Servant call box/bell

[electromonkey]

Hello all

This may be the second time I have posted this so apologies for any confusion.

I am trying to wire an old Victorian servant call system.

I have new push buttons, bell and transformer but the call box is original.

I can get the bell to sound but the flags inside the call box I can not get to operate.

Any constructive suggestions on how I can get this working would be appreciated.

Hopefully there will be a photo of the call box attached.

Cheers

Electromonkey

 

[electromonkey]

All fixed but thanks for reading. *I lied. It isn't fixed!*

 

[telectrix]

what was the problem with the flags?

 

[UNG]

Have you checked all the inputs or just one

Are all the indicator flags moving freely

 

[electromonkey]

Initially, I couldn't get the flags to operate at all. Now I can, but the same flag waves all the time. That's down to my wiring though. I'll update shortly with progress.

 

[electromonkey]

I've connected up 2 of the call buttons. Both sound the alarm but the both activate the same flag.

 

[UNG]

Sounds like you might have a back feed I'm trying to remember how I sorted one of these a number of years ago. Do the flags latch or wave on this unit

 

[electromonkey]

They wave. They appear to have a magnetic connection on them.

I have wired 2 call buttons up to their corresponding flags to simplify it at the mo. The bell sounds when either button is pressed but both flags operate simultaneously. It's obvious why the do but I can't work out how to connect the system together without joining the flag cables together at the bell or in terminal blocks.

 

[UNG]

I would suggest getting the multimeter out and start by testing and sketching out how the call indicator unit is internally wired it's the way I go about this sort of thing hopefully that blinding flash of inspiration occurs as to where you are going wrong as you work it through if not post your sketch up and we can take a look

 

[electromonkey]

I've finally figured it out! I'll wire it up properly tomorrow and post some pics. Handy for future reference for others.

 

[telectrix]

is it a.c.or d.c? if it's d.c., diodes may be the answer.

 

[Knobhead]

If i remember right the flags are in series with the bell pushes. I've even got a drawing in a 1930's Dobbs Electrical Encyclopaedia.


Will have a look for it later, time for a drink now.

 

[UNG]

I've finally figured it out! I'll wire it up properly tomorrow and post some pics. Handy for future reference for others.

Is your solution like this diagram Bellannunciator.jpg Photo by kingofrocknroll | Photobucket