Hi,

Have installed a new wired doorbell. (DESA) Heath/Zenith Model #LE-65-B. (Electronic)

I also changed and added a new 16 Volt Xfrmer and a lighted pushbutton and a diode.

After install, all worked fine including the "Lighted" pushbutton.

I checked the bell a few hours later, it stopped working and the pushbutton light was off.

I went to the Xfrmer and checked the voltage with a test light and it was OK.

Then I looked at the push button and it was on again and all worked for a little while,

Then off again.

I took the button apart and disconnected the bulb and all worked:mad: again.

Isn't there a way to wire this with a lighted push button?

Add a resistor perhaps?

Thank you

Just thinking??

Do they make a Double pole door bell push button?

I think that would solve the problem for some.

You could run a separate Xfrm to the push button and light up the button.

Just an idea.

Thanks

Wouldn't use a diode, a resistor may work, I have seen the resistance of the bulb be too low
To open circuit fully, On some things I have had to remove the bulb. You need to see why power is restoring itself.
I would Hook back up, when light goes out, turn off breaker for door bell, wait a minute, then turn back on. See if it comes back, want to be sure no intermittent connection when checking wiring/voltage.
What is the VA of the Transformer, and is that what it requires.

Hi,

Thank you - what size (Ohms) resistor??

You will have to experiment, Too low, it will have same effect, too high, chime won't work.
VA of XFMR?
Why were you losing power? Does transformer reset itself?

Hi,

I'm trying your suggestion - have reinstalled everything, including the diode and all is working, for the last half hour.

I did re-tighten and check all my connections.

My Xformer VAC is 15 and the voltage is 16 volts.

I tried a few resistors and N.G. ohms are too high. As I dumped my resistor supply a few years ago :) suggest a starting point for the OHMS.

I don't want to buy a million resistors to get to the correct ohms...

Where do I start?? 50 Ohms??

Thanks

I am rewriting this as somehow it did not post.
I would get a package of 33 ohm ressistors(5), then try in series, then parallel.
2 in parallel is 16.5 ohms, 4 in parallel is 8.25 ohms.
2 in series is 66 ohms.
I don't think I would use the diode.

Hi,

Just bought some resistors as well as a "Pot"

I just checked the bell and it's off again... Shut the breaker off for 30 Sec. and all
Is working again.

Looks like the wires are OK, no breaks

Will advise.

Thank you

Hi,

By the way, there does not seem to be a thermal couple/breaker within the Xformer

Thanks

Hi,

Just got finisher trying resistors w/o any luck.. Seems that if I go up 10 Ohms it changes from Not working to pulsing..

I disconnected the bulb, added the diode and put it together. We'll see if it keeps going.

I still like my idea of a DPST push button lighted switch with a separate Xformer for the light.

In my case I would need to rewire, as the wire now only has two conductors and it goes

Up into a vaulted ceiling.

My wife wouldn't like me making holes in the ceiling!!

Thanks again.

What you can do is to take a standardlighted doorbell and take it apart.

Inside, add a diode/resistor and LED (probably surface mount). The resistor should be about 24/24e-3 or slightly smaller.

These components are mounted inside the pushbutton. Parts can be ordered from DigiKey Corp. | Electronic Components Distributor | United States Home Page .

I've done it, and it's been working nearly forever.

I don't know what happened to my post.

What you can do is get a lighted push button and disassemble it.

Inside place a surface mount LED, a resistor and a diode all in series, the correct way of course.

The resistor should be about 24/10e-3 ohms or a little less.

Fit this inside the doorbell between the two contacts and it will work nearly forever. That's what I did.

Hi,

Thank you. I clicked on the link and searched for LED's - no luck.

Am I doing something wrong?

Also can you tell me what you mean by 24/10e?? Also adding a resistor - LED and a diode the Correct way... What's the correct way?

How about a diagram, if possible.

I know what 3 ohms means, but not the above.

Thanks again

This will not be the final components, but it will give you an idea of the circuit and you will know if it works by trying it.

What I'd like you to do is to go to Radio Shack and get an LED with Leads. Pick a color. I used green

10e-3 is 1x10-3 or 0.010 amps or 10 milliamps; Typical trive currents are between 10 and 50 mA. I'd use 0.020.

The resistor actually is calculated by( 24-1.2-0.6)/0.020 The 1.2 is the forward drop of the LED and the 0.6 is the drop of the extra diode. That's 1110 ohms. 1000 ohms is a standard value.
You can re-compute I and use below, but it won't make much of a difference.

You can find P ~ (0.020)^2*1000. That's 0.4 watts, so a 1/2 watt resistor is needed.

Get a 1n4001 or 1n4002 diode. You will notice a band on the diode and you'll notice a cut off flat on the led.

Wire the flats and the band in the same direction.

If that works, I can find you appropriate parts to make a lighted doorbell.

Then try to find a lighted doorbell that you can unassemble and put back together.

This circuit is big, but we can make it smaller.

Hi,

Thanks again.. I'll go tomorrow for the parts.

How are these 3 parts wired in "Parallel" or what?

Thanks

Also,

I have a diode that came with the doorbell will that do?

Thanks

They are wired in series in any order. If the LED doesn't light, reverse the diode.

What is the number on the diode?

If you'd like, I can take pic of mine?

If the above circuit doesn't work, we can make either work with a 24 VAC relay.

The lamps burn out, the LED's do not.

Hi,

Not sure of the diode number, I'll buy the one you selected in your previous post
From Radio Shack as I have to go there anyway.

Thanks

Here is an example surface mount LED. See the dimensions page.
Probably can support it with 1 diode and 1 resistor on either side.