Help to identify an unknown device on garage ceiling

[coffeet]

There is an unknown device on my garage ceiling. Can someone tell me what it is? Thanks.

 

[txvwnut]

Looks like a transformer of some sort.

 

[pattenp]

Looks like a door bell transformer.

 

[rlitman]

Looks like a door bell transformer.

Yep. Could be for that, or for a thermostat.

 

[coffeet]

Thanks for the reply.
I have a door bell chime inside the house. Is it normal for the transformer to be located away from the chime, or this is an additional transformer?

 

[davejo]

external phone bell ringer deal?

 

[rwhite692]

Looks like a door bell transformer.

^^^^most likely. Unhook one lug, then go try and ring your doorbell, you'll have your answer.

 

[Al Borland]

May also be for older telephone system, from back in the days of phones with dials.
Transformers like that tended to hum, so they ended up in attics, basements and garages.
Oh, is it near a garage door opener??? In the days before remotes, it was common to use a doorbell-type button to operate garage door openers, and power got stepped down to the button, like a relay in your car.

 

[Git]

Transformer

Either for your doorbell or do you have a lighted street number on the front of your house?

 

[Alchymist]

Yep. Could be for that, or for a thermostat.

Most likely door bell transformer. Thermostat transformers were typically 24 volts, and most were mounted inside the furnace.

Thanks for the reply.
I have a door bell chime inside the house. Is it normal for the transformer to be located away from the chime, or this is an additional transformer?

Door bell transformers were mounted anywhere that was convenient/desired. Garage ceiling not uncommon.

external phone bell ringer deal?

Nope. External phone rinner was a bell, and was run off the ring signal on the phone line, (approx 90 v ac).

May also be for older telephone system, from back in the days of phones with dials.
Transformers like that tended to hum, so they ended up in attics, basements and garages.
Oh, is it near a garage door opener??? In the days before remotes, it was common to use a doorbell-type button to operate garage door openers, and power got stepped down to the button, like a relay in your car.

Not for telephone system - all ring/phone power was battery from main office. Then lighted phones (such as the Princess type and others) always had a wall wart plug in type supply for the lighting.

As for older garage door openers, yes, a doorbell type switch was used, but the power came from the opener, and rarely from an external transformer.

As previous posters commented, most likely doorbell transformer.

 

[rburke65]

I would also guess for the door bell

 

[DHCrocks]

on my house in the garage there is a transformer above the electrical panel, it is used for the house address sign on the wall that uses automotive type T10 bulbs.

 

[coffeet]

Confirmed it's the doorbell transformer. (I discounted one wire and the doorbell would not ring.)

The house was built in 2000. (I'm not the original owner.) Wondering why they left this ugly transformer exposed on the ceiling. Will try to cover it up.

Thanks, everyone.

 

[csp]

By code it has to be exposed or have an accessible cover over it. There's a junction box behind the transformer and those must be accessible. Mine is mounted inside a closet and looks just like that.

 

[Jeepster04]

Mine also sticks down from the ceiling like that and I also have a switch on the wall to turn it off. I always keep it turned off....

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Confirmed it's the doorbell transformer. (I discounted one wire and the doorbell would not ring.)

The house was built in 2000. (I'm not the original owner.) Wondering why they left this ugly transformer exposed on the ceiling. Will try to cover it up.

Thanks, everyone.

Jusr FYI, code requires the electrical box to be accessible. Don't sheetrock it in...

Tommy

 

[Marctrees]

Jusr FYI, code requires the electrical box to be accessible. Don't sheetrock it in...

Tommy

Like he says.

I beleive NEC uses the phrase "Accessible".

So, you could make a cover of some sort, BUT it needs to be readily easily removable, NOT like a taped/ mudded rock enclosure.

I would make a cover as above, and write neatly on bottom "doorbell Xformer " Marc

 

[Stillridin]

I had one also. But upon inspection it was a little burnt so I took it out. I don't need a door bell. My friends and family walk in and I don't talk to strangers. Lol

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Jusr FYI, code requires the electrical box to be accessible. Don't sheetrock it in...

Tommy

Like he says.

I beleive NEC uses the phrase "Accessible".

So, you could make a cover of some sort, BUT it needs to be readily easily removable, NOT like a taped/ mudded rock enclosure.

I would make a cover as above, and write neatly on bottom "doorbell Xformer " Marc

On second thought, that's technically an air cooled transformer. IDK if the NEC allows it to be enclosed...

Tommy

 

[Kevin54]

Like other have said, it's most likely your doorbell transformer, Mine is in my attic, my dad's was in his basement at the opposite end of the house. My uncles was in his garage. Why they stick them all over the place is beyond me unless there is a hidden agenda to just screw with people.

 

[SGKent]

Confirmed it's the doorbell transformer. (I discounted one wire and the doorbell would not ring.)

The house was built in 2000. (I'm not the original owner.) Wondering why they left this ugly transformer exposed on the ceiling. Will try to cover it up.

Thanks, everyone.

every house I have lived in had one. The good news is that now that you know where it is, when it goes bad which they can do, you'll know how to replace it.

 

[CJ7VFR]

...my dad's was in his basement at the opposite end of the house.....Why they stick them all over the place is beyond me unless there is a hidden agenda to just screw with people.

I laughed at this because mine is in my basement as well, mounted to the bottom of a metal box that a ceramic light bulb fixture is attached to. And it isn't even in a place that is close to being directly underneath either door that has the doorbell on it, nor is it located somewhere inbetween said doors.

It is off to one side of the basement, about as far away from either door as you can get. When I saw that, I though what the heck were they thinking, and did they do that just to use the maximum amount of wire and time for installation to charge the most money for installing it!

Jim

 

[mikegt4]

Doorbell transformers are mounted where NO wire is used, romex wire that is. Bell wire is much, much cheaper and much easier to run in tight places. Why make installation more complicated and expensive? Doorbell circuits rarely need replacement and the installer isn't going to have to search for it in the future so he does what makes it easy for him.

 

[rick carpenter]

It's a camera, the gubmint put it there.

 

[ddawg16]

It is a 16Vac, 0.6A 60 Hz transformer

 

[machine_punk]

Definitely a transformer. In our neck of the woods (North Bay area of California) all the houses in our neighborhood have lighted house numbers. These use a low-voltage light and stay on 24/7. All of the garages have a second doorbell transformer wired to supply the lighted house number.

KDub

 

[csp]

Doorbell transformers are mounted where NO wire is used, romex wire that is.

Well, except for the romex that's providing power to the transformer right?

 

[53Sparky]

Well, except for the romex that's providing power to the transformer right?

Right. The transformer is usually located in an accessible place LIKE a mechanical room or garage because it's easy to find. The Doorbell CHIME does not normally have any romex run to it, and obviously the doorbell button does not have romex run to it. We used to power the transformer in the mechanical room on the 4 square box that we used to house the disconnect switch for the furnace. We always used the furnace circuit, mostly because there was always easy constant power there on a circuit that was extremely unlikely to be overloaded by future homeowner hacks.

 

[mikegt4]

Well, except for the romex that's providing power to the transformer right?

Around here the transformer is usually mounted to a box for a light fixture in the basement or garage, so no romex is involved, only 6" of 14ga. and a couple of wire nuts.
Here is one 15 feet from my computer.

 

[csp]

Of course there's Romex involved. What do you think is powering that light box (unless your 115v wiring is in conduit)??