Doorbell

Tools Required

Screwdriver - required for removing the old bell and fixing a new one.

Pliers - to bend the wires round the connectors.

Wire Stripper - to expose fresh wire.

New Doorbell - to replace the original.

Replacing The Doorbell

First, turn off the power. Though doorbells have minimum power flow, it is better to switch off as in rare cases the bell may get wired with higher current. As the saying goes ‘better safe than sorry’.
Remove the old doorbell by unscrewing the screws from the faceplate. If wires are attached then loosen the small screws and remove. Cut the wires if they are fixed.
Now attach the wires to the new doorbell. Use the wire strippers to expose about ½ inch of clean wire and connect them to the doorbell. Since any wire can be connected to any connector, fixing the wires can be easily done.
Use the screwdriver to attach the screws to the doorbell with the faceplate on the wall.
Now turn the power on.

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How To Check And Replace A Defective Doorbell?

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