Test Doorbell Transformer With Multimeter

How to test voltage on a doorbell transformer using a multimeter. You probably just upgraded to the Nest Hello or Ring Video Doorbell Pro and are trying to troubleshoot problems. This video will show you how to test voltage at the doorbell button, transformer & line voltage to the transformer. We used a good but inexpensive meter. The line voltage to the transformer should be around 110 to 120Vac. The typical low voltage transformer should be 16 volts or higher. The video will show you the most common problem with the Ring Video Doorbell Pro and the Nest Hello in relation to the doorbell transformer and chime using a multimeter.
Link to the good but cheap meter used in the video: amzn.to/2INMSO2
0.56 Testing Transformer Voltage
1.52 Testing Doorbell Button Voltage
5.22 Testing 120V To The Transformer
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[@easyroc75]

When you are testing the high voltage side, best practice is to plug in the neutral probe first, then the hot probe. If you push in the hot probe first and you accidently touch the neutral probe, you will get shocked. When done with the test, pull out the hot probe first, then neutral.

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

I wanted to say thank you for taking the time to watch this video.

[@bee_ron]

I headed to the transformer to check it with a multimeter only to find a disconnected wire. Redid the 2 wires, now looks great and ....sound great, loud,loud enough that if we sit on the deck we would hear it, if only people used it instead of knocking. I wanted to check the door bell button first but wanted to use a meter after watching your video. The transformer shows 10.2 volts, it doesn't look as "beefy as the one you used in you video. Thanks a lot for your help.

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Great Find! Thanks for watching!

[@jacksonfev]

I wanted to say thank you for taking the time to make this video.

[@robertmcdowell4605]

Thanks for making this. Helped me fix my doorbell :-) !

[@joesjunkgarage]

Yes, most definitely! Thank you for taking the time to make this wonderful video! You are extremely clear, and extremely understandable for a guy like me who only plays with automobile electrical systems!

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Thank you for watching!

[@VirtuousPraiseworthy]

I couldn't find an explanation of this elsewhere. Thanks.

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Thanks for watching!

[@Andre8521]

Thanks so much for this! Especially having them laid out so we can see!

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SoulSeeker770]

Thank you for making this video!

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Thank you for watching!

[@hectorpatricio9918]

JAJAJAJAJ TENGO UNA DE MARCA TUYA. LE HICE RESET AL TELEFONO Y NO NINGUNA POSIBILIDAD DE PAIRING. LLEVA 15 DIAS LA TUYA GRITANDO "WAIT WIFI CONFIRM". POR INTERNET NO HAY CONTACTO CON LA COMPANIA. PERO YA ESTOY CONFORMANDOME Y LLISTO PARA TIRARLA A LA BASURA. TE FELICITO YA Q POR LO MENOS ESTAS ARREGLANDO EL TRANSFORMADOR. JAJAJA

[@WowRixter]

I have a Nest Hello that's not showing any power. This is perfect for helping me test my transformer. Thanks

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Thanks for watching!

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

I failed to mention that the transformer is AC and doesn't have a positive or negative terminal. It doesn't matter which terminal that you put the test leads on from the multimeter. They will have the same reading either way. If this was DC power that would be different as there is a positive and negative.

[@bostonnathanael4165]

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[@ernestomatthias8682]

@Boston Nathanael instablaster ;)

[@bostonnathanael4165]

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[@bostonnathanael4165]

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[@ernestomatthias8682]

@Boston Nathanael glad I could help xD

[@amirhemmati3771]

Thanks for the helpful video.

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

You're welcome!

[@macster1457]

This is exactly what I was looking for...thank you

[@josellamas625]

Super helpful. Great video, 👍 much appreciated

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danielg7680]

Great vid ! Thank you for making this

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Thanks for watching!

[@X4N0NYM0USX]

This was very helpful!

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Thank you for watching!

[@johnnybear111]

great video thank you

[@wyleong4326]

Thank you

[@gsrhatch14]

Super good video!

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Thank you for watching!

[@yocz2007]

Well,thank you for the infos very educative video.

[@scottstallard6214]

Was hoping you would open the chime and see how to check power reaching the chime itself.

[@Andre8521]

The chime doesn’t get power until it’s engaged at the doorbell-

[@joewhiteside6498]

Thanks this really helped

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Glad it helped

[@depressantdrug]

Before I test the transformer, should I turn off the power to the doorbell?

[@evanroy9425]

Good stuff

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Thanks for watching!

[@saif786salem]

Will a bad doorbell transformer effect the voltage coming in the other outlets in the house

[@lignumzygophyllaceae3820]

Thnk you

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Glad it helped.

[@electronic7979]

Nice

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Thank You For Watching!

[@nezmo4906]

Thanks for your video. My issue is trying to deal with these voltmeters. They have different places they can be plugged into and too many different settings which looks like instructions from china. Since my meter is different than yours, and it shows different ways of probably many of the same on yours, it is useless trying to figure out how to work this. thanks

[@ErvinSebag]

My doorbell lighted-button is very hot to the touch, any suggestions at the cause of this? I am going to measure the voltage on that enf and the transformer to be sure everything is within limits..

[@PureBlood42]

My meter doesn't feature the sguiggly symbol. It has ACV and a choice of 750 and 200. Im guessing I'd set it to ACV 200. When I do set it to that, the transformer reads: 10 However, one of the wires is still apparently connected to the bell. Should I disconnect that wire and retest it?

[@Albertthegreat2010]

Hello sir. Thanks for the video. My home address lights share the same transformer with my doorbell. The problem Im having is that although the doorbell works, the home address lights have stopped working. Can it be bad wiring? How do I test the address lights? Thank you!

[@tfun101]

Voltage is most likely too high and burning out your address lights. Have to step down voltage on transformer

[@patricklawson6532]

My multimeter is set up exactly as yours in the video. I've tested the transformer, doorbell, and chimebox. All were 00.0 Showed no power to anything with all breakers on? Very confusing

[@jedicrypto160]

Hey bud I bought a doorbell camera . Reads 20 at the doorbell I think but the chime is buzzing and every 30 seconds it dingles once . I know the doorbell needs 16 to 24 to work and my transformer says 16 volts on it . Bad transformer ?

[@tyung780]

What transformer volts rating do you recommend for a video door bell like Ring Pro or Nest? TIA!

[@emiliobrugueras7249]

16 Volts AC minimum (@ 30 volt-amps)

[@Aepek]

What’s the weirdest & hardest place to install the doorbell transformer..... I don’t know, how about the 3rd floor attic crawl space, LOL.... WHY PPL, WHY🤣🤣 Thx for the vid✌🏼

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

I have to say that is the worst I have heard. What state do you live in?

[@Aepek]

sellgooddeals DIY Florida. And yeah, have no idea what they were thinking, even w/ no “coat closet”, could still put in a pantry, near the panel, but nope.....in the last worst possible place you’d ever look, lol

[@jbossnack]

I asked the homeowner today where their transformer was located they just said they have no idea...neither did I

[@Aepek]

John Bossnack Gotta say, most homeowners haven’t got a clue as to what a doorbell transformer looks like. 99.99% of the time, I show them a picture of what it should look like.....& most are like, “oh, that’s what that thing is in the closet, garage, etc....” 🤣 when they were painting or doing something. Also, haven’t found, worked on one, etc...that hadn’t been caked w/ multiple layers of paint. Fun times👍🏻👍🏻 Last thing real quick. Went to a customer’s house to do a “doorbell repair”, & asked if knew where transformer was, like usual. The guy said didn’t know, & so I showed him the pic. He than told me oh....that’s what that thing was is our closet. Didn’t know what it did & ended up ripping it off the wall & thru it away. Wonder why the doorbell quit working, huh🤣🤣🤣 Easy fix, as I just wired up a new one, lol. Cheers✌🏼

[@jbossnack]

@@Aepek lol threw it away and stopped working hmmm...people are strange sometimes

[@uberyoutuber1183]

I took off the back of my chime and found two low voltage wires going to my chime. I assume that is one wire from the transformer to the chime and one from the chime to the doorbell?

[@jacksonfev]

yes.

[@c0ncept]

Are there any risks to my home if I upgrade my 16V 10VA transformer to a 16V 30VA as an attempt to get my Ring Doorbell 2 powered correctly? Right now I can't get any power at all to mine despite it working fine for the old doorbell. In other words, am I safe in just swapping out a transformer or is there any kind of fire risk since it's bigger, etc. Do I need to check if my wires can handle the increase, etc.? I just have regular solid copper doorbell wires.

[@c0ncept]

Bill L I know it is 6 months later, but I did get the upgraded transformer. It was installed by an electrician. It did NOT solve the problem with my Ring 2 doorbell not receiving hardwired power. After that, I contacted Ring who promptly sent me a new replacement device that has been working fine for the last 6 months. So at this point I don’t know if the new transformer was necessary at all, but these are the steps I took to solve it.

[@c0ncept]

Alan Whiteside Pasting the reply I sent to the other commenter here: I know it is 6 months later, but I did get the upgraded transformer. It was installed by an electrician. It did NOT solve the problem with my Ring 2 doorbell not receiving hardwired power. After that, I contacted Ring who promptly sent me a new replacement device that has been working fine for the last 6 months. So at this point I don’t know if the new transformer was necessary at all, but these are the steps I took to solve it.

[@SWLinPHX]

c0ncept: Didn’t you test the voltage at the transformer and at the doorbell to first see if it was getting power or how many volts? If it was then you know it was a defective doorbell and you didn’t need a new transformer.

[@c0ncept]

SWLinPHX the doorbell was intermittently getting power and losing power at random times. Sometimes it would just switch to battery power despite being hardwired. Long story short, a new transformer did not solve it but Ring sent a replacement device that has worked for the last year straight.

[@SWLinPHX]

c0ncept well one of the Ring 2 doorbells at one of my properties is hardwired yet has started draining the battery so I have to test everything to see what the problem is. Was working fine for a year and a half and this just started the last month.

[@Casperarizona]

Amazing Video! Thank You!!!

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Glad you liked it!

[@torchlord11]

I had a bad transformer but the new one doesn't have any information next to the screw heads on which is the load or no load side. The bolts are in a different oriantation and new one is from China but the old one is from Korea. All the ratings and classes are the same. Does it matter which bolts I connect my wires too?

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

You are absolutely correct. It doesn’t matter which wire terminal you use on the low voltage side.

[@benedicitevos3896]

now a days we get digital doorbell with all stuff and transformers in one box. so where can you buy these mechanical bells?

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

That is a good point most only are packaged as a kit. I have seen them on Amazon as a stand alone.

[@Random_4400]

I have the exact same multimeter lol

[@medotaku9360]

I'm getting 1v at the wires of my doorbell... What's the deal? Is there a break in a wire somewhere, maybe?

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

Hmm, is it possible your transformer is feeding something else as well? Such as door/gate lock, lit address sign or intercom system. What is the voltage at the transformer? Do you have a chime?

[@COMMANDER-ONE]

I have put two transformers on for my doorbell and I have 120 V going into the back but zero coming out the other side. Seems kind of hard to get two brand new transformers that are bad don’t you think?

[@jpsanch33]

I have done this 3 times already

[@arvind3tthiru]

John - I have the same exact issue now. Two new transformers out of the box and both showing zero voltage on secondary. How did you solve your issue?

[@Mark-sn6kh]

My doorbell gets power when the wires are hooked to the chime, but the chime makes a buzzing sound. Came home one day and it smelled like it was burning up the chime. I replaced the chime and the new one does the same thing. Showing about 19 volts at the transformer and 19 volts coming out of the wall to the chime itself. So confused.

[@6622863456]

Mark, I had the same problem. A loud buzzing sound early one morning. Burning smell. So I still don’t have mine repaired. But husband disconnected it.

[@Mark-sn6kh]

@@6622863456 we ended up saying screw it and purchased a Ring that's battery powered. Had it over month now and still has 45% battery remaining.

[@6622863456]

Mark that is what I am going to do too, today. Thanks so much

[@davemarm]

That sounds like you have a short circuit on the doorbell button or wires going to it. If you disconnect the button and it no longer happens then it is just a bad button. If it still happens then it is a short in the wiring.

[@andrewneve8871]

The buzzing sound is caused because the doorbell is stuck on the outside button which causes the circuit to stay live and then that burns out the chime. That happened to me.

[@harleyb-ham266]

So you never have to test the door bell chime?

[@jeremyrodriguez5923]

My transformer gets super hot, is that normal?

[@brianbradburn]

I thought the transformer inputs AC and converts it to DC output?

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

There are converters and adapters that do change from AC to DC. Ordinary doorbells use transformers that step down the power from 120V to a lower voltage usually 16V.

[@jpsanch33]

Can 3 new transformers be bad?

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

I doesn't seem likely that you would get 3 bad transformers. Have you tested the voltage to the transformer to see if you are getting 110-120V?

[@jpsanch33]

@@sellgooddeals-DIY i am getting 120. I just tested my last one before installing with a snipped off extension cord and was reading 20v. After installing it and connecting the transformer read zero. I am frying them for whatever visit. I am guessing i have a short in my low voltage line.

[@grandinfinite5921]

Or just bypass everything and go wireless.

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

That works too.

[@jso3284]

I’m not getting a reading. Just a flashing (-) sign.

[@sellgooddeals-DIY]

What meter are you using? Also, do you have it on AC?

[@Random_4400]

Oh it's AC I'm fu#%%$g dumb i use DC and didn't get anything i was wondering why lmao