Hard wiring a camera doorbell

rubble2

Am considering getting a camera doorbell that I can hardwire into existing doorbell circuit as a replacement for the bell push we have fitted.
What I am struggling with is that the current circuit is a simple 2 wire effort so one core of the doorbell wire carries the voltage and the second core connects the voltage to the chime via the bell push when operated and so powers the chime.
How then does the new doorbell derive it's power from a circuit with a voltage on one core and no ground connection to reference it to?

Any guidance appreciated.

MyRealNameToo

rubble2 said:

Am considering getting a camera doorbell that I can hardwire into existing doorbell circuit as a replacement for the bell push we have fitted.
What I am struggling with is that the current circuit is a simple 2 wire effort so one core of the doorbell wire carries the voltage and the second core connects the voltage to the chime via the bell push when operated and so powers the chime.
How then does the new doorbell derive it's power from a circuit with a voltage on one core and no ground connection to reference it to?

Any guidance appreciated.

Can only talk about Nest as its the one I have but assume others may do similar.

In current world you have a line from the consumer unit to the door bell, a cable from the doorbell to the chime and a cable from the chime to the consumer unit. In normal operation the circuit is broken so the chime doesnt go, when the button is pressed the circuit is complete and the chime goes off. 

With the Nest you wire the doorbell up the same but you change the wiring in the chime to add a new component. That closes the circuit so the doorbell has constant power but doesnt give power to the chime unless the doorbell sends a signal down the line. 

We had to replace the chime for our install, the transformer gave the nest enough power to run but not enough to run and make the bell chime. Added a different chime which has batteries and now works fine. 

Vitor

When I installed an Arlo video doorbell a few years back it came with an "Arlo Chime Power Kit" which was wired across the terminals of a traditional chime. When the Arlo Video Doorbell is pressed, the kit momentarily completes the circuit so the chime goes “ding-dong” while preventing the chime coil from drawing continuous current that would otherwise starve or reset the Arlo doorbell. I remember having to swap the old transformer as the Arlo needed 19V

I think Ring still sell Video Doorbells with the "Chime Transformer Kit" so Ring doorbell work with an existing mechanical chime

MyRealNameToo

Vitor said:

When I installed an Arlo video doorbell a few years back it came with an "Arlo Chime Power Kit" which was wired across the terminal of a traditional chime. When the Arlo Video Doorbell is pressed, the kit momentarily completes the circuit so the chime goes “ding-dong” while preventing the chime coil from drawing continuous current that would otherwise starve or reset the Arlo doorbell.

As far as I can tell suppliers gave up providing these due to the bungled installs, and instead assume you'll fit their wireless chime unit plugged into a socket in the hall or lounge. 

Or you use the original chime thats powered from the Consumer Unit but an extra bit to attach to it like Nest Hello Wired