Is this box my bell transformer?

[Deleted member 112675]

Hello All

Always risky posting a picture especially this one with the cables not clipped nicely etc. Can only assure its not my work and was done 20+ years ago.

Anyway, caveat out of the way ,is that black box the transformer for the bell? And is it being fed by that socket outlet plate?

Finally, I assume its not man enough to power a Ring Video Doorbell? Would something like this do the job?
Or maybe just buy a 2 way enclosure and transformer separately? Ring arrives tomorrow and not sure if it comes with a transformer or not.

 

[stevethesparks]

It certainly is
Whereabouts in London?
Can you post a pic of the consumers unit. Generally Ring supply a transformer that can mount inside an up to date consumers unit (din rail mount)

 

[westward10]

If that is the consumer unit below it looks like a Wylex Standard.

 

[stevethesparks]

If that is the consumer unit below it looks like a Wylex Standard.

Tunnel Vision

 

[stevethesparks]

You may need a separate din rail enclosure to mount the transformer. There's a possibility it may come with terminal covers, will have to wait and see what turns up - then post a pic.

 

[Julie.]

The transformer is a friedland 73, I think the secondary is selectable 5V, 3V, and 8V - removing the lower cover will show. If it is, providing the voltage range is OK, then the transformer is usable.

In saying that probably better to change to a more up to date version.

 

[Deleted member 112675]

If that is the consumer unit below it looks like a Wylex Standard.

Correct and well spotted. Its getting replaced (not by me you'll be pleased to know) in a few weeks/months. Not even got to the quote stage yet but will definitely be asking on here when the time comes. Bracknell/Camberley/Wokingham area.

Thanks for the confirmation. The low voltage cable goes through to bell inside the house. If I want to bury the cable in wall without trace can I crimp and heatshrink? Or maybe solder and heatshrink?

 

[Deleted member 112675]

The transformer is a friedland 73, I think the secondary is selectable 5V, 3V, and 8V - removing the lower cover will show. If it is, providing the voltage range is OK, then the transformer is usable.

In saying that probably better to change to a more up to date version.

Wow that was a good ID. I think the requirements were 16-24V at at least 20VA so I suspect it might not be good enough?

Will post tomorrow when it arrives.

Thanks a lot to all for such high quality replies.

 

[loz2754]

You may need a separate din rail enclosure to mount the transformer. There's a possibility it may come with terminal covers, will have to wait and see what turns up - then post a pic.

No terminal covers supplied. I had to buy and fit a separate DIN rail enclosure, as the transformer would not fit in the consumer unit.

 

[freddo]

Yes, the bell transformer is in the centre of the photo, surrounded by the untidy wiring.

 

[Deleted member 112675]

Yes, the bell transformer is in the centre of the photo, surrounded by the untidy wiring.

The pipe is clipped up nicely though ?

 

[Deleted member 112675]

So it arrived today with no transformer at all.

But I measured the voltage at the bell (with a reasonably accurate MFT I have - don't ask) at 13 to 14 volts. Not sure how many amps I can pull (1 ?) but I'm hoping that because the bell has an internal battery it will trickle charge inbetween bell presses so won't need to draw large amount of current on demand. Is that possible? I guess I'm going to find out ....

As an aside, I haven't touched the bell wire but at 14 volts is it safe to do "live" ?

 

[loz2754]

Which Ring doorbell have you got?

 

[Deleted member 112675]

Which Ring doorbell have you got?

Ring Doorbell (2nd Gen)

 

[brianmoooore]

The bell Tx output will be AC, and I suspect your new device requires DC.

 

[Deleted member 112675]

The bell Tx output will be AC, and I suspect your new device requires DC.

Thats what I thought but its actually writen as "8-24VAC 40VA maximum 50/60Hz" so its definitely AC.

Can I touch these damn bell wires ?

 

[brianmoooore]

I wouldn't touch the bare wires on my tongue, but apart from that they're safe to handle. Don't short them together.
If you do use this transformer and use circuitry to change it to DC, the DC voltage produced will be approximately 1.4 times the AC voltage.

 

[Deleted member 112675]

This is the existing bell box. There are two push switches (front and side door). I don't mind losing any of the existing functionality.

I assume the 3 bunched together are the neutrals* and the others are live (14V). Is the only/easiest way to tell which is which by turning the circuit off and running continuity checks with long leads or cable ? Or is there a better way?

Edit: (*) Hmm no I think these must be the lives from the transformer and 2 lives going out to the push switches. The other single wire terminals must be the switched lives and one must be the neutral. I dunno.,....----ing in the wind at the moment haha

 

[Deleted member 112675]

This is the existing bell box. There are two push switches (front and side door). I don't mind losing any of the existing functionality.

I assume the 3 bunched together are the neutrals* and the others are live (14V). Is the only/easiest way to tell which is which by turning the circuit off and running continuity checks with long leads or cable ? Or is there a better way?

Edit: (*) Hmm no I think these must be the lives from the transformer and 2 lives going out to the push switches. The other single wire terminals must be the switched lives and one must be the neutral. I dunno.,....----ing in the wind at the moment haha

Well I've figured out its a Friedland 954 so need to get the wiring diagram somehow....

 

[Deleted member 112675]

Well I've figured out its a Friedland 954 so need to get the wiring diagram somehow....

Well in case anyone else googles friedland 954 in the future I think I've got mine working - subject to test tomorrow.


I found two ways that I think are generic and helped me work out which wire does what. First was to disconnect the circuit, remove a bell switch and join the wires together in the switch. Then test back at the bell box (pic below) for continuity to see what had changed. In that way I determined my two bell switches. I did have to remove the single wire terminals below to prevent continuity passing through the bell chime.

That led me on to the frankly simpler way and that was to disconnect everything and have the power on. Obvisouly only the 2 wires from the transformer would have any juice in them.

Once I figured out which was the transformer, and where were the two bell switches, I simply connected any of the transformer wires to the front door bell switch and the other wire to the other one.

If I don't update this thread you can assume that I now have "live" and "neutral" at the bell. If the Ring complains there isn't enough power, I'll update the transformer in the garage but the work today was needed regardles.

 

[brianmoooore]

No lives or neutrals on the output from a bell Tx. It's a floating AC voltage.

 

[loz2754]

You're correct in saying that for the Ring Video Doorbell 2, the AC supply serves to trickle charge the inbuilt battery, and so the transformer you have should be adequate.