Edwards school bell....how the hell do you wire it???

[toomanytoyzz]

I picked this Edwards 55 series bell up yesterday at an auction and always wanted one for the garage to hook up to the phone or the door bell. I opened it up, but couldn't figure out how you hardwire it. Oh yeah, almost forgot, I'm Brian and I'm a ***** in the electrical department .

 

[WWIIjeep]

I opened it up, but couldn't figure out how you hardwire it.

The wires go to the two threaded shiny things in your middle photo. The screws are missing. They'll be either 6-32 or 8-32 thread pan head machine screws.

But--and this is very important--first you need to get an 8-10V bell transformer (120V in, 8-10V out) or you'll fry the bell the first time you use it.

 

[Thumper68]

I used 2 of those as a motion alarm in my first shop, took a old motion detector from a out door light wired it to a transformer and then to the bells, when someone would walk in the man door the bells would go off. since it was a carrige house and my apt was upstairs I would hear the bell and I could go investigate.

It was also nice when I was working on the far side of a vehicle, no one could sneak up on me.

110 to the transformer, one line out to the switch and then to bell, 2nd line straight to bell.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

The wires go to the two threaded shiny things in your middle photo. The screws are missing. They'll be either 6-32 or 8-32 thread pan head machine screws.

But--and this is very important--first you need to get an 8-10V bell transformer (120V in, 8-10V out) or you'll fry the bell the first time you use it.

Thank you!! That would have really sucked.

 

[jeffmoss26]

What the others have said. Don't know if it would work for a phone; a normal line sees 90 VAC when ringing. I've got a RadioShack dual bell ringer that's specifically designed as a phone ringer.

 

[Outlawmws]

I used 2 of those as a motion alarm in my first shop, took a old motion detector from a out door light wired it to a transformer and then to the bells, when someone would walk in the man door the bells would go off. since it was a carrige house and my apt was upstairs I would hear the bell and I could go investigate.

It was also nice when I was working on the far side of a vehicle, no one could sneak up on me.

110 to the transformer, one line out to the switch and then to bell, 2nd line straight to bell.

NO!

Its a low voltage unit and its printed RIGHT ON IT!

What WWII Jeep said, or you can also use a 6V Battery safely.

 

[Outlawmws]

What the others have said. Don't know if it would work for a phone; a normal line sees 90 VAC when ringing. I've got a RadioShack dual bell ringer that's specifically designed as a phone ringer.

Wont work for a phone unless you use a relay to run the low voltage the bell needs...

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Are the transformers expensive? I might use the 6V battery option. I'm trying to do it as cheap as possible.

I really appreciate the help!!

 

[humber2]

Are the transformers expensive? I might use the 6V battery option. I'm trying to do it as cheap as possible.

I really appreciate the help!!

Cheapest and safest option is to use a plug-in wall wart.

 

[Outlawmws]

While a 6V wall wart would have the correct voltage, I seriously doubt is would have the Amps required. I'd guess that this bell takes WELL over an amp, and very few WW are over even 1 amp most and a tiny fraction of that usually .3-.5 (300 - 500 ma (Milliamps)

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Well I found one on ebay for $8 with free shipping. I googled the model # of the bell and edward's recommends this model of transformer to be used with that model bell.

So, I guess I need a button, some wire and the two correct screws to get this going? Does the transformer get wired and stored in the back of the bell, or does it sit in-line somewhere between the button and the bell?

 

[GCncsuHD]

I've had one of these in the shop for years, but have never figured out what I wanted to use it for.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Typically the transformer gets mounted to the side of an electrical box, and low voltage wire is run to the bell.

 

[Outlawmws]

Typically the transformer gets mounted to the side of an electrical box, and low voltage wire is run to the bell.

This^^^ you want the 120 to be out of the weather, and the button that rings it is low voltage side only to run the bell. This is to keep the 120 shock hazard low...

 

[Outlawmws]

Also note the Transformer is 5A out. No way would a wall wart have run that bell...

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Commonly these are DC voltage, not AC. An old battery charger works well too.

 

[Outlawmws]

That one can go AC or DC, the difference is the voltage ranges.

 

[humber2]

Also note the Transformer is 5A out. No way would a wall wart have run that bell...

Have another look at the transformer secondary and do the math.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, Never mind, I've been reading "VA wrong for years... (WTF is wrong with calling watts W"?)

 

[crewchief888]

duh...

with bell wire

of course


other than a smartass comment i got nothing..

 

[toomanytoyzz]

duh...

with bell wire

of course


other than a smartass comment i got nothing..

LOL!!

Thanks again guys!!

 

[MikeF2316]

OK, Never mind, I've been reading "VA wrong for years... (WTF is wrong with calling watts W"?)

Because Watts don't always equal Volt-Amps. With inductive loads (transformers are inductive loads) the current peaks happen after the voltage peaks, not in step as with a pure resistive load. Wattage is calculated by multiplying voltage and current happening at the same instant. VA is calculated by multiplying the peaks, which will give a higher number.

Look at the rating of any UPS - the "VA" number is always then one quoted and is quite a bit larger than the "W" number.

Example:
http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtModelID=3196

The model number and VA rating are both 1000, but you can see on the specifications tab, it's only rated at 700W.