Superjer2000
Member
Quick question on something that has me stumped.
I bought an ELK-930 doorbell detector and had planned to wire it up directly to the transformer (Method 1 in the instructions). When looking for the doorbell transformer, I found one hanging off of an outlet by my fuse panel that looks like a regular doorbell transformer but when I tested it, I was getting around 27VAC.
I figured that it couldn't be the doorbell transformer as I was expecting ~16VAC but after looking everywhere else for the transformer, I disconnected one low voltage lead from the transformer and the doorbell went dead. So I found the transformer but as noted it is reading a higher voltage than I was expecting. AFTER A bit more research I realized that this transformer is a tri-mode with 8V, 16V and 24V options. The low voltage leads are connected to the two outer terminals which are for 24V.
The REALLY ODD thing though (bear in mind that I am not an electronics guy) is that when I tested the AC voltage at one of the chimes when the doorbell was being pressed, I read 16V.
So... The transformer in the basement that is powering the chimes reads 27V. When the doorbell button is activated the chime is receiving 16V. I am very confused.
1) The ELK-930 instructions indicate that 24V is the maximum input voltage. Any thoughts on if 27V will be too much?
2) Any ideas why there is a difference in voltage between the basement transformer and the voltage actually getting to the chimes?
3) I was thinking a bit more that it would be nice to have a separate notification for the front and back doors. As I don't have any way to run wire back to the panel from the main floor chime which is the most convenient place to get the front and backdoor doorbell wires, I thought that I could maybe use a wireless sensor that has two hardwire inputs (generally used for magnetic contacts). However, I recognize that the doorbell detector doesn't have a regular "open/"close" output but rather an "open collector output". I'm unsure if I can use that "open collector output" with the wire-terminals on my wireless sensor.
Thank you in advance for any help!
I bought an ELK-930 doorbell detector and had planned to wire it up directly to the transformer (Method 1 in the instructions). When looking for the doorbell transformer, I found one hanging off of an outlet by my fuse panel that looks like a regular doorbell transformer but when I tested it, I was getting around 27VAC.
I figured that it couldn't be the doorbell transformer as I was expecting ~16VAC but after looking everywhere else for the transformer, I disconnected one low voltage lead from the transformer and the doorbell went dead. So I found the transformer but as noted it is reading a higher voltage than I was expecting. AFTER A bit more research I realized that this transformer is a tri-mode with 8V, 16V and 24V options. The low voltage leads are connected to the two outer terminals which are for 24V.
The REALLY ODD thing though (bear in mind that I am not an electronics guy) is that when I tested the AC voltage at one of the chimes when the doorbell was being pressed, I read 16V.
So... The transformer in the basement that is powering the chimes reads 27V. When the doorbell button is activated the chime is receiving 16V. I am very confused.
1) The ELK-930 instructions indicate that 24V is the maximum input voltage. Any thoughts on if 27V will be too much?
2) Any ideas why there is a difference in voltage between the basement transformer and the voltage actually getting to the chimes?
3) I was thinking a bit more that it would be nice to have a separate notification for the front and back doors. As I don't have any way to run wire back to the panel from the main floor chime which is the most convenient place to get the front and backdoor doorbell wires, I thought that I could maybe use a wireless sensor that has two hardwire inputs (generally used for magnetic contacts). However, I recognize that the doorbell detector doesn't have a regular "open/"close" output but rather an "open collector output". I'm unsure if I can use that "open collector output" with the wire-terminals on my wireless sensor.
Thank you in advance for any help!