Replacing doorbell chime

JeffMason

Hi All,

I've recently moved into a new house, and the doorbell is connected to a battery powered chime box (Byron brand). It works fine but the casing is very yellowed and I'd like it to be a bit louder or install a second one. I assume I can replace what I have with something very similar (if not indentical) easily - but does anyone know if I can connect a second easily? Or can I take my doorbell into the 21st century and just replace this one with two wirelessly connected versions?

Anyone got experience of this sort of thing and have any insight?

Thanks!

TELLIT01

I've always found wireless ones to be more trouble than they are worth.  However much we have tried to change settings we had instances of our bell not ringing when the bell push on our house was used, but the bell ringing when visitors arrived at other houses.

I was testing it one day and could hear a bell chiming but knew it wasn't ours.  A guy living over the road opened his door and looked perplexed when nobody was there.  I pressed our bell push again and hear his bell chime.  That was the final straw and we reverted to wired.  Wired aren't as common but are available.  I think you can chain them together as I seem to remember more than one set of connections.

molerat

Connecting a second chime has a 50/50 chance of working, probably less than that with a battery operated system. I have done it with my mains operated one but the first attempt failed and ended up having to buy a second identical chime.  Best bet would be to replace the whole thing.

JeffMason

molerat said:

Connecting a second chime has a 50/50 chance of working, probably less than that with a battery operated system. I have done it with my mains operated one but the first attempt failed and ended up having to buy a second identical chime.  Best bet would be to replace the whole thing.

The problem is, I don't know where the wire is that connects the doorbell to the chime box thing. It's in the wall somewhere and replacing the whole thing will be a real pain. I think I'll just stick with one but just update the box and keep it where it is!

JeffMason

TELLIT01 said:

I've always found wireless ones to be more trouble than they are worth.  However much we have tried to change settings we had instances of our bell not ringing when the bell push on our house was used, but the bell ringing when visitors arrived at other houses.

I was testing it one day and could hear a bell chiming but knew it wasn't ours.  A guy living over the road opened his door and looked perplexed when nobody was there.  I pressed our bell push again and hear his bell chime.  That was the final straw and we reverted to wired.  Wired aren't as common but are available.  I think you can chain them together as I seem to remember more than one set of connections.

That's a shame. I was hoping wireless could solve this for me. Clearly not though! Very funny story though.. did you explain what was going on to your neighbour, or just leave them perplexed?

Grenage

Much like Tellit01, I've had only poor experience of wireless doorbells.  My parents went through a handful before I replaced it with a wired bell.  Wireless should always be the last resort for any connectivity.

I installed an old-fashioned pull cord which rings an actual bell in the hallway.  Never goes wrong and is quite cute, but not very practical for chaining to a second bell.

Debran

In 2006 we got a wireless doorbell.  Had one or two problems with it but it was OK.  After my husband died more problems developed and I decided it was time to get a new one.  It was now 2019.

I bought a Wilko Advanced Portable Door Chime which is battery driven (previous one plugged into a socket) with one bell push which you either stick or screw on the door.  Got an extra bell push for the other door.  I can honestly say that I have had no problems though you do have to change the batteries occasionally.

The chime can be turned up quite loud but if you need to you can take the chime unit around with you, say into the garden/garage.

. . . . And, no, I don't have any connection with Wilko. 

DJMC

We have three Byron chimes connected wirelessly to the front doorbell PLUS another doorbell on the back door which operates the same three chimes with a different tune, so we know it it's a front door caller or one of us who's been locked out the back!
Front door to furthest chime is around 40m. One chime is battery, two plug into sockets.
Whether a wireless set up will work for you depends on various factors. Trial and error I guess?

grumbler

JeffMason said:

... the casing is very yellowed

So were my smoke detectors.

I took the cover off and painted it with fast drying white spray. This was five years ago, and they still are like new.

JeffMason

DJMC said:

We have three Byron chimes connected wirelessly to the front doorbell PLUS another doorbell on the back door which operates the same three chimes with a different tune, so we know it it's a front door caller or one of us who's been locked out the back!
Front door to furthest chime is around 40m. One chime is battery, two plug into sockets.
Whether a wireless set up will work for you depends on various factors. Trial and error I guess?

Interesting. So how do you do that? Can I attempt the same? What did you buy?

knightstyle

I have just installed a wind up door bell as I was fed up with wireless ones.  No wiring, just drill a small hole and screw the bell and push button into place.  really loud and reliable.