Doorbell transformer query

[Nemo2000]

Just out of curiosity really....

In our hallway there is an old Friedland 551 mechanical 'ding dong' chime. As we are redecorating my wife wants to replace it with "something neater", so probably a Friedland / Honeywell D117 or similar. No problem there.

The bell power comes from an old grey V&E B47 transformer, which I understand to be an early Friedland variant? My wife wants to have that replaced as well by Friedland D753 - "nice and small and white", she says Now the B47 is "Made in England" and built like a tank and has been running for at least 40-odd years - do these things ever wear out? So, why bother to change it for something 'Made in China' which might be far less robust - I can easily relocate it to a hidden location and/or paint it white. Any views please?

The current B47 is fed off a 5A lighting circuit. AFAIK that is perfectly acceptable, I see no need to bother with a 3A fused spur connection instead - am I right ?

 

[ericmark]

The old ding-dong doorbell used a coil of wire which will need more AC voltage to DC voltage, and typically needed either 3 volt DC or 8 volts AC. And the current used was often greater than the transformer rating, and we rely on the caller not pushing the button for too long, but unless they do, they can last for decades.

But the idea goes against the grain, and I looked at where the wiring went, and decided to go for a wireless option, with two sounders.

However, if not broke, why fix it?

 

[trojanhawrs]

I'm with you, its a piece of history probably hand wound by somebody's grandad! Nice to think it's still buzzing along nicely all these years later.

 

[ebee]

Aye, things are not what they used to be!

There again, they never were!

 

[ebee]

Actually, joking aside, things wre made to last longer because thet were more robust and better made - "they " used to say that we over - engineered stuff.

Who were "they" and were they correct?

Lots of things today are cheaper in real terms but more of a "throw away" ???

 

[trojanhawrs]

Actually, joking aside, things wre made to last longer because thet were more robust and better made - "they " used to say that we over - engineered stuff.

Who were "they" and were they correct?

Lots of things today are cheaper in real terms but more of a "throw away" ???

I don't know but on a related tangent, I think efficiency drivers also contribute to the lack of robustness in a lot of things, not necessarily just the fact it's cheap materials or poorly made. Pumps for instance pack more of a punch in a smaller format than they used to, but even with full brass impellers and volutes they'll fail much earlier than their ancestors - probably because of tighter machining making them a lot less tolerant to imperfect conditions.

 

[morqthana]

Take a look at the range of chimes etc from Grothe. Sleek, and will even mimic the old ding-dong sound if you want.

And they are not made in China

 

[morqthana]

do these things ever wear out?

No.