Repair Multiple Button/chime door bell system

I am currently helping fix up a family members apartment building, and am stuck on the door bell system. I have been told to find out the name of the system, then get the blueprints for it. I have looked at the entry way buttons, and found a hand written schematic of the color code. I could not find the transformer, and there is no power from any of the lines. I beleive the wire houses a quantity of 6 color coded wires.

There is a transformer at the back of the building, but it is used for the garden apartment, and the voltage is in the 20's.

The first floor and second floor are not working, sort of. The first floors rear button does work. Its entry way button, the second floor entry way button, and second floor rear button do not work, and have no voltage.

To complicate even further, both apartments also have a door release button. This is also wired into the system, because I located the two wires leading to the door release next to the entry way door bell buttons.

ANY ADVISE or direction on repairing all these??

Sure hope so.

 

If it were me, I'd scrap the whole thing and go wireless (it'll probably be a whole lot cheaper and easier). Not sure you could accommodate the door releases that way, though.

 

There could be a single 24 volt transformer that powers all the apartments and door mechanisms located somewhere near the main utilities entrance. It's impossible to tell from here. If there's a bunch of 6 conductor cable running everywhere your best bet would be to try to follow it back to the transformer. There's no standard color code for doorbells that I'm aware of so you'll have to make your own diagram as you go. Be prepaired to crawl around and poke your head into crawl spaces, attics or basements to locate the wire runs. Who knows, if the system was installed by a previous owner you might find the transformer in the ceiling somewhere perhaps buried behind something. The only way to find out for sure is lots of detective work with a flashlight. Good luck.

 

You'll first need to see if you can access the wires at all points. As noted, you'll have to trace all the wire runs and find any places where there are transformers or wires connected together. Even if you decide to go with a different system you'll need to know if you can use those wires.

Wireless is OK, but I'm not a fan. There are a number of issues that need to be taken into account.

Anyway, why not let us know if you have access to all locations where the doorbell wires are present, and also let us know how many apartments and doors (as well as door strikes) you have to deal with.

Regards,

Savant

 

As of right now, I have two ringer buttons on entry way, two ringer buttons on back entrances, and 2 door release buttons.

I will chase down and diagram (by color code) all the wires involved.

Will get back when finished.

Thanks all

 

Actually, depending on what you want to do, you may or may not need to figure out what colour wires are for what. It would likely be better to replace the systems with something more current and safer for the tenants.

My thoughts are an intercom system, but not too fancy. You could probably set one up for under $600, and that would provide you with two intercom boxes at each entrance. (one for each tenant)

There would be no box requred in the apartments themselves since the intercom would ring the telephone and then they can talk two-way to the door. Each door would give a distrinctive ring. Then if the person wants to allow entry, they press a button on their phone to trigger the door release.

The only caveat is that you need to mount the control box in a location where it is close to the incoming telephone lines. (the telephone lines have to run though the intercom controller before entering the apartment)

However, the system itself is easy to install, and doesn't really require any maintenance. Since the unit is placed in-line, you don't have to program any phone numbers in. Should the tenant lose phone service or use cellular only, the system will still work on the phone line and provide the required power to ring the phones and operate the line.

Regards,

Savant