On Sun, 19 Dec 2010 21:19:27 -0500, mm
wrote:



I'd pull out the doobbell button and touch the wires together. That's
better than the assumption you've made.

I don't remember this ever happening, but if the switch could oxidize,
I suppose most of the bare wire could oxidize. Not the part that is
not open to the air when the screws were tightened, but it coudl work
out, I suppose, that when you rub the wires together, you won't make
good contact between them. If you have a hard time making the bell
ring, scrape the bare wires with a knife** until a good portion of
them are shiny. YOu should do that anyhow before you attach the new
switch. (If you could shine up the part of the swith that makes
contact, you wouldn't need a new switch either.)

**I have a friend who uses sandpaper to clean wires, but he's not very
good at home repair, despite owning a home for 30 years, so I don't
know whether to recommend that or not.