Door bell

[Snowyy]

I've just removed what I thought was a wired battery door bell as it's not worked since I've moved into this house and was going to just replace with a wireless door chime.

The wires have just touched and created an arc, i didn't think this was mains powered as the unit has spaces for batteries???? The wires are tight so its it's going to be very hard to locate where they go. Need help fast please

I thought that the batteries had just been removed but am I right in thinking that someone thought to wire it to the mains and do a way with the batteries? the pic of the case shows 4 batteries each with 1.5v and there are 6 wires

http://media.diynot.com/208000_207872_70768_36751414_thumb.jpg

http://media.diynot.com/208000_207872_70769_68601294_thumb.jpg

 

[footprints]

Some come with the option of mains or battery, chances are there is a transformer somewhere that feeds it.

Somehing looking like this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Friedland-D753-8V-1A-Transformer/dp/B0001NPZ60

 

[Snowyy]

suppose it is a good thing the wires arced as I was about to cut through them lol ( although it would have been low voltage and using 1000v wire cutters)

I've put some electrical tape around the bare wires
http://media.diynot.com/208000_207872_70773_90633504_thumb.jpg

Where the wires go into the wall the hole is so small and i've tried tugging the wires to see if they move but they don't even move slightly
http://media.diynot.com/208000_207872_70774_69336483_thumb.jpg

What should I do? is it safe to just leave them taped up and just push them into the hole and then decorate over them or do I have to find the transformer and disconnect it from there. P.S I've got no idea where this transformer is

 

[footprints]

I would try to track down the source because you don't know what kind of dodge someone may have done.
Assuming it has a transformer (and is not mains powered! ) which would be the usual set up, the transformer will be near a plug or other power outlet, if a proper sparks put it in the chances are it is near the fuse box perhaps with an isolation switch as well.

 

[AndyPRK]

If you have power there you much better off replacing it with a proper bell.

I assume you have a back door bell push too?

Stop tugging and cutting the nice wires!

See if the bell button wires are ok with a meter.

Transformer should be next to consumer unit.

 

[Snowyy]

well the house is 1930s and I know it has had a full rewire recently (last 10 years) but i've seen some bodges here already with some junction boxes that have grey cables coming out with electrical tape on it. I think I will put the wall mounted case back on so that the cables are hidden as I have removed the bit really wanted to (the push button on the door) and then when I get a sparky to do some other jobs here just get them to make it safe. I take it that one pair of cables is safe as it goes to the push button the other two pairs though would be feed and return.

 

[Snowyy]

Hi AndyPRK
No we don't have a back door bell only a front one. Thought about a wireless one as we didn't want a bell box on the wall. We have a power socket behind the sofa which would be handy for this

 

[bernardgreen]

Thought about a wireless one as we didn't want a bell box on the wall. We have a power socket behind the sofa which would be handy for this

I would not put the door bell behind a sofa, There is a small risk of the item over heating if not in freely circulating air. Over heating could lead to early failure and some times failure could result in severe overheating ( fire ) which could ignite the sofa.

If you have the wires then go for a wired bell, one make of wireless door bells appears to have the same range of identities as a range of car key fobs. That is the only explanation for a neighbours wireless door bell ringing when another neighbour locked his car.

Also the battery in the door button can go flat and you miss important callers.