Tips, Advice Repair Doorbell Button, Chimes, Transformer & wire colors

Shows tips and advice to test and repair a doorbell with the chimes and transformer with wire colors.
It demonstrates how the doorbell works and how to look for problems when testing.
I trouble shoot and offer advice, tricks and tips to help diagnose to repair the doorbell button, chimes and transformer as well as the electrical connections of the wire colors.
Or you may just order a wireless kit from our online store.
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[@JW-rq1ik]

I have watched many videos, but this one was the clearest one to figure out where my one accidently disconnected transformer wire should be reconnected. THANK YOU!

[@tonymoran9794]

THE best doorbell explanation on the TUBE !

[@joannknight8610]

A calm, clear and concise delivery of the information needed. Thank you!

[@bradmcclendon4597]

Excellent overview! Thanks for walking us through the required debug steps in such detail!

[@jackwellerman9492]

Well done video!! Thank you for the close ups and covering all the details!!

[@jennifersong8908]

I just fixed my doorbell. Thanks for your video. It is really help. My doorbell problem is the button dirty, I let the two wires touched, the doorbell worked. So I cleaned the button and connected to the wires again. It is ok now.

[@MRaj-ts2qo]

Blair, I've checked a few of the solutions to the door bell issues written here, but by far - YOU ARE THE BEST...

[@MrHardware1]

Thank you. We are trying.

[@debbiehuston6110]

It ended up being just the doorbell button. Your video was extremely helpful. It saved us a lot of time and money. Thanks so much!

[@randydavis7776]

best directions of anyone on utube. I didn't label my wires I HAD TWO RED AND TWO WHITE COMING FROM DOOR BELLS your video straightened it out worked perfect. two reds to transformer one white to trans ( short piece) fromchime to trans. white for front and rear.. so easy

[@MrHardware1]

A little help goes a long way.

[@33RPMVinyl]

Touching the doorbell wires was a good tip. Replaced my doorbell button yesterday. Good video.

[@lawrencemohammed9099]

The best installation video I’ve seen

[@marielynn3802]

Thank you! Wish we had found this video months ago! Much appreciated!

[@saturnvueboy0946]

Cool!

[@realcolbyadams]

Thank you, I have gone too long without a doorbell. Its been nice to not hear a pinging bell everytime someone is at the door however its broken and needed to be fixed. Thank you for your informative video.

[@henrycortez183]

Awesome video - still teaching people - thank you! It was straightforward and easy to understand! Much appreciated!

[@ralphmatheson9331]

At 1.24 fixed my door bell ,thanks very much saved me a few quid getting someone to fix it for me!

[@esham5796]

This is a very informative video. Thank you for sharing this. I've been in my house (not so new house anymore) for almost 20 years and I recently noticed that the door bell is not working. I really didn't know where to start troubleshooting and dread having to hire a handyman. But after watching this video, I think I can tackle this myself. I'm going to see if I have time to try the troubleshooting steps this weekend.

[@jasonhightower]

This is a great video. When installing my Ring doorbell Pro it's heating up my chime so much it burns them up. Ironically enough, when I remove it and put my old doorbell back into place, everything works fine, with a new chime of course.

[@MrHardware1]

I wonder if customer service would explain how much power that unit draws and does that unit heat up other doorbells. Maybe your old chime rare and subject to heating up.

[@eivetsnod]

Thank you for this video Blair. I was having fits with my doorbell, and I changed everything. New button, transformer, and chime. After looking at your video, I was able to understand the system. It turns out that I had the chime wired wrong.Your wiring diagram and explanation were great. Thanks again.

[@JCD3570]

Good video. My fix was the simplest of all. The breaker was off at the control panel (bedroom #3) due to a lamp that had wiring problems.

[@MrHardware1]

The light works through the power that 'trickles' through the doorbell itself. The bulb has enough resistance so it will not ring the bell, although some electronic door chimes cannot be used w/a lighted button, but enough electricity flows through it to light it. Blair

[@SimonRHooper]

Thanks very much-- perfect description of how the doorbell system works.

[@TheBobMetcalf]

I needed your overview to know how to ask my local hardware store for the part I needed (they did NOT), and then to ask the manufacturer for the part (they comped it!). None of the online videos found addressed the replacement of the part I needed -- the plastic button itself. Many front door decorative hardware packages have matching doorbells. No one wants to replace this with a plastic doorbell. The decorative doorbells are little more than a cover to go over the plastic ones. Another video?

[@pglucks]

Thanks Blair! All I did was clean the copper connection from the doorbell real good and it worked again.

[@tenmil1287]

OMG! You’ve saved me a HUGE headache trying to figure out what the hell went wrong. Wires were cut in chime.

[@markclifford6623]

I want to say thank you so much for such an informative video it's very helpful. I'm having an issue with a Wi-Fi video camera doorbell was working fine now it's not and I'm hearing a buzzing for a short period for a few seconds so this will help me hopefully figure it out. Thank you

[@darkgalaxy794]

This video help me solve why my doorbell is not working. Thank you very much for this usefull video.

[@allenlynn3646]

Great explanation. My door bell hums & I now think I understand why. Thank you.

[@MrHardware1]

Wow, the whole family! Glad to help.

[@edelmirodehoyos3299]

Very useful information. Thanks.

[@rajastylez]

Most informative video on doorbells!

[@bcromagnon]

If the problem is a short or cut in the actual doorbell wire, what's the best way to replace it? Thx. Brian

[@DougCeleste]

GREAT video and thanks for sharing! However, isn't it still safer to turn off the power before doing this job, even with the low voltage, to prevent any possible shock hazards?

[@MrHardware1]

That is the beauty of low voltage, I don’t believe anyone got shocked or hurt by 16 volts. It’s the 120 volt side that is dangerous and I do kill the power when I’m playing w/it.

[@DougCeleste]

@@MrHardware1 Thanks Blair for your reply! I went to the front door and touched both exposed wires which made the doorbell ring inside. And now I know that I just need to replace the old push button doorbell. I got a mild shock for a second while doing this but that was to be expected. I still feel safer by just turning off the power for this job, even with the low voltage. Anyhow, I really enjoy your YT videos which are so helpful and informative since you explain everything so well and so easy to understand. Thanks for your help and Happy New Year from New Mexico! 😎

[@helenegerson4319]

Thanks....I was putting this off and thought I had to call an electrician.....but alas it was easier than I thought!

[@MrHardware1]

Great Helene, Tim and I are glad to help.

[@pyrrhus17]

Great info but I am not crawling around my attic with 2ft clearance to replace this thing .

[@krantikambhampati9915]

How does the light on it work? Does it need a separate ground?

[@elizabethtsai5444]

Hi Mr. Doorbell, can you fix the door bell with buzzer to open the door from the apartment.

[@MrHardware1]

Similar wire and voltage however nothing that will be done over the Internet.

[@slavatko]

Good video. How do you remove a front doorbell to check the condition of the wiring? Thanks

[@MrHardware1]

The button is usually attached the house with two screws. Sometimes there’s a cover that snaps over it to hide the screws, which has to be removed first.

[@danandjeannie]

Thank you for the great video. I had vivint for several years. No longer. I would like to connect the vivint button to my original chime. Is this possible? Do I need to turn the power off before trying this? Thank you,

[@MrHardware1]

Sorry, I can’t say from here. You’ll need a qualified ‘on site’ person to determine.

[@claytonertley546]

So to be clear. It does not matter which connector I use from the transformer to the transformer connector on the chime? There are two connector/poles/spots on my 16V transformer. I am assuming there is no polarity so I can choose which ever one to power the chime and and the other for the buttons? Great video and thanks for sharing!

[@GospelOfThomasMcSwain]

AC voltage doesn't have a set polarity like DC voltage so it should not matter. AC voltage basically flips polarity. The button only serves to cause a break in the current so that the doorbell doesn't ring constantly. Once the doorbell is pushed down, the two lines that connect to it become one line for that moment. So, no, it should not matter.

[@MrHardware1]

You got it.

[@rogerjewett4124]

Based upon your video, it appears one plunger in the chime is for the back door and it just allows one tone. Does the front door use the other plunger and strikes both chime bar? I changed my front door button, but you have to press it a number of times before it will strike the second chime bar? For most of the time, it only strikes one of the chime bars. It is a new chime too. Why doesn't it strike both chime bars?

[@monkmchorning]

I have a question. The guy who built our house used a plug-in power supply instead of a transformer, and spliced the switch and and chime leads to the back end of this. After 40 years it quit. I'm thinking of attaching the 120v wires of a transformer to a 15 amp grounding plug instead of wiring it directly into a box. Would this be advisable?

[@blairgilbert7606]

you could, if you were able to put the Wire connections into an improved electrical box. This is an odd area for me to be sure I would actually call the city electrical inspector.

[@tdelrio]

If on side of the chime..the front is stuck down and when you add power you hear buzzing would you have to replace the chime or could you use the back in place of front?

[@rzjk301]

Hello, the problem I have is this: The transformer has 20V, the door Bell switch has 20V. when I short the red\white wires at the door bell switch I register 0V at the chimes red/white wires. I checked continuity from the chimes white wire to the switch white wire = good. Red chime to the red of one xformer pole = good. I checked the other red from xformer to the red wire switch = good. Connected the chime directly to xformer the chime chimed. I also installed a new switch. I am lost! HELP!

[@carolpatton3505]

My doorbell is buzzing so I'm going to try to fix it. Is there a part in the basement that I need to replace, too? I don't know exactly what to look for.

[@MrHardware1]

Usually buzzing comes from a stuck switch, unscrew it from the wall and remove one of the wires

[@leemcneil4512]

If it ends up being a wire issue, what is the easiest way run new wire to the existing doorbell (through an attic, not a basement)?

[@HsingSun]

If the existing wires are not broken, then use them only for the a new Nest Hello.

[@skyvalleyhigherpraise3342]

I've watched your video on repairing a doorbell. It was very informative. I've replaced the doorbell button on my front door. Now, here is the question. The doorbell will ring only if you hold the button in, if pressed once and let go it doesn't ring. Would you happen to know if I may have missed something when reconnecting the wires?

[@MrHardware1]

If it is a mechanical doorbell the wires may be loose somewhere or the transformer is not producing the correct voltage, between 10 and 16 volts. If it is an electronic doorbell it may be defective.

[@rdeleon0360]

Great video, well explained 👏!

[@MrHardware1]

Did you 'short' out the wires at the doorbell and then check the voltage to the doorbell? Mr. Hardware

[@perryman333]

Easy Parcheesi. Thanks for making it so simple

[@LukeGowen93]

Thanks for this video. Helped me fix my door bell today! Keep up the good work :D

[@HsingSun]

After pressing the button, is it normal when the door belt chime ringing with some zee zee or humble noise for five seconds?

[@nimishnayak9380]

Thanks your tutorial is really helpful :)

[@goneruff22]

Great video Mr. Gilbert!

[@georgephillips1185]

Thank you great information

[@marsoelflaco5722]

Well done!👍🏽✌🏽

[@teck49]

I can't find the Transformer. No sign of it in the wall behind the chimes. Any guesses???

[@MrHardware1]

@@teck49 in the basement near the furnace, or between the furnace and where the doorbell is upstairs attached to a round junction box in the basement ceiling. Have you been able to locate the doorbell wires, which are the two small wires that run from the doorbell button to the doorbell chime. if you can find them wires usually you follow them right to the transformer Also.

[@mubarakkhan537]

Great video thanks for making it.

[@twistedwired]

Any idea why is there 3 wires behind my front switch? Also, how is it that the lamp does not short out the switch?

[@MrHardware1]

Three wires is common because that happened to be what the electrician had in his truck. Pricing between the two rolls of wire is very slim so often times electrician will just carry a roll of three conductor and use that for everything. The neon bulb in the button draws so little power that it doesn’t activate most chimes however some electronic doorbells don’t like the draw from the neon bulb and you have to replace it with a non-lighted button.

[@twistedwired]

@@MrHardware1 ohhhhhhhh, yes of course thanks

[@macster1457]

can I test the voltage of the doorbell by removing the outdoor button and using a multimeter on the 2 wires?

[@MrHardware1]

If the doorbell and the transformer are good you should get a a/c current around 10 volts.

[@macster1457]

I tried it and I am getting over 17v

[@MrHardware1]

It should not be a problem, usually the meter is giving you a poor reading. If The bell is not working it may be in the doorbell itself. It could be shorted out.

[@macster1457]

oh ok.. my concern is not whether the ring works or not, I just needed to know if the transformer is powerful enough to run a Ring Camera Door Bell, which requires at least 16v.

[@MrHardware1]

I use a scrap of wire and connect the bell directly to the transformer, momentarily, to test the power. Not all the listed requirements are truly accurate. The greater the distance of wire will reduce the voltage delivered to the bell. So playing around will deliver your answer and a lesson on electricity.

[@williamgutierrez4930]

So then if I have a short at the chime, does the chime have to be replaced.

[@MrHardware1]

Usually, because you can't get parts anymore.

[@davedoty]

To answer a question someone asked, doorbell transformers, like all transformers, are alternating current which is abbreviated AC. AC does not have polarity. AC transformers with rectification (diodes, etc.) output direct current (DC) which has polarity..one side positive (+) the other negative (-). You set your VOM (volt, ohm meter) to AC to check a doorbell transformer. This video covers the low voltage side of the transformer. But if you have questions about wiring the high voltage (120 VAC) side of your doorbell transformer, e.g. what is the neutral bus in your breaker box, you probably shouldn’t be in there. A slip of the screwdriver combined with the high amperage mains could easily kill you. 325 people die from electrocution each year. Approximately 13 of them were electricians.

[@scottsheck]

I’m getting 22volts at the transformer which is good but I’m oddly getting 22 volts at the doorbell chime when not even pressing the doorbell. Why would it be reading 22 volts? And at the doorbell, I’m reading zero volts, which is not good

[@MrHardware1]

It could be a broken or frozen doorbell button or the electronics in these fancy camera doorbells have a circuitry. I can’t even begin to describe to troubleshoot. You’d have to go to customer service if the ring was supplying 22 V to the doorbell all the time.

[@MrHardware1]

The front door plunger goes both ways, electricity drives the plunger into the front chime bar, and a spring pulls the plunger back fast and it then strikes the back chime bar, ding, dong. The rear plunger only strikes the rear chime bar, dong. Intermediate striking tones could be a bad doorbell, (these days 'new' means nothing, some foreign products are crap) Or the transformer is not producing consistent power. If it is very old you could have it tested.

[@SheriLive]

I thought I needed to call an electrician. NOT!! Thank you!!!! 😊😊

[@YellowJacketGroup]

thanks for this. super helpful instructions

[@MrHardware1]

Glad to help.

[@manuelcastillo2024]

I have a emerson rittenhouse model rc391 and I need to run new wires can u help me please?

[@MrHardware1]

Sorry, It is not one I'm aware of. I suggest getting a manual on line...

[@1575murray]

Usually if the doorbell button or the wire leading to it shorts out the coil will overheat and the plunger will stick making the doorbell useful only as a door stop requiring its replacement. At least that's what happened to mine.

[@torchlord11]

I'm getting no voltage at the 2 terminals of my transformer, or at the bell using my multimeter set at 500 volts AC (lowest setting i have). What do you do when you have a old transformer that has 2 black wires, one of which goes to the breaker, and the other goes to the rail ground. It is connected to the breaker box with metal bracket, and It doesn't have a third wire like the new transformer that i have has. The new transformer has black, green, and white color code. How do i wire it up. The bell case in your video looks exactly like the one i got.

[@MrHardware1]

+torchlord11 First off, are you sure the lowest setting is 500 volts, not 500 mili-volts, Which is 1/2 of a volt. When installing the new transformer connect the black wire to the breaker and the white wire to the rail ground, 'I'm not sure what a rail ground is, but I'm assuming it is the neutral. The green wire should go to a ground, but not to either power wire.

[@charleswoodrow]

We've got a doorbell with light, but the light doesn't work. The bell itself does work. I saw a loose cable hanging near the bell housing. How/Where can I reattach it?

[@MrHardware1]

The bulb is internal to the button, if it is dead I would have to get a new button. However if you can find a lose wire in the button you may fix it. An extra wire from the house usually does not get hooked up.

[@charleswoodrow]

Mr. Hardware Thanks!

[@KaptainCanuck]

10-year-old video but the doorbell will only buzz if there is resistance due to corrosion somewhere in the circuit, allowing the proper chime sound.

[@Jaji813]

Thank you soooo much! Very well explained. Helped me alot!

[@yuristavchansky2717]

Thank you!

[@harrypatel7379]

I dont have a rear. I only have a front and trans. Whats my option? I tried changing the door bell button, but that didnt resolve the issue. Everytime, I click the door bell, it makes a buzzing noise, almost similar to a cell phone vibration. Please help and guide me. 

[@HsingSun]

My two door belts: Nest Hello and standard button are working. But the Nest hello has zee zee noise for five seconds.

[@tongbasketballproductions6541]

Very interesting video. I only do gaming vids, but I watch random videos.

[@ocoab3223]

WOW! Thanks.

[@CleverJoseph-uk8jl]

Nice

[@MzzzKLA83]

How do i make the chime louder?

[@MrHardware1]

I have had to get a larger transformer when the wiring is very long through a house. If it does not harm the chime, a call to the manufacturer will insure safety, go to a 16 volt transformer and if the manufacturer ok's it go to a 24 volt if the 16 does not help.

[@ken_9359]

Mr. Hardware, I would like to get a low-voltage license in California. People have told me all I have to do is pass a test but I don't want to just pass a test and not know what I'm doing. Even if I do pass the test how do I go about getting my experience in. Any advice will be appreciated, thanks!

[@MrHardware1]

I would look to getting a job at a security company, cameras and such, or see if you can get a job as an electrical apprentice. Usually good pay and great experience, Blair

[@kimochilover]

My transformer is working, but my new doorbell button still has no power. Do you think I need a new chime box?

[@MrHardware1]

After touching the button wires together and getting no hum or movement from the door bell, twist the button wires together and go to door bell and switch the front and rear wires. if the front or rear solenoid is bad switching the wires will give the other half of the door bell a chance to work and prove out the wiring. Lastly I take the door bell off the wall and attach some small wire to the R and T terminals. Now take the door bell to the transformer and holding the wires to the transformer the bell should ring. If not use the F and T terminals on the bell and try again.

[@damiondavis3153]

I have three wires in my chime box but each is doubled with a red and white wire. How do I connect it to the chime box

[@tigerlilly6895]

Okay... I have a doorbell that is now connected to a doorbell camera, so there is no way it can have a closed circuit. It never rang except about 4 months ago it rang once at 3:30 AM, then one day about a month ago at 4 PM , then 2 nights ago.. rang many times... like it's building up the charge... then last night it rang, lots of times again. Now tonight it's ringing again... about every 2 minutes but last night it rang like 11 times in a row... Can anyone tell me why? Thanks :)

[@stefasantos]

We can't find the transformer for our doorbell.. Help!!

[@harpreetsandhu3029]

Thanks sir this helps me

[@rzjk301]

Yes it was zero volts at the chime

[@eluna58]

Thank you, helped me out. You just earned my sub....

[@tippersteffi1]

My door bell will ring by itself and then the chime will start buzzing, the only way it will stop is to press the doorbell button, this happens every few days, any idea....thanks

[@MrHardware1]

change the button. To test remove the old button and leave the wires separated. If it rings or hums you have a wire shorted out somewhere.

[@tippersteffi1]

+Blair Gilbert thanks for the info, I will try

[@johndoee4964]

My doorbell button is a pos, it gets stuck. It's a circular one.

[@showmakertb]

When I press the button it buzzes it does not play the chime. If I hold the button it completes the song

[@MrHardware1]

Could be a motor or a relay that is old and needs more 'kick' to initiate the sequence. Could be cleaned and very light oiled, maybe.

[@showmakertb]

@@MrHardware1 Hey its brand new

[@JoseCastro-qb5mk]

Porke ase ese zumbido el door bell

[@squishywatermelon_gaming1408]

Why does my door bell continue to ring ?

[@MrHardware1]

I bet the button is shorted out. Remove one wire to check.

[@BurkeLCH]

I love the internet :')

[@MrHardware1]

Ouch! run a new wire or go wireless

[@timcreis]

How do you run a new wire in an older home?

[@blairgilbert7606]

@@timcreis I use a 12" x 1/8 long thin drill bit to check for areas in a house I can fish a wire. Then once I make the pilot hole I can enlarge it to run a wire. And it is easy to caulk or fill a 1/8" hole that went 'no where'.

[@MrFz1rider]

My doorbell wasn’t working so I put a new one. Now it only works if I hold the button. Same thing with the front door Now what ? They both work if you touch the wires together. Both doorbells are brand new It’s driving me nuts

[@MrHardware1]

Either it is an electronic chime or maybe the transformer (or wires) are weak and the chime needs more electricity that what it is getting.

[@MrFz1rider]

@@MrHardware1 When i touch the wires together it works fine. The chimes work fine, the doorbells are brand new. The old one might have had a diode in it and I never noticed. I changed them so they would light up. I was told to cut out the bulbs and it should be fine. I'm at the point where I don't care, bang on the door if you have too.

[@bobmariano3731]

👍

[@sayedkim3266]

G A Altaf HUssain

[@terrybingeman8617]

Jk

[@nms1508]

My transformer reads 18 volts but still doesn’t work 🥹

[@MrHardware1]

I would bypass the doorbell switch, so the 18 V goes directly to the doorbell chime.