The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Practical Electricity And House Wiring

If you will analyze this figure you will note that it is neither more nor less than a doorbell wired independently as in Fig. 194, and a buzzer wired in the same way, then both connected to the same transformer.

Usually however, instead of a separate buzzer and a separate bell, a combination bell and buzzer is used. You will find that this device has three binding posts, two insulated from, and one grounded directly to the frame of the bell. A wire from one of the posts of the transformer goes directly to the grounded terminal of the bell. Then a wire from one of the other posts on the bell is run to the push button at the back door, and from the third terminal of the bell to the push button at the front door. Then wires are run from the other terminal of each push button to the remaining post on the transformer. If you find that the buzzer buzzes when the bell should ring, merely reverse the two wires from the two push buttons at the bell.

Chimes.—In place of doorbells and buzzers, musical chimes are becoming more and more common. They are neat and attractive, produce melodious tones which do not jar the nerves like a rasping bell, and can be secured at prices to suit all purses.

Most of them are so designed that pushing the front-door button produces two notes, pushing the back-door button produces a single note. Several of these chimes are shown in Fig. 196.

The installation and wiring is the same as for doorbells and buzzers. However, one point should be noted. Transformers installed years ago to operate doorbells and buzzers are borderline with respect to operating chimes which require more power. Some doorbell transformers will, and others will not operate chimes satisfactorily. If the notes from the chime seem weak, install a larger transformer.