How do I find out what sort of doorbell we have?!

Sophy

I know, this is very stupid. But I have no idea if the doorbell is wired or wire free. :rotfl: There are no brand names anywhere on it, we didn't install it, there seem to be no screws or levers or ways of dismantling it to have a look inside (except for a sledgehammer :rotfl:) - either on the bell push bit outside, or on the box bit in the hall, which has been fixed to the wall. Googling brings up no picture that resembles it. None of which would matter to me, except for the fact that it isn't working, so I'd quite like to fix it. I appreciate this is probably a stupid, unanswerable question in the circumstances, but thought I'd ask before giving in and calling an electrician. Thanks for any ideas, if anyone has any!

ormus

open the bellbox in the hall and see if there is any wires coming in.
is there no battery anywhere?

is there a transformer in the house somewhere? next to the lecky meter?

Sophy

ormus wrote: »

open the bellbox in the hall and see if there is any wires coming in.
is there no battery anywhere?

is there a transformer in the house somewhere? next to the lecky meter?

I can't find any way to get into the bellbox. I don't know what a transformer is (except for Optimus Prime :rotfl:). Oh, I am so thick about stuff like this. Ok, will google transformer, and then go and look. Thank you very much for your suggestions!

Sophy

:beer: Success! It is wired, and I have learned something today. ormus, thank you very much indeed, I'm very grateful for your help in advising an utter luddite like me :T

ormus

old ones were a bit like this. usually black.
new ones can be white and even inside the consumer box.

macman

Sophy wrote: »

:beer: Success! It is wired, and I have learned something today. ormus, thank you very much indeed, I'm very grateful for your help in advising an utter luddite like me :T

If no transformer, then it is a wired one with a battery on the main unit (the box where the bell rings indoors). Odds are the battery has gone in that. If not, I'd take the bellpush cover off, because the next most likely failure is that one of the wires under the cover have become loose (there will only be two). Water often gets into the bellpush and causes corrosion and failure, if so the whole unit can easily be replaced with a bare minimum of DIY skills (usually a screwdriver is all that is required).

ormus

aye. bellpush problems are common. ive repaired/replaced a number of em over the last ten years.
(various houses).