Mighty Favog Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 SO!! I'm going around the house fixing various small things like dripping faucets, electrical outlets, running toilets, clothes dryer belts, etc, etc... The doorbell on this house is one of those that plays Westminster Chimes for about 3-4 seconds with no mechanical bells used. There are speakers for this thing in 4 areas of the house. The thing is they all hum slightly, even the base unit. The one that bothers me the most is the basement where the music room is. I replaced the button at the front door and the hum was gone. Problem is that the chime doesn't complete it cycle unless you hold in the button. The old button has what looks like a capacitor bridging the two connectors to wire the button to the electrical service. I removed that "thing" from the old button and put it on the new one and the chime works the way it should. BUT, the hum is back. I'm assuming that little that came off the old button is a capacitor but I don't know its value or where to get one cheap. I could call the company that made the whole unit but first I have to find out who that is... Any ideas or the value of this thing or could it even be some sort of delayed switch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Picture of the cap or resistor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBCODD Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Is it a relay? Current thru the coil may be causing the hum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Favog Posted December 21, 2018 Author Share Posted December 21, 2018 Here's the pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Can't tell but looks like a diode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBCODD Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 2 minutes ago, CECAA850 said: Can't tell but looks like a diode. Indeed it do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Maybe you installed the diode backwards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Favog Posted December 21, 2018 Author Share Posted December 21, 2018 O.k., just popped off the cover of the base unit and they warn of a diode that must be in place on the button. So now I know what it is, now just have to find one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Favog Posted December 21, 2018 Author Share Posted December 21, 2018 3 minutes ago, CECAA850 said: Maybe you installed the diode backwards? If it's the same hum as before I started messing with it, could it be the initial installer put it in backwards too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 2 minutes ago, Mighty Favog said: O.k., just popped off the cover of the base unit and they warn of a diode that must be in place on the button. So now I know what it is, now just have to find one. Might be easier to just find a door bell with one. They're pretty cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Just now, Mighty Favog said: If it's the same hum as before I started messing with it, could it be the initial installer put it in backwards too? Anything is possible. I've replaced my door bell button several times due to the sun destroying them but never had to trouble shoot one. The style like you had would last maybe 2 seasons before the plastic disintigrated. I went to a metal/led button 3 or 4 years age and it's still going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Ding dong. Simple. Westminster chimes? C'mon, man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 We went old school on the front doorbell on our new house. This joker is some kind of metal...brass maybe. Wife picked it out. I liked it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 If the doorbell works properly but hums it may be the transformer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2K Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 23 minutes ago, avguytx said: We went old school on the front doorbell on our new house. This joker is some kind of metal...brass maybe. Wife picked it out. I liked it. I just use my smartfone and say 'dyslexia, make doorbell sound'. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Favog Posted December 21, 2018 Author Share Posted December 21, 2018 O.k., I may just have to suck this one up for now. I returned the replacement button and told Home Depot and Lowe's what I needed and got the three-headed look both times. I'm assuming NuTone made the base unit but it's too late today to call them. I don't relish finding another transformer for this thing. Parts Express is only about 30-miles away so they may have a new diode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 1 hour ago, oldtimer said: Ding dong. Simple. Westminster chimes? C'mon, man! Go manual, instead of low-voltage. Clink! Clank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 4 hours ago, T2K said: I just use my smartfone and say 'dyslexia, make doorbell sound'. Keith Did you see the South Park where Bezos says Alexa, kill Kenny? OK I will kill Kenny for you...lmao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 3 hours ago, Jeff Matthews said: Go manual, instead of low-voltage. Clink! Clank! More cowbell. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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