Question re: work on the doorbell chime

[wildrice]

Looked at my breaker panel and don't see see a label for the doorbell chime, so not sure how to turn the power off for the chime. Stupid question, is it necessary to turn off the power to the chime before performing work on it? How would i figure out which breaker switch is for the chime? Just flipping breaker switches off randomly and testing the doorbell?

[rage2]

Looked at my breaker panel and don't see see a label for the doorbell chime, so not sure how to turn the power off for the chime. Stupid question, is it necessary to turn off the power to the chime before performing work on it? How would i figure out which breaker switch is for the chime? Just flipping breaker switches off randomly and testing the doorbell?
That’s what I did. Had someone on the phone with me ringing the doorbell, guessed which breaker it was, found it after 3.

[Maxx Mazda]

Usually there’s one of those goofy transformer things that steps it down to 12v DC. Could unplug that or trace it back from there? Not enough voltage to worry tho really, just don’t cross the wires with whatever you’re doing and I’m sure you’ll be fine.

I know electricians that have to work on live 240V all day long. Just don’t get zapped.

[NissanFanBoy]

Just flip off the main one?

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Usually there’s one of those goofy transformer things that steps it down to 12v DC. Could unplug that or trace it back from there? Not enough voltage to worry tho really, just don’t cross the wires with whatever you’re doing and I’m sure you’ll be fine.

I know electricians that have to work on live 240V all day long. Just don’t get zapped.


Yep, that's the easiest way to find it, look for the breaker connected to a ~12V transformer. You probably have two transformed circuits (doorbell and furnace) so flip the one that isn't your furnace and test the doorbell. Sometimes the furnace transformer isn't installed right beside the panel so you may only find one transformer in the immediate vicinity.

[rage2]

Yep, that's the easiest way to find it, look for the breaker connected to a ~12V transformer. You probably have two transformed circuits (doorbell and furnace) so flip the one that isn't your furnace and test the doorbell. Sometimes the furnace transformer isn't installed right beside the panel so you may only find one transformer in the immediate vicinity.
Pretty sure my setup is 120V to the doorbell which houses the transformer in there, so couldn't tell from the breakers. Luckily they're sorta labelled, lights, accessories, etc. so it was a fairly easy guess for me.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Pretty sure my setup is 120V to the doorbell which houses the transformer in there, so couldn't tell from the breakers. Luckily they're sorta labelled, lights, accessories, etc. so it was a fairly easy guess for me.

Interesting, I haven't seen that done before, seems needlessly expensive to run 14GA copper to all the doorbells just to step it down there, instead of stepping down at the panel and running cheap LV wire.

[rage2]

All the doorbells? Only have 1 haha.

[Maxx Mazda]

All the doorbells? Only have 1 haha.

Pfffffft... and you call yourself a baller. :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[rage2]

Pfffffft... and you call yourself a baller. :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
Considering I bought my house in the late 90s, it’s all just a ruse. :rofl:

[legendboy]

just don’t cross the wires with whatever you’re doing and I’m sure you’ll be fine

If the OP transformer was in a weird spot i would just short the mains going into the (disconnected of course) xformer and pop the breaker :D

[Nufy]

I thought most doorbells were 24 VAC with the transformer located inside the panel.

Pull the cover off (if you dare) and see if its in there...

Then you can trace the wire to the breaker and turn it off.

[speedog]

It's just two wires of low voltage, low current AC power. Disconnect them, do whatever you have to do and reconnect them. If you're worried about being shocked or shorting them out then just make sure you put some electrician's tape around that first wire's exposed metal end and you're good to go.

[AndyL]

Or don't lick your fingers while you're working on it ;)

[BerserkerCatSplat]

All the doorbells? Only have 1 haha.

Well don't I feel fancy now, haha. I have one set of chimes upstairs and another in the basement, it's nice if you're working downstairs with the door closed.



I thought most doorbells were 24 VAC with the transformer located inside the panel.

Pull the cover off (if you dare) and see if its in there...

Then you can trace the wire to the breaker and turn it off.

Sometimes they're inside the panel, usually beside it or there's a utility plug beside the panel with the transformer siamesed onto it.

[speedog]

Well don't I feel fancy now, haha. I have one set of chimes upstairs and another in the basement, it's nice if you're working downstairs with the door closed.

Our old home is old school, different sounding chime for rear door as compared to front door.

[rage2]

Our old home is old school, different sounding chime for rear door as compared to front door.
Mine's more ghetto than that. Single doorbell/transformer unit that serves front and rear doors, differentiated by one ding for rear, 2 for front.

Not that it matters anymore with Ring. Have chimes elsewhere, and all our phones go off when there's motion/doorbell ring, so it's everywhere.

[speedog]

Mine's more ghetto than that. Single doorbell/transformer unit that serves front and rear doors, differentiated by one ding for rear, 2 for front.

Not that it matters anymore with Ring. Have chimes elsewhere, and all our phones go off when there's motion/doorbell ring, so it's everywhere.

Ours is the same, called it a chime but I guess it really isn't that.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Our old home is old school, different sounding chime for rear door as compared to front door.

Yeah, ours is the same, one ding for rear and two for front. It's just got two chime units for better coverage. Early 2000s build.

[Zero102]

For the actual question - to work on the doorbell circuit just do it live. They're 24VAC and if you short them out all it does is ring the bell inside. It's harmless unless you tie them together and burn out your doorbell or something.
If you really want it off, because you are replacing the chime itself or whatever, typical installation is to have the doorbell transformer located very near the panel (often mounted sticking out of the panel itself) so you'd have to either try every breaker or remove the panel cover to check what breaker it's connected to by tracing the wires back. In my experience the furnace's transformer is fed from the furnace circuit and is not typically located at the panel.