How to Make a Home Made Doorbell

A homemade doorbell looks as good as a commercial one.

A doorbell consists of little more than a switch, a power supply, and a bell or buzzer. Electricity flows down one wire from the power supply to the bell or buzzer and back to the power supply along a second wire. Somewhere along the second wire, a button switch opens and closes the circuit. When the button is depressed, the circuit is complete and the bell rings. The rest of the time, the circuit is broken and the bell is silent.

Things You'll Need

• Push-button switch
• Electrician's screwdriver
• Sharp knife
• Insulated low-voltage wire
• 2 alligator clips
• 9-volt buzzer or bell
• 9-volt battery

Instructions

1. Pry the back off the button switch, or unscrew it depending upon the method recommended by the manufacturer. The method is often obvious, such as two interlocking lugs, or small screws on the rear of the housing. Consult the manufacturer's instructions if you are uncertain.

2. Cut the insulation from the final 1/4 inch of a length of low-voltage wire, using a sharp knife or wire strippers. Feed the bare wire through the back of the switch and then connect it to one of the terminals. This usually involves sliding the wire into a slot that automatically grips the wire, or loosening a screw, inserting the wire into a hole and tightening the screw again.

3. Strip the insulation from the final 1/4 inch of the other end of the wire and attach it to either of the two terminals on the bell or buzzer. The back of the bell is often attached using screws or clips, and may need to be removed to gain access to the terminals. Consult the manufacturer's instructions if the method of attachment isn't obvious.

4. Connect a similarly prepared wire to the second terminal on the back of the switch. Attach an alligator clip to the other end of the wire by wrapping it around the terminal post and then tightening the fastening screw to hold it in place.

5. Connect a final length of wire to the remaining terminal on the bell or buzzer, and attach an alligator clip to the free end. Starting at one end, the circuit should now consist of an alligator clip connected to a wire that runs to the switch. From the switch, a second wire runs to the bell, and from the bell a third wire runs to a second alligator clip.

6. Connect the two alligator clips to the terminals on a 9-volt battery. Check the connections throughout the circuit and good and tight, then press the button switch to test the circuit.

Tips & Warnings

• The desired locations of the doorbell switch and the bell/buzzer will determine the lengths of the wires used between the different components.

• The operating voltage need not be 9 volts. Any voltage will work so long as all the components are rated for the same voltage. For example, if you have a 6-volt battery, then use a bell and switch that are both rated at 6 volts.

• Use a mains-voltage transformer as the power supply if you wish to eliminate the occasional need to replace batteries.

• Replace the bell or buzzer with a lamp if you wish to demonstrate the circuit without noise.

• Never use high voltages in a doorbell circuit. Do not exceed 20 volts. To do so could be dangerous.

References

• You Tube: Door Bell Wiring Diagram
• Aubuchon Hardware: How to Install a Doorbell, Buzzer or Chime
• You Tube: How to Replace a Doorbell
• Indy Total Construction: Home Repair Tips – Doorbells