So my house had 1 button an 2 chimes run on 24/2 wire. transformer was a 16v/10VA. I needed to add a second button and a 3rd chime. I swapped the transformer for a 16v/30VA. then I pulled all new 18/2 wire on the new button and new chime,and to the rear post on all existing chimes. But I left the 24/2 as it was working and I couldn't replace all of it due to house specifics.I mounted the button. connected everything up and the new button worked great. single chime on push of the 2nd button. was about to button everything up when I realized that the original button, although seemingly wired correctly didn't work. (wired exactly the same as the rear only going to FRONT on the chimes instead of rear)
After further inspection the front bell did work if I did a rapid fire push on the button. Basically I pushed the button like 5 times in rapid succession. then I get a very faint ding. the rear button was illuminated but the front was not. i rechecked my wiring a hundred times. I then unhooked everything. wired ONLY the front button and it chimes correctly on all 3 chimes. so then I started adding in rear chimes. the main chime (near the transformer) works, but as soon as I added the 2nd chime (regardless of which of the 2 remaining chimes I added.) the front bell quits working. the rear bell always works. so trial and error, I decided to swap red/white wires on one of the remaining chimes (I just flipped which one went to the common transformer lead and which one went to the rear bell post). once I did this I was able to successfully add the remaining 2 chimes but now despite having the chimes wired to front/rear posts respectively, both bells ring the 2 chime note for the front door. after all my frustrations I'm almost satisfied with that. but I'd really like to know why it wouldn't work like it was supposed to ?
Here's what I think I know:
I know both buttons work.
I know the transformer is able to drive 3 chimes.
I know the wiring runs are solid, since I can get both front and rear to ring independently.
what I'm wondering is if one of the chimes, new or old, is somehow bad or can't handle the load since all the other stuff seems to be ok.
does it tell you something that when wired correctly the first button would only faintly ring if I pushed it many times fast?
thanks for the time and information. I'm not ready to tear it apart again until I think I can make some headway.
After further inspection the front bell did work if I did a rapid fire push on the button. Basically I pushed the button like 5 times in rapid succession. then I get a very faint ding. the rear button was illuminated but the front was not. i rechecked my wiring a hundred times. I then unhooked everything. wired ONLY the front button and it chimes correctly on all 3 chimes. so then I started adding in rear chimes. the main chime (near the transformer) works, but as soon as I added the 2nd chime (regardless of which of the 2 remaining chimes I added.) the front bell quits working. the rear bell always works. so trial and error, I decided to swap red/white wires on one of the remaining chimes (I just flipped which one went to the common transformer lead and which one went to the rear bell post). once I did this I was able to successfully add the remaining 2 chimes but now despite having the chimes wired to front/rear posts respectively, both bells ring the 2 chime note for the front door. after all my frustrations I'm almost satisfied with that. but I'd really like to know why it wouldn't work like it was supposed to ?
Here's what I think I know:
I know both buttons work.
I know the transformer is able to drive 3 chimes.
I know the wiring runs are solid, since I can get both front and rear to ring independently.
what I'm wondering is if one of the chimes, new or old, is somehow bad or can't handle the load since all the other stuff seems to be ok.
does it tell you something that when wired correctly the first button would only faintly ring if I pushed it many times fast?
thanks for the time and information. I'm not ready to tear it apart again until I think I can make some headway.