Doorbell Wiring Giving Voltage Reading?

[delirium330]

Hi All, I recently swapped to a wireless doorbell and am trying to "un-install" the previous wired version. I found several doorbell wiring diagrams online and don't understand why I'm getting a voltage detection from all previously wired locations (after I disconnected them from the transformer).

1. I fully removed the doorbell chime box itself from the kitchen (wiring now exposed).
2. I removed the doorbell push button from the front of the house (wiring now exposed).
3. I removed the wires in the garage connected to the transformer (wiring now exposed, see picture #1).
4. I pulled the transfer down to remove it as well, but haven't yet (see picture #2).

I'm using a simple AC voltage detector and it is going off when I test it near all 3 locations (push button, main chime box wiring, and the wires in the garage previously connected to the transformer). I thought the transformer powered everything, so why am I getting voltage readings at the old locations?

 

[C96]

The transformer you disconnected in the garage must be for something else. Obviously the door bell transformer is still connected and hiding somewhere…Lol

 

[wyliesdiesels]

If youre using a non contact voltage tester, then u may be picking up phantom current. Try using a multimeter instead and measure the wires!

 

[delirium330]

If youre using a non contact voltage tester, then u may be picking up phantom current. Try using a multimeter instead and measure the wires!

Cool, I just picked up a multimeter a few days ago so good timing. I tested the live transformer and it was putting out ~19.5 and the wiring directly above it in the picture was putting out .004, which I assume is equivalent to '0' in the electrical world?

 

[sourdough]

Correct.

 

[delirium330]

Is it still bad form to seal these wires behind the drywall if I confirmed that there is no voltage running through them and I disconnected the transformer that was powering them?

 

[volleyball]

Someone in the future may want to a wired doorbell. Do them a favor, curl them up in a bag and put in wall with a label.

 

[delirium330]

Will do, I left the hole in the wall (and the wires) in the kitchen where they linked to the chime so might as well save the ones in the garage that link to the transformer as well. I'll just put a blank cover on the junction box and label it as you recommended.

Any reason I can't convert the old transformer junction box into a standard outlet? Right now the main breaker shows a 15 amp to that circuit (see #2 picture above for the inside of the old transformer box). Looks like I could just cut the wires going to the transformer and re-use for a new outlet?

 

[404]

Will do, I left the hole in the wall (and the wires) in the kitchen where they linked to the chime so might as well save the ones in the garage that link to the transformer as well. I'll just put a blank cover on the junction box and label it as you recommended.

Any reason I can't convert the old transformer junction box into a standard outlet? Right now the main breaker shows a 15 amp to that circuit (see #2 picture above for the inside of the old transformer box). Looks like I could just cut the wires going to the transformer and re-use for a new outlet?

The transformer wires are stranded wire and the outlet should only use solid wire. Better remove the transformer wires completely from the wire nuts and use solid wire pigtail if more length is needed.

 

[delirium330]

The transformer wires are stranded wire and the outlet should only use solid wire. Better remove the transformer wires completely from the wire nuts and use solid wire pigtail if more length is needed.

Makes sense and will do. When I tested this circuit, which I think I did thoroughly I didn't see any GFI on it. The circuit is the labeled as the "Garage" circuit on the main's breaker switch and after all my testing it looks like it is powering this transformer, the lights in the garage, the garage door openers, and the 1/2 bath lights/outlet immediately inside the house from the garage. I couldn't find any GFI on the circuit, should I put one in here for good measure or best put in a standard since I may have missed something? (Not sure of the ramifications of accidentally having two GFI on a circuit, or if it matters).

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Any outlets in a garage and bathrooms need to be GFCI protected. Its not a good idea to have 2 GFCIs with one feeding the other. I would put a GFCI in the garage j box and in the bathroom with downstream wires in the bath outlet(as long as they dont go to other outlets in the bath) connected to the line side of the GFCI and call it good!