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Thread: Question re: work on the doorbell chime

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    Default Question re: work on the doorbell chime

    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?


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    Quote Originally Posted by wildrice View Post
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    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.
    Originally posted by SEANBANERJEE
    I have gone above and beyond what I should rightfully have to do to protect my good name

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    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.
    ...

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    Just flip off the main one?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Maxx Mazda View Post
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    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.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat View Post
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    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.
    Originally posted by SEANBANERJEE
    I have gone above and beyond what I should rightfully have to do to protect my good name

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    Quote Originally Posted by rage2 View Post
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    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.

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    All the doorbells? Only have 1 haha.
    Originally posted by SEANBANERJEE
    I have gone above and beyond what I should rightfully have to do to protect my good name

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    Quote Originally Posted by rage2 View Post
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    All the doorbells? Only have 1 haha.
    Pfffffft... and you call yourself a baller.
    ...

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    Quote Originally Posted by Maxx Mazda View Post
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    Pfffffft... and you call yourself a baller.
    Considering I bought my house in the late 90s, it’s all just a ruse.
    Originally posted by SEANBANERJEE
    I have gone above and beyond what I should rightfully have to do to protect my good name

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    Quote Originally Posted by Maxx Mazda View Post
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    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
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    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.
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    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.
    Last edited by speedog; 01-07-2018 at 03:42 PM.
    Will fuck off, again.

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

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    Quote Originally Posted by rage2 View Post
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    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.


    Quote Originally Posted by Nufy View Post
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    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.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat View Post
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    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.
    Will fuck off, again.

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    Quote Originally Posted by speedog View Post
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    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.
    Originally posted by SEANBANERJEE
    I have gone above and beyond what I should rightfully have to do to protect my good name

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    Quote Originally Posted by rage2 View Post
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    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.
    Will fuck off, again.

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    Quote Originally Posted by speedog View Post
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    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.

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    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.
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