Hello.

Just bought a house. The doorbell didn't work. So I looked at the wires and one of the wires was off. The red wire. When you touch the red wire to the middle screw on the black box the door bell goes off then has a low buzz that continues.

Here is a video: https://youtu.be/t4txcFJdCF0

And a photo...

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

 

You either have a bad chime switch front or back that is stuck on or a short in the wires. It should not chime unless a button is pressed when the transformer wire (middle) is connected. Try disconnecting either the front or rear button. If it no longer chimes when the transformer wire is touched to the center terminal you have isolated the problem. If it chimes test the other switch wire to make sure it is okay. (No chime means okay. Further verify by pressing the chime button with the transformer wire connected.)



Bet the short was why the wire was disconnected.

I am though unsure of the "gray wiring" in the chime. What does it say on the top in my picture.

 

It says "intercom". That is two inductive coils connected to a potentiometer.
The coils pick up the vibration of the tone bars.
That control adjusts the level of the chime in the home intercom.

Probably a Nutone chime.

 

Thanks, Pete. New one to me.

 

Thanks. I will try out your process to test the wires tomorrow. Getting late.

Yes, it is probably a NuTone Chime. We have a NuTone intercom system.

 

Question: Can I buy parts to fix this or do I need to buy a new door bell.

 

You need to check for a shorted front door push button first.


That is a very old chime unit..... so the typical problem with it is that once the button is pushed you just hear the buzzing or a weak strike of the tones plates. In your video the action sounds excellent for that unit. Nothing sticking.

In the event it needed to be cleaned.... you would carefully remove the tone bar that the red arrow is pointing to. It's held in place with two rubber grommets. After that bar is removed you can slide each strike and spring out. Clean the round strike ONLY with lighter fluid. Absolutely nothing else... no WD-40 or silicone.

 

Hi. Thanks for the advice.

So I disconnected the front button and it didn't chime. Is the next step to buy a new chime for the front door?

 

Assuming you disconnected the actual button at the front door..... then you would need to replace the front door button only.

Without the button connected..... you should be able to short those two wires and the doorbell should ring with the two tones. The voltage is low so no danger of a shock if you touch the wires.

 

If instead you mean you disconnected it at the chime reconnect it and disconnect the rear button at the chime.

 

Hello

I have an old NuTone doorbell.

Recently, when the button was pressed it chimed and stuck on - with a long, continuous low buzz.

So, when I got home I disconnected the wire that goes to "Front". And it stopped. Of course.

When I reconnect the wire to "Front" screw it automatically triggers the hammer, it chimes and gets stuck again in the down position again.

How might I fix this?

I went to Home Depot and it looks like all the new doorbells are designed to screw on top of drywall rather than sit in a recessed hole in the wall - which this one does. So I would rather try and get this working than have to worry about the cost of replacing it plus fixing a hole in the wall.

Thanks for your help.

 

Hello. I got the darn doorbell fixed last year but it is acting up again.

When you say "you have isolated the problem" what problem are you referring to?

Currently, the bottom hammer is stuck in a retracted position and buzzes.

 

Didn't we cover all this already ?

If the front door actuator is staying engaged..... then the front door bell button is most likely bad.

 

We did cover this. I installed a new front door button. And it worked. Now it doesn't again. I'm coming here for help.

 

Disconnect the front door bell button at the button and see if the chime is quiet. It is very easy to get the wiring pinched behind the button. Besides that.... many of the new buttons are of poor quality.

 

Wanted to provide an update.

It was the doorbell. Which surprised me since I just replaced it a year ago.

I contacted Ring and they said the plate that is screwed to the wall has a scratch. And is causing the error. They are sending a new plate. I will let you know if it addresses the problem.