adding additional chimes to a wired door bell system?

[HappyHippyDad]

Evening all

I have recently fitted a door bell for a customer. He would now like additional chimes in the kitchen and upstairs. It is a wired system as he specifically said he did not want anything with batteries.

At present it just has the normal (8v) bell transformer right next to the chime. one additional chime will be a run of about 8m's and the other perhaps 10m's.

Transformers are not my strong point and I am unsure how to determine which one to change the existing one for so that it can deal with all 3 chimes?

Any advice chaps?

 

[telectrix]

measure the current drawn by 1 chime . then make sure the transformer is rated at least 3 x that current.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Thanks Tel..

The chime is right next to the transformer so very little resistance. When I add the other chimes they will be much, much further plus the bell cable has small CSA so wouldn't the resistance be much greater and have a bearing on transformer needed?

I'm starting to get that 'embarrassed' tingle. I know I'm going to say something silly in a minuite!

 

[Octopus]

Who is the manufacturer? Call their technical line? Longer runs do need tranny's

 

[Buckfast]

Would likely use a larger voltage and VA rated transformer. Run each supply to each bell seperately and supply by a variable resistor with centre contact(Slider supplying bell) This can then be adjusted to give correct voltage/current to make all bells ring at same volume and also will allow for voltage drop. Easy enough to make up power supply and variable resistors on vero board.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Who is the manufacturer? Call their technical line? Longer runs do need tranny's

That is a very good suggestion! I always think they are not going to be very helpful but was proved very wrong when I rang 'Drayton' the other day.

Thankyou Murdoch.

Sometimes though I think I put these questions up at around this time as its nice to have a bit of a chat about them..

 

[Octopus]

That is a very good suggestion! I always think they are not going to be very helpful but was proved very wrong when I rang 'Drayton' the other day.

Thankyou Murdoch.

Sometimes though I think I put these questions up at around this time as its nice to have a bit of a chat about them..

I had reason to call Drayton a while back and they were great!

 

[Knobhead]

 

[ipf]

For Christ's sake DING,DING,DONG!!!!!!

 

[Knobhead]

I did that drawing years ago for the same question on here. Took a while to find it, couldn't resist putting it up.

Sorry HHD