adding additional chimes to a wired door bell system?

[Knobhead]

If any of you remember a part of EF got hijacked by a site in Nigeria (I think) that drawing was in the bits that got diverted. God knows what they thought of British electricians!

 

[tazz]

A VR would burn up in seconds put into the circuit.....Telectrix has given you the answer in post 2

 

[Buckfast]

A VR would burn up in seconds put into the circuit.....Telectrix has given you the answer in post 2

Could i ask why the VR would burn out in seconds. The correct wattage and resistance of VR would not burn in any way. This could easily be calculated using ohms law for correct value. Have used this method several times over the years but must admit since the advent of radio chimes not for a while. VR is just acting as potential divider. Could be wired in parrallel or series.

 

[tazz]

Could i ask why the VR would burn out in seconds. The correct wattage and resistance of VR would not burn in any way. This could easily be calculated using ohms law for correct value. Have used this method several times over the years but must admit since the advent of radio chimes not for a while. VR is just acting as potential divider. Could be wired in parrallel or series.

Try it and see, you are working 8v ac here, and would need a decent 1watt wire wound.....correct method would be to use a voltage reg, and use your vr on the ref leg...Lm317 for instance, you could rectify and have a nice 3-8v dc supply

 

[Buckfast]

Try it and see, you are working 8v ac here, and would need a decent 1watt wire wound.....correct method would be to use a voltage reg, and use your vr on the ref leg...Lm317 for instance, you could rectify and have a nice 3-8v dc supply

Do not wish to go in to long winded debate over doorbells when op has already said he will contact manufacturer. I do not need to try it, as previous post, i already have many times. As i have run a very successfull electrical and electronic repair company for over 31 years, i am more than aware of voltage regulation and stabalization both using regulators and zener diodes, switch mode psu's. The op was not asking for DC and required more than 8V as he already had this. Also when rectified and smoothed you would in fact end up with a DC voltage of 11.31 volts prior to regulation if needed, not 3-8 volts I am quite happy for you to have a view but as previous post this method will and does work. It is also cheap and easy to do. (We are talking a doorbell ?).

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I've just had a little practice in my own home! Linked up a second chime to the existing one using the 8v transformer already in place for the first chime. I put the second chime through around 25m's of cable and got a perfect chime!