On 1/18/2016 7:35 AM, Mark Lloyd wrote:
On 01/17/2016 03:19 PM, Don Y wrote:

[snip]

It's a delightfully simple circuit: power -- switch -- bell -- back to
power
yet can be *******ized in countless ways! And, you don't want the
homeowner
to have to make changes -- just *mount* the bell, ideally (and touch up
any paint around it)

How about 2 buttons in series, each with a diode across it (opposite polarity)?
With no button pressed, no current flows. Press either button, and current
flows. Polarity depends on which button was pressed. Now you have a 2-door
doorbell with less wiring.

I suspect you'd not realize any savings. It's unlikely that the two
"buttons" would be located near each other. Rather, one would be front
door and other back/side door. Annunciator and/or XFMR probably somewhere
in the middle -- so total wire length remains roughly the same.

It would also prevent the use of any "mechanism" that requires the
continued presence of power to operate (as in this case).

I have "buttons" at the front and rear doors, another at the front edge of
the front porch area (in case we opt to screen that area in), the entryway
from the garage, the side door into the garage and a button out at the
driveway (i.e., "Open the garage door for me!"). The entryway through the
garage also has an electromechanical lock mechanism so the door can be
"unlocked" electrically (though I am not happy with the choice of
"door hardware" : )