Ding DONG - How to install a new doorbell!

[aliferste]

Hiya - it seems I need a new doorbell - some idiot forgot to take out the batteries in the old doorbell which then leaked destroying it.

Anyway - the same idiot has been tasked with installing a new doorbell which is why I have come to you guys for assistance.

Essentially there is a wee cable running from the outside button into the doorbell itself. I have seen doorbells for sale that give you a length of the cable and a new button.

My question is - can I use my existing button and length of cable with a new doorbell box?

[Halcyon]

Yes, it should be fine.

As long as the cable is in good condition then just hook it up to the new bell box and you'l be done.

For safety's sake, turn off electricity or remove batteries before you start wiring it up.

[Peter_]

Why not go the cordless route here is one from Amazon for £9.49 inc p&p no nasty electrics or cabling to worry about.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...8W4BJVHZQHS1FG

[Graham M]

In my experience, Cordless doorbells are useless, the range is awful, the batteries in the push run out far too quickly and they're far too susceptible to interference to be used in a house where DECT Phones and/or WiFi are in use

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Graham M

In my experience, Cordless doorbells are useless, the range is awful, the batteries in the push run out far too quickly and they're far too susceptible to interference to be used in a house where DECT Phones and/or WiFi are in use

Mine works fine and I have cordless phones and wifi.

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by aliferste

...My question is - can I use my existing button and length of cable with a new doorbell box?

Yes, that's exactly what I did.

However, I did have a look inside the old doorbell button and found a lot of ladybird bodies crammed inside.

[admars]

Cordless doorbell we've got is fine. came with 2 chimes from Argos or Robert Dyas, so have one upstairs and one downstairs. Have changed batteries once since we had it, which is a few years. Had no interference from wifi or DECT phones either.

[Taf]

Our cordless doorbell kept going off as a neighbour's bell push for a similar model kept on triggering it. I tried all the available preset frequencies but kept getting phantom triggers from other neighbours!

And they were getting ours (proved by continuously ringing ours until they appeared on their doorsteps expecting "ratatat ginger" pranksters to be hiding behind a wall nearby).

It was a good game whilst it lasted

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

For safety's sake, turn off electricity or remove batteries before you start wiring it up.

cos them 1.5v batteries can do some damage

[Uncle Peter]

Same here, never had any problems with our cordless doorbell. The brand is Power Plus and if I remeber rightly it was from Home and Bargains

[Taf]

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

cos them 1.5v batteries can do some damage

If the doorbell is the "ding dong" type with electromagnetic coils, they can produce a NASTY back EMF that will make your hair curl!!

[Crypto]

Strange thing with our wireless door bell. We have it set to a "normal" ding dong, but sometimes we get a rogue chime like "old macdonald had a farm" Not sure why a stray wireless signal would activate a different tone. We have learned to ignore any other tones than Ding Dong.
Had the system for several years now, never had to change the battery in the bell push, think it's a button cell CR2032 or the like. Have rechargeable AA batteries in the two sounders which last 3 - 6 months I think.

[Taf]

Some systems have a second "tone" for a rear door.

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Graham M

In my experience, Cordless doorbells are useless, the range is awful, the batteries in the push run out far too quickly and they're far too susceptible to interference to be used in a house where DECT Phones and/or WiFi are in use

Seconded....