Chime research

[jilleb]

[m11tch]

The doorbell sends a 433mhz RF signal on button press, this is intended to set off a chime.

Perhaps we can keep a list of tested chimes

Below is a list of tested so far. Compatible:

• marmitek BELL ME (https://www.marmitek.com/nl/smart-me/smart-security/deurbel-met-camera/bell-me-wht-draadloze-deurbel/)
• https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005001566936991.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.1dae4c4dXmtw1P (see: https://github.com/guino/BazzDoorbell/issues/6#issuecomment-761833923)

Not compatible:

• Action SelectPlus 433mhz chime (2017 or 2018)
• Action / Byron 433mhz chime (2020) https://www.action.com/nl-nl/p/draadloze-deurbel/
• The current version of RFLink firmware does not recognise the signal. (Some one needs to develop a plugin for this, but the project is kind of dead since 2017 :D and went closed source too at some point. Since I don't intend to use the RF signal within my home automation I'm not going to bother)

[jandy123]

@m11tch I've managed to get the 2020 action chime working with the rf bridge.

Edit: Assuming Tasmota + Portisch firmware on the rf bridge, just use a rule simiar to this:

Rule2 on RfReceived#Data=303630 do backlog RfRaw 1; RfRaw AA B0 29 03 08 0640 0208 1CDE 281819090908190819090908190819081818190819081908181909081909081819 55; RfRaw 0 endon

Replace 303630 to whatever your doorbell spits out.

[jilleb]

I contacted Marmitek about their "connect kit" to be able to work with the old, wired chime. Unfortunately, they don't sell it seperately... But I'm having my hopes up that the Ring Doorbell Power Kit is actually a similar kind of thing, which enables the doorbell to be retrofitted on existing wire/transformer/chime hardware.

[jandy123]

@jilleb:

Regarding the ring doorbell power kit, have a look here: https://www.instructables.com/UK-Ring-Video-Doorbell-Pro-Working-With-Mechanical/

Apparently this is how it works: " One important note is that you'll need to tell your Ring Doorbell that it is connected to a mechanical chime. This is found in the device settings in the Ring app. When you do this, it basically tells the doorbell to pull a big lump of current (about 1 Amp), and then release the current and this is what energises the coil in the chime making the hammer move and strike the metal bars (the ding, and then the dong). "

So, you'd really need to test this before going this path. I believe I read somewhere that the LSC app has such an option ???

Finally, the "ring doorbell power kit" is just a resistor 25-30 ohm that limits current through the doorbell. Then, given explanation aboe, it all makes sense...

[m11tch]

@jilleb:

Regarding the ring doorbell power kit, have a look here: https://www.instructables.com/UK-Ring-Video-Doorbell-Pro-Working-With-Mechanical/

Apparently this is how it works: " One important note is that you'll need to tell your Ring Doorbell that it is connected to a mechanical chime. This is found in the device settings in the Ring app. When you do this, it basically tells the doorbell to pull a big lump of current (about 1 Amp), and then release the current and this is what energises the coil in the chime making the hammer move and strike the metal bars (the ding, and then the dong). "

So, you'd really need to test this before going this path. I believe I read somewhere that the LSC app has such an option ???

Finally, the "ring doorbell power kit" is just a resistor 25-30 ohm that limits current through the doorbell. Then, given explanation aboe, it all makes sense...

Would this be what the 'external charm' setting is for in dev_settings.json?

[jilleb]

Probably. It's worth a try.

[m11tch]

I did some quick measurements on the AC side, I don't really see an increase in current draw when the button is pressed. I'll try some measurements on DC side later

[jandy123]

@m11tch If you try, please put some series resistor to limit current, just in case...

[m11tch]

it seems to draw 0.16A at normal operation, if i press the button, it goes up to about 0.32A for about 1 second and then returns to 0.16A again.. (during my test it was hooked up to the included 12V 1A Adapter)

I only have a cheap multimeter, so I don't know how accurate the measurements are :D

[jandy123]

@m11tch Maybe the 12V 1A adapter is the limiting factor ? Question is, would this trigger an analog bell assuming there is a 25-30 ohm resistor in parallel with the bell coils ?

[m11tch]

@jandy123 I'm not sure, another difference is that normall "bell transformers"(is that the correct english? :joy:) are 6,8,12,24V AC instead of DC like the adapter, does our doorbell even work on 12V AC?

I currently have a ancient trafo that doesn't go higher then 8V AC and I want to get rid of that thing.. So I'm not sure if I can propperly test and i'm also hesistant to plug the bell into AC considering it comes with a DC adapter..

Edit: the included manual also states : "only use the included cable and adapter"

Edit2: but from what I read, the marmitek doesn't come with a DC adapter at all.. would that mean the device can run on AC too? 😕

[jandy123]

@m11tch

does our doorbell even work on 12V AC?

This is a very good question ;).

I currently have a ancient trafo that doesn't go higher then 8V AC and I want to get rid of that thing.. So I'm not sure if I can properly test and i'm also hesitant to plug the bell into AC considering it comes with a DC adapter..

I'm in the same situation. The original Bazz doorbell is rated12-24V AC, but who knows ? I cannot easily test, since I do not really have access to it.

[jandy123]

Edit2: but from what I read, the marmitek doesn't come with a DC adapter at all.. would that mean the device can run on AC too? confused

For sure it works on AC. It's in the instructions manual.

I would actually prefer using the existing 12VAC trafo output to power the thing.

[jilleb]

Allright, lets do some additional research then. The Marmitek BuzzLo has the following in the manual:

This product requires an 8 ~ 16 VAC 50 Hz power source and a stable internet connection

So 8V AC should work...

@jandy123 , you beat me to it 😁

[jandy123]

@jilleb 8V AC would be even better w.r.t. heat generation.

[jandy123]

Let's see, does the device even work with < 12V DC ? This should be a 1st safer test.

[jilleb]

I could test it, although I'm not sure if my old ass transformer would work:

[m11tch]

@jilleb my transformer is bakelite, yours is very new compared to mine :D

[jilleb]

😂😂😂

I found a topic regarding a similar setup, I'll read through it during my coffee break: (It's dutch, although I have a suspicion that some of us are Dutch 😂) https://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_messages/1925242

[m11tch]

😂😂😂

I found a topic regarding a similar setup, I'll read through it during my coffee break: (It's dutch, although I have a suspicion that some of us are Dutch 😂) https://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_messages/1925242

the fact that we all have the action NL bell should tell you enough :D the topic you mentioned is about a compeltely different bell though

[jandy123]

Look here https://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_messages/2031224/1

Search posts by Allewijn. He claims that the device works on an AC 8v Hager beltrafo.

[m11tch]

so @jilleb are you volunteering? :joy:

I mean, I really don't want to hook it up to this thing 😂

Btw do you guys think it will only work with ding dong chimes? Or also bells (like this: https://www.hornbach.nl/shop/FRIEDLAND-Deurbel-wit-chroom/4177464/artikel.html)

[jandy123]

I'm quite sure device supports 12V AC. I've just reversed the 12VDC adapter wiring and device works.

[jandy123]

@m11tch My old analog bell looks just like the one you linked to. For sure, if the device works with analog bell alone, same trick won't work withe an electronic one.

[m11tch]

@m11tch My old analog bell looks just like the one you linked to. For sure, if the device works with analog bell alone, same trick won't work withe an electronic one.

Well I believe a analog ding dong chime works differently then a traditional bell :p

[jilleb]

so @jilleb are you volunteering? 😂

My daytime job is in the field of testing... So let's do it 😂 And if it fails: I've suffered worse bricks in my life, and each of them is a cool birthdayparty story 😂😂

[jandy123]

I've tried on my trafo 8V AC. It tries to boot but when about to produce the sounds it resets. I suppose it's just not enough juice...

Will redo the wiring with the 12V DC adapter.

[jandy123]

Right,so it's all installed here using the 12V DC adapter, although, I'm 100% sure 12V AC would be as good;

=====

So, all in happy with the result, wife too ;), etc. Now, just time will tell how long it's going to last...

Anyways, thank you guys @guino , @m11tch and @jilleb; @guino it's just amazing how much time you put in all this ! It's been a great journey here !!!

Well, I'll still keep an eye on this thread and see how it all goes. If you need my input, I'll be around....

[m11tch]

Right,so it's all installed here using the 12V DC adapter, although, I'm 100% sure 12V AC would be as good;

=====

So, all in happy with the result, wife too ;), etc. Now, just time will tell how long it's going to last...

Anyways, thank you guys @guino , @m11tch and @jilleb; @guino it's just amazing how much time you put in all this ! It's been a great journey here !!!

Well, I'll still keep an eye on this thread and see how it all goes. If you need my input, I'll be around....

Perhaps you need a 8V 2A transformer? I think most doorbell transformers are 1A..

I also installed it today with the included AC adapter. @jandy123 thanks for your awesome work patching for offline mode too! 👍

[jilleb]

Hi guys, indeed, great work!!

I just installed the doorbell on my 8VAC transformer, and i bypassed my good old faithful but crappy chime hardware. It's all working, I'm using Homey with spoken notifications to Google Home ("the bell is ringing" 😂😂) and the Marmitek chime, seen here from the inside:

I'll make a new issue regarding chime tweaking on the Doorbell side. It's pretty easy, replacing the wav files with a specific wav formatted file.

Hopefully the Marmitek chime has UART access as well, and from the looks of it, it does....fingers crossed for new tones there 😁