Doorbell Wiring - Ring Pro and Honeywell

[Khuz360]

Hi All

Apologies if this is not in the right forum or if I've joined the forum when I'm not supposed to as I'm not an electrician just an avid tinkerer.

With that said. I'm planning to wire in a new doorbell system. I ripped out the old wired system and switched to wireless which was less than an optimal solution. For that reason I'm planning to go back to a wired system and if possible upgrade to a ring pro system.

The new system will be based on the Honeywell DW915s wired and wireless chime thing which I believe is a wired chime which doubles up as a wireless extender which allows another compatible chime to be paired to it. (Please correct me if I'm wrong). The initial plan is to use this chime as a wired chime, powered via the batteries so it will be wired direct to the bell push. The reason being was firstly that's what the old system was like and secondly to wire it to the main would likely require a new consumer unit because the old one is the old style wire fuse type which I will be updating at some point but not any time soon.

The problem with this initial plan is that the run of cable from the bell push to the position I want the chime to be placed is about 30m, accounting for tidying the cable into the edges etc. From my research online 0.5mm bell wire seems to be inappropriate for this kind of distance and impact performance. Having looked online, I can't seem to find thicker solid 2 core wire, everything seems to be stranded cores. The solution I've come across is to use 1mm 2 core FP200 fire alarm cable which is 4x times the price of bell wire and also has an earth core which would be redundant. What could I do to solve this issue.

The second part of the new system will be to install the Ring Pro which will be done when the consumer unit is updated. I know the Ring Pro requires a mains power and comes with a transformer. Based on where the mains circuit will be. the cable run is around 20m (quite likely less), from what I've read online I should be able to use 0.5mm bell wire for this without any problems to performance (correct me if I'm wrong). My plan is to have the ring pro chime through the honeywell DW915s which I believe can be done based on a review on Amazon from someone who said they did it, albeit I'm not sure how the wiring would be done. It seems to be quite challenging finding a circuit diagram showing a ring pro connected to an existing chime in the UK. I'm think the transformer from Ring is capable of also powering the Honeywell DW915s.

Is this plan feasible and what would be the best thickness of wire to use and where can I source it. Does the wire have to be solid core or would stranded core be sufficient.

Thanks

 

[SparkyChick]

If the windings on the transformer are tapped to provide 8v, 12v and 24v, then you can connect between the 8v and 24v taps to get 16v.

 

[howieleem]

Ive been looking at connecting a Ring Pro to a DW915S as well for the following reason :- The Ring Pro has a feature/problem in that when someone presses the Ring button, the remote Chime gives out a sound, but then if the Ring Pro button is pressed again immediatly, the Chime does not make a sound. I checked with Ring and they said that the Chime will only make a sound after the Blue light on the Ring Pro has gone off from the first press of the button. This can be up to a minute.

 

[Khuz360]

If the windings on the transformer are tapped to provide 8v, 12v and 24v, then you can connect between the 8v and 24v taps to get 16v.

Good shout, I didn't realise that could be done. I have however managed to track down a transformer with a 16v tap (also didn't know they were called taps)

Ive been looking at connecting a Ring Pro to a DW915S as well for the following reason :- The Ring Pro has a feature/problem in that when someone presses the Ring button, the remote Chime gives out a sound, but then if the Ring Pro button is pressed again immediatly, the Chime does not make a sound. I checked with Ring and they said that the Chime will only make a sound after the Blue light on the Ring Pro has gone off from the first press of the button. This can be up to a minute.

I have just ordered the DW915s on ebay as there was a voucher for 15% off, so managed to get it for less than £33.00, which is cheaper than anywhere else. Sadly I won't be in a position to fit it to a Ring until close to next summer when I change out the Consumer Unit. If I get any further updates from Ring on this matter I will try to update the thread.

 

[Khuz360]

As an update for anyone following.

I emailed Ring Support and asked would the Ring Pro or Elite work with the Honeywell DW915s. Their response was that the device was incompatible and when they say incompatible they mean Ring don't guarantee stable performance. The issue from my understanding was that the Ring Pro and Ring Elite required main powered chimes at 16 - 24vac despite in the case of the Ring Elite being powered by POE.

I contacted Honeywell and they advised the DW915s could be powered by 16v and needed the batteries in as well even if it is mains powered. (See above for more info)

I went back to Ring and asked based on the fact that Honeywell have advised that it (DW915s) can work with any power supply up to 16v and requires the batteries to be fitted as well.

Ring have responded with and I'll quote directly from the email

"If the manufacturer says that it would work, you can try it on your own risk.

Please note that this model was proven as incompatible from our end by our tests and the specifications provided by Honeywell, and Ring will not be responsible for any possible damage, that could be inflicted on the device."

Now I understand the reason behind the disclaimer however I have to say it has made me think twice.

Based on the correspondence I have had from Ring, my understanding is that the DW915s was incompatible due to the voltage requirements and that incompatible meant guarantee stable performance. Now the language in this most recent correspondence does make me wonder what damage could possibly be caused. I understand the need for a disclaimer however it is a bit strong.

 

[Marvel]

Hello, I'm just wondering if you have any more updates on this? I have a ring doorbell pro and I'm looking at using the same honeywell doorbell myself.

 

[Khuz360]

Hello, I'm just wondering if you have any more updates on this? I have a ring doorbell pro and I'm looking at using the same honeywell doorbell myself.

Hi, sadly I haven't been in a position to make the switch over to the Ring.

So from what I can work out in order for the Ring Pro/Elite to work with the Honeywell DW915s, they have to be connected via 16v transformer. According to Honeywell and indeed the information on the packaging itself the DW915s can handle 16v but does require the batteries as well. What I intend to do before I have an electrician install this stuff is do a mock up by wiring a plug to the transformer and then connecting everything up. If you have success with connecting the two together and it working do post back.

 

[Rob Alldis]

@Khuz360: what did you eventually do. I've just bought a Ring Pro, and want it to link to a proper chime device (not the little plug-in thing they include). Did you use the DW915s - or give up? I would assume I'd have to complete rewire my door bell, as it's old 8v cable in order to support 24V anyway (I see some have doubled up alarm wire as a workaround to do this, based on some of the previous responses). Just would like to know what you eventually did - so I may copy... thanks, Rob

 

[Khuz360]

@Khuz360: what did you eventually do. I've just bought a Ring Pro, and want it to link to a proper chime device (not the little plug-in thing they include). Did you use the DW915s - or give up? I would assume I'd have to complete rewire my door bell, as it's old 8v cable in order to support 24V anyway (I see some have doubled up alarm wire as a workaround to do this, based on some of the previous responses). Just would like to know what you eventually did - so I may copy... thanks, Rob

Hi Rob

Unfortunately, I never got around to doing this as it was going to be part of a larger project that I had to place on the back burner. Based on the information I received from Ring and Honeywell it is possible to do it. However Both devices need to be hardwired into the Transformer and the DW915s also requires batteries. In one of my posts I talked about doing a mock up by wiring the Transformer to a 240v plug and then wiring everything in as per the instructions from Honeywell which are on the car and going from there.

Sorry I can't be of more assistance.

Khurram