Intercom Buzzer Replacement ?

[Rachel Noel]

I live in a condo building which has a Nutone Intercom (N482-BXWH)
system.

Our doorbell is connected to the most annoying buzzer that could wake
the dead. The doorbell makes a loud BZZZZZZ sound.

I would like to replace the buzzer with a more sedate DING-DONG sound.

I contacted two Nutone dealers near my home and they were clueless as to
how I could acquire a 'Ding-Dong' replacement for our buzzer. Looking on
the back of the N482-BXWH panel, I don't think it should be all that
difficult, but where do I begin looking ?

Thanks,

Dan

[Greenlight]

Are the doorbell and buzzer two separate units or are they integral in one
chassis? Without further details (and no guarantee)it might be as easy as
measuring the voltage (or ascertaining the voltage from the nutone parts
list) and replacing it with a similar volt "ding-dong" unit. If this GUESS
is right there will be only two wires attached to the existing buzzer which
you attach to the two wires of the new ding dong.

If it is an integral unit i.e., the speaker, buzzer, buttons, and microphone
all in one unit then this is just guess work.

Ding-dong units can be purchased at any ding-dong outlet or warehouse and if
ding dong.com is down, many good hardware stores, electronics supply houses
(like Radio Shack), contractor suppliers, HD, Graingers, and even general
builder's supply houses stock them. They vary as to quality and loudness.
Nutone usually looks nice, but their quality isn't what many would like.

Another concern would be if your condo rules if any that may apply.

Rachel Noel <rache...@mediaone.net> wrote in message
news:38B1E819...@mediaone.net...

[Rachel Noel]

The Intercom and the buzzer are within the same chassis. The voltage for the
buzzer is 16 volts according to Nutone tech support. and Yes, there are the two
wires you descripted attached to the buzzer.

I called around and bounced this information off a few local stores including
Home Depot, Radio Shack, and two local hardware stores. None of these stores
feel they can help me. Perhaps, I am not describing the problem correctly to
them. These stores are willing to sell me a complete 'ding-dong' doorbell unit,
but they do not seem to understand how it would be possible to install a
'ding-dong' component within our intercom chassis.

Our current buzzer within the Nutone N482-BXWH is made by a company called
Deltrol Controls ( BZ Coil, 12VAC 60Hz S155D 20000-81 )

Can you recommend any online stores that will definitely solve the problem ?

Thanks,

Dan

[Tom Bach]

Rachel Noel (rache...@mediaone.net) writes:
> The Intercom and the buzzer are within the same chassis. The voltage for the
> buzzer is 16 volts according to Nutone tech support. and Yes, there are the two
> wires you descripted attached to the buzzer.
>

(clipped)

If there is access to the actual buzzing element (I'm assuming it is a
simple vibrating arm) you could try to quieten it by placing a bit of
paper or cardboard between the noise-making parts. If this works, you
could place a bit of sticky tape in the same place for a permanent soultion.

[Greenlight]

Most sales people are not installers and vice versa -- sometimes you get
some one very knowledgeable in that department. Even though I have installed
and had to design some custom systems in the past, without seeing the
system please take everything with a grain of salt (I am able to look up the
part numbers or specs) but from here (caveat noted above) I would guess that
disconnecting the two wires that go to the existing buzzer and connecting
them to any external ding-dong of your choice (that operates between 12 and
16 volts AC) with doorbell wire (18 gauge would be more than enough) would
work. This should work because it seems that your system is electrically
independent of the others. You can get all items at any ACE hardware or at
numerous other places. Esthetically you have the problem of hiding the wires
but a decent electrician/handyman could put it in the wall. Make sure that
you get a loud enough Ding-dong. It would be easy to test the system by
simply disconnecting the two wires that currently go to the buzzer and
connect them to the two terminals of the ding dong. If the ding dong has
three terminals choose the two that are for the front door and forget about
the back door terminal(s). Warning ding dongs vary considerably as to
quality (the cheapest is not always the best)usually not recommending
Nutone.

If you can get a electrician to do the test. If the transformer is in the
chassis then there may be high voltage present also, so it is best if an
electrician does the test, but in any case there should be no more than 16
VAC at the two buzzer terminals.

Otherwise just making the buzzer quieter can easily be achieved by simply
inserting a dropping resistor at the terminal and attach the wire going to
that terminal to the other side of the resistor. This will not change the
quality of the sound, but will lower its amplitude.

[Greenlight]

Forgot to mention that once any work is done on such a device, the warranty
(if any is void) -- also it is up to you to check with any home owners
covenants/agreements about alterations, repairs, modifications. If the
device is UL listed, the UL listing of the device will be voided. I've been
building my own electronic contraptions since 1957 so things like that seem
irrelevant but to some one else they might be a consideration.