Wipedout
Member
Registered: 04/15/02
Posts: 7774
Loc: Kingwood, TX USA
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I need to replace my doorbell. The current system is part of a home intercom system that is no longer working. I have two choices 1) spend about $1000 getting it working again or remove it from all rooms and patch the wholes in the wall.
Im thinking that I will just remove - however the front doorbell is part of this system. It hasnt worked in ages - which hasnt been a bad thing - people come to the door selling crap and they just wait and wait and we have no clue they are there - well other than the dogs barking - so we ignore .. 
I dont want to put a wireless system in. So what are my options?
THanks
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arthropod98
MDF Pine & Tape King
Registered: 11/15/02
Posts: 43582
Loc: east coast
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JMHO, but i'd try to track down and fix what's there. 
we've got an intercom system too, and i definitely wouldn't wanna have to patch and paint all those cutouts -- seems like a pain! 
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daveferg
member
Registered: 02/19/02
Posts: 39819
Loc: Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Door bells are very simple----You have the bell/chime, connected in series with a step-down transformer and a switch---the door bell button. The thing to do is start with the wires going to the door bell button. You need a pair which are hopefully a couple of solid copper wires with difference colored insulation.
Did the original set up have it's own chime/bell or did it sound through the intercom stations? If you had a chime---you'd want to see if it had a transformer connected to it or other power source, and if the wires going to it were the same as the ones out front at the switch.
Once you've found the proper wires, you can put a door bell transformer just about anyplace where you can tap into a unswitched power line. All you need for the junction box is part of an electrical line that has some slack in it so you can splice wires to the transformer into it.
If your system has multiple wires, just find ones that will get you to easily locate the chime and the transformer.
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Dave
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Wipedout
Member
Registered: 04/15/02
Posts: 7774
Loc: Kingwood, TX USA
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it is but the main unit is toast and many of the room units are as well. (lightning a few years back) And there are a lot of them
one in each bedroom - so 4 - one in two of the baths so 2 more - one in family room - used to be one by back door and the one by front door. ANd of course the main unit in the breakfast area- I think that is it
They make replacement units that use existing wiring and housings but as mentioned that would be about $1000 worth of parts.
Yes patching is going ot be a pain - just weighing my options and one of the factors will be the doorbell
Looking for options on that
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daddo
Sparky
Registered: 06/13/04
Posts: 8040
Loc: McQueeney,Texas
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One idea.
Install a new doorbell- wires and all, then remove the main intercom from the wall and retrofit a nice stereo system in it's place and wire that to new speakers you install at each intercom you remove in each room. Switches can control music to each room.
Then turn on the music and enjoy that wine and dine moment. Until the doorbell chimes.  
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"There are no strangers- only friends I haven't met.
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fredhargis
Member
Registered: 08/21/03
Posts: 5699
Loc: Waynesfield, Ohio
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All I can do is offer my sympathy. Our last house (circa mid-70's) had a Nutone intercom system, and the damn things were everywhere; each bedroom, the game room, living room (console in the kitchen), as well as one one the front porch (brick house) and one in the breezeway (also brick). I removed them all over the years....never again. My couldn't be repaired, the older ones used fewer wires to each remote than the new ones have (that's what the Nutone guy told me). Anyway, I think you're best off with a wired new doorbell, though that may be as big a PITA as removing the intercom.
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Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy...(Benjamin Franklin)
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Wipedout
Member
Registered: 04/15/02
Posts: 7774
Loc: Kingwood, TX USA
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YEah the problem is the doorbell is outside the 20 foot plus entryway so feeding wires from Attic is out
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Barry
Member
Registered: 02/07/01
Posts: 6954
Loc: New Rochelle, NY
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Try and trace the doorbell pushbutton wires back to the main control unit and disconnect them. Then find another pair going to a remote near where you want to mount your new bell. Disconnect those from the main unit and the remote too. You've probably got an outlet in the main unit cavity where you can plug in a 12v transformer. As long as you don't bury the transformer and outlet in the wall you're good to go, and the only wires you are going to have to pull is from the remote cavity to the chime/bell.
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Itshardtoputspacesinbetweenyourwordswithouttheuseofyourthumbs
Edited by Barry (08/17/12 07:52 PM)
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Patsfan
Honored Member
Registered: 09/27/00
Posts: 36053
Loc: NH
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Wipedout said:
I need to replace my doorbell.
I dont want to put a wireless system in.
THanks
Just curious, but why?
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"it's okay macky, with his typin skils, we got to know more what he's meanin than what he's sayin"
Imakmst aka Confucius
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Wipedout
Member
Registered: 04/15/02
Posts: 7774
Loc: Kingwood, TX USA
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I've had a few over the years. Just don't like them and I don't want to think about batteries
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