Programmable Musical Doorbell Chime
Frequently Asked Questions

Q.  Is this chime like my current one regarding installation?

A.  Yes it is, the only difference is that this chime is completely electronic while your old door bell was a combination electric/mechanical unit.

Q.  Will this chime work without having to rewire my house?

A.  Yes. It uses the same wires that now power your existing chime.  The only  difference is that you must put a diode (provided) across the two contact screws at the back of your front door push button.  This allows the electricity to flow in only one direction and keeps your chime from playing continuously.  If you lose or break the diode supplied, you can replace it at any electronic parts store or at a store that does computer repair.  The diode number is 1N4001 or 1N4002.  They are very common diodes and are not expensive.

Q.  What makes it work?

A.  The chime is powered by the same 10 volt, or 16 volt bell transformer that now powers the bell that is in your home or apartment.

Q.  Can this Chime be wired with an existing intercom system?

A.  No.  It can be wired parallel to an intercom system, but because it is totally electronic, it can’t share wires with an intercom system.

Q.  Is everything supplied that I need to install the chime?

A.   Yes except for a screw driver!  We supply the chime (with 48 pre-programmed songs), mounting screws, screw anchors and a diode, plus, a concise installation manual with a “How to Program Additional Songs” section and a listing of 100 additional songs showing the notes and note lengths to use when programming any of those tunes into your chime.  Or, you can compose your own tunes!

Q.  Do I need an electrician to install this chime?

A.  No.  If you can remove your old bell from the wall, mark the wires that are attached to it, and unscrew the front door push-button  --  you can install it!  (Even if you don’t know which wires are going where, we have designed our chime to distinguish the correct path.)

Q.  Is this Door Chime loud enough to hear it when I’m upstairs and the doorbell rings?

A. Yes. It has four volume levels and it can be made louder than most any other chime.  Plus, it has a built in amplifier which will power an auxiliary speaker that you can place anywhere in the home or garage.

Q.  I have two bells in the house now.  Can I replace one with your chime and still have the other ring in the basement?

A.  No. Our electronic Musical Door Chime is not compatible with the existing mechanical/electrical bells.  However if you need another ringer in another part of the house, you can use an auxiliary speaker utilizing the existing wires that now go from your primary bell to the secondary bell.

Q.  What are the SP, and G terminals on the mounting plate.

A.  They are the terminals to which you attach the wires. They connect and power an auxiliary speaker.

Q.  Where can I get this auxiliary speaker?

A.  The correct speaker to use is an 8ohm 0.5watt speaker that was a common portable radio speaker.   It can be found as inexpensive add on external speakers for items like the” Walkman” which now come with earphones for personal listening.

Q.  What do you mean when you say I can program any song I want into the chime. Can I compose my own song?

A.  Yes! The chime has a built in 1 & 1/2 octave keyboard and various note length designations so that you can compose and enter any tune up to 24 note lengths.  You can then have the chime play only this song when someone comes to your door. (Selector switch in the D position; M-A switch in the M position).  Or, you can choose to play any of the 48 pre-programmed tunes that are already in the Musical Door Chime.

Q.  There is a battery terminal (for a nine volt battery) inside the chime. What is it for?

A.    It is a battery backup power source to protect any song that you compose from being erased if you lose power from an electrical storm, or any other interruption of your home's electrical current.   Without the battery backup, you would need to reprogram the tune that you composed.  All other tunes in sections A,-B,-or C will not be affected by a power loss, but when power is restored, the chime will revert to playing the first tune in that section.

Q.  Does the chime come in any other colors?

A.  Not at this time.

Q.  How do I get to the control panel to program a song?

A.  Lift the cover off the bottom  front of the chime by prying outward with your finger.
 

If you have any other questions, please email our Installation Specialist