Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months trying
to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old bell
push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is wired so
it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which consisted of
some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat glue. the Woolies
on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a plastic button to short
them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell sound
or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying finger
karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when the finger is
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active

"Brian-Gaff" wrote in message
...
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months
trying to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old
bell push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is
wired so it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which
consisted of some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat
glue. the Woolies on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a
plastic button to short them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell
sound or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and
groans. Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been
studying finger karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out
when the finger is removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I gave up replacing my bell push a decade ago because of that problem....if
anybody knows a reliable type though .....

On 07/05/2015 07:53, Jim GM4DHJ ... wrote:
"Brian-Gaff" wrote in message
...
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months
trying to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old
bell push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is
wired so it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which
consisted of some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat
glue. the Woolies on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a
plastic button to short them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell
sound or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and
groans. Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been
studying finger karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out
when the finger is removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I gave up replacing my bell push a decade ago because of that problem....if
anybody knows a reliable type though .....


I've given up on buying wireless door bells. The bell pushes seem to go
dicky after about a year. So I'm looking around for a simple old
fashioned "bzz bbzz" sounding bell with a *wired* connection.

On Thu, 07 May 2015 07:53:07 +0100, Jim GM4DHJ ... wrote:

"Brian-Gaff" wrote in message
...
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months
trying to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an
old bell push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it.
This is wired so it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed
one which consisted of some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in
with heat glue. the Woolies on is your basic two brass bits sprung
apart and a plastic button to short them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell
sound or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks
and groans. Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have
been studying finger karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay
shorted out when the finger is removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered
if anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I gave up replacing my bell push a decade ago because of that
problem....if anybody knows a reliable type though .....

Some DIY with a magnet and a reed switch...I know there may be a current
problem, but that's just another DIY solution. My bell push only has to
take a fraction of an amp...

On 07/05/2015 07:46, Brian-Gaff wrote:
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months trying
to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old bell
push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is wired so
it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which consisted of
some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat glue. the Woolies
on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a plastic button to short
them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell sound
or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying finger
karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when the finger is
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I seem to recall those old type of bell pushes that seemed to always
work come rain or shine. I mean the white coloured ceramic buttons
encased in brass, that you used to see outside old buildings.
I don't know if they are still available or not.

On 07/05/2015 07:55, Bod wrote:
On 07/05/2015 07:46, Brian-Gaff wrote:
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months
trying
to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old bell
push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is
wired so
it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which
consisted of
some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat glue. the
Woolies
on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a plastic button to
short
them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell
sound
or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and
groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying
finger
karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when the
finger is
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I seem to recall those old type of bell pushes that seemed to always
work come rain or shine. I mean the white coloured ceramic buttons
encased in brass, that you used to see outside old buildings.
I don't know if they are still available or not.

Try this for a traditional bell that always works and has big chunky
batteries

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151251036496

removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I seem to recall those old type of bell pushes that seemed to always
work come rain or shine. I mean the white coloured ceramic buttons
encased in brass, that you used to see outside old buildings.
I don't know if they are still available or not.

Try this for a traditional bell that always works and has big chunky
batteries

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151251036496


Thanks for the link, but even that bell push looks like the standard
rubbishy ones (I could well be wrong though).
Have you any experience of this one, by any chance?

Bod explained on 07/05/2015 :
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I seem to recall those old type of bell pushes that seemed to always
work come rain or shine. I mean the white coloured ceramic buttons
encased in brass, that you used to see outside old buildings.
I don't know if they are still available or not.

Try this for a traditional bell that always works and has big chunky
batteries

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151251036496


Thanks for the link, but even that bell push looks like the standard rubbishy
ones (I could well be wrong though).
Have you any experience of this one, by any chance?

You are correct, they are just the standard rubbishy ones. I suppose
you could entirely fill the push with silicon grease, to help exclude
the water?

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On 07/05/2015 11:07, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Bod explained on 07/05/2015 :
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I seem to recall those old type of bell pushes that seemed to always
work come rain or shine. I mean the white coloured ceramic buttons
encased in brass, that you used to see outside old buildings.
I don't know if they are still available or not.

Try this for a traditional bell that always works and has big chunky
batteries

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151251036496


Thanks for the link, but even that bell push looks like the standard
rubbishy ones (I could well be wrong though).
Have you any experience of this one, by any chance?

You are correct, they are just the standard rubbishy ones. I suppose you
could entirely fill the push with silicon grease, to help exclude the
water?

Yebbut, we should expect an external doorbell to be waterproof.
I don't think that is asking too much.

I've never seen an actual door bell push which is truly waterproof. But
you can buy waterproof push switches from the likes of RS, etc. Maybe not
quite so attractive, though.

--
*A person who smiles in the face of adversity probably has a scapegoat *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Thu, 07 May 2015 11:07:17 +0100, Harry Bloomfield wrote:

Bod explained on 07/05/2015 :
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of
the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I seem to recall those old type of bell pushes that seemed to always
work come rain or shine. I mean the white coloured ceramic buttons
encased in brass, that you used to see outside old buildings.
I don't know if they are still available or not.

Try this for a traditional bell that always works and has big chunky
batteries

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151251036496


Thanks for the link, but even that bell push looks like the standard
rubbishy ones (I could well be wrong though).
Have you any experience of this one, by any chance?

You are correct, they are just the standard rubbishy ones. I suppose you
could entirely fill the push with silicon grease, to help exclude the
water?

Funnily enough, that looks exactly the same as the door bell push switch
we've been using without any problems whatsoever these past 30 odd years.
It's wired to an ex-GPO 12/24 volt trembler bell mounted on the other
side of the door frame using until a few years ago, a 24v battery pack
made up with a couple of 8 x AA cell holders glued back to back with
double sided adhesive tape hanging from a screw head below the bell.

I resisted the temptation (I think!) to flood the innards with silicone
grease on the basis that it was more likely to cause retention of
moisture between the contacts formed from condensation. I'd rather accept
the inevitable and less troublesome ingress of moisture due to rain which
could readily drain out or evaporate before building up enough to bridge
the contacts. Intermittently wet electrical connections have a much
longer service life than those left in a permanent state of wetness.

When I bought myself a cordless door bell a decade or so back for my
upstairs office, I decided to use the original bell push to trigger the
wireless sender and wired it up to the sender unit mounted immediately
below the battery via a 12v zenner and a standard 1N series diode so that
the power came from the bell battery rather than its own internal 12v
battery.

This worked a treat and the wireless bell push could still be operated
independently of the front door bell, using its own internal battery,
either for testing or for when the XYL came home with shopping and needed
to attract my attention without resorting to screaming out loud to be
heard via the closed office door and the oft times sound of music or a TV
programme I'd happen to be auditioning.

The battery pack did eventually start to fade (gracefully) after a
couple of decades, by which time the battery holders were beyond
redemption due to corroded contacts.

When it came to a replacement battery pack, I had an attack of
"Pragmatism" and simply spent a whole quid on a 3 pack of PP3s which I
converted into a 27v battery courtesy of a couple of soldered wire
straps, hanging the pack off of the wood screw previously used for my 24v
monstrousity. The extra 3 volts proved not to be a problem with the "12
volt" wireless bell push so it was "Job Done", and rather neatly compared
to what had gone before.

My only concern now is that by the time I need to replace said 3 x PP3
battery pack, the pound shops may have reduced the pack size down to just
two. I think Poundland are still selling them in packs of three so I
think I should buy a couple more packs whilst I still can and store them
sealed from moisture ingress in the freezer. According to the wikipedia
article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc€“carbon_battery this battery
type *can* be frozen without damage.

--
Johnny B Good

On 07/05/2015 09:26, Bod wrote:

removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I seem to recall those old type of bell pushes that seemed to always
work come rain or shine. I mean the white coloured ceramic buttons
encased in brass, that you used to see outside old buildings.
I don't know if they are still available or not.

Try this for a traditional bell that always works and has big chunky
batteries

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151251036496


Thanks for the link, but even that bell push looks like the standard
rubbishy ones (I could well be wrong though).
Have you any experience of this one, by any chance?

Our local library has had one on their back door for several years, and
the bell push isn't protected from the elements. The push did fail
recently but it looked like it had been there for a couple of decades,
so I stuck a new one up. Since then I've installed two more bells for
family members who were fed up with wireless failures. Postmen love them.
No way of knowing how long a given plastic is likely to survive UV
exposure. Some plant labels disintegrate within months I notice!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151251036496


Thanks for the link, but even that bell push looks like the standard
rubbishy ones (I could well be wrong though).
Have you any experience of this one, by any chance?

Our local library has had one on their back door for several years, and
the bell push isn't protected from the elements. The push did fail
recently but it looked like it had been there for a couple of decades,
so I stuck a new one up. Since then I've installed two more bells for
family members who were fed up with wireless failures. Postmen love them.
No way of knowing how long a given plastic is likely to survive UV
exposure. Some plant labels disintegrate within months I notice!

The trouble with those cheap bell pushes is the shoddy innards of the
button assembly. Quite often the push would either not ring or it would
get stuck on and continually ringing.

One time (bizarely) the bell push decided to ring constantly of its
own accord and simultaineously set next doors car alarm off.
This was strange because I had not changed the channel on the bell and
next doors car hadn't changed their car alarm.
I've had at least 6 wireless door bells in the last 10 years.
After the last one packed up I'd had enough and have since ordered a
wired one.

No I don't want a bell, I want the door intercom and bell to actually work.
that is the point. I could easily get a proper door chime or something that
playes the latest telephone ring tones, but that is not what I'm after, its
only a bloody switch after all, I am not interested in reinventing the
wheel.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"stuart noble" wrote in message
...
On 07/05/2015 07:55, Bod wrote:
On 07/05/2015 07:46, Brian-Gaff wrote:
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months
trying
to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old bell
push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is
wired so
it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which
consisted of
some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat glue. the
Woolies
on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a plastic button to
short
them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell
sound
or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and
groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying
finger
karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when the
finger is
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

I seem to recall those old type of bell pushes that seemed to always
work come rain or shine. I mean the white coloured ceramic buttons
encased in brass, that you used to see outside old buildings.
I don't know if they are still available or not.

Try this for a traditional bell that always works and has big chunky
batteries

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151251036496

On Thu, 07 May 2015 21:45:34 +0100, Brian-Gaff wrote:

No I don't want a bell, I want the door intercom and bell to actually
work.
that is the point. I could easily get a proper door chime or something
that
playes the latest telephone ring tones, but that is not what I'm after,
its only a bloody switch after all, I am not interested in reinventing
the wheel.
Brian

As someone else has already suggested, your best bet is likely to be a
bell push based on a magnetically operated reed switch (mercury wetted
for preference), assuming the intercom doesn't call for anything more
sophisticated than a simple "push to make" single pole switch.

If the existing switch involves more poles or uses a change-over contact
or two, you can still use a magnetically operated reed bell push switch
if you can incorporate a suitable relay to generate the more complex
switching functions of the original switch.

Truly weatherproof switches need to be gas tight to prevent moisture
ingress and these ain't cheap.

--
Johnny B Good

Brian-Gaff wrote:

I had no idea of the stringent needs of a bell push in this
environment before, so wondered if anyone else had any bright ideas?

My Friedland D723 seems to been built to keep the weather away from the
contacts, perhaps you want one without illumination such as the D824 to
suit use with a doorphone? Only two or three quid.

On 07/05/2015 07:58, Andy Burns wrote:
Brian-Gaff wrote:

I had no idea of the stringent needs of a bell push in this
environment before, so wondered if anyone else had any bright ideas?

My Friedland D723 seems to been built to keep the weather away from the
contacts, perhaps you want one without illumination such as the D824 to
suit use with a doorphone? Only two or three quid.


Is that a wireless or wired bell push?

Bod wrote:

Andy Burns wrote:

My Friedland D723 seems to been built to keep the weather away from the
contacts

Is that a wireless or wired bell push?

A wired one.

On 07/05/2015 10:20, Andy Burns wrote:
Bod wrote:

Andy Burns wrote:

My Friedland D723 seems to been built to keep the weather away from the
contacts

Is that a wireless or wired bell push?

A wired one.

Ok.

"Brian-Gaff" wrote in message
...
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months
trying to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old
bell push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is
wired so it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which
consisted of some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat
glue. the Woolies on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a
plastic button to short them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell
sound or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and
groans. Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been
studying finger karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out
when the finger is removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?

Use a proper hall effect switch so that it can be completely waterproof
and it doesn’t matter what anyone pressing it does with the magnet
on the button short of attacking it with a hammer.

On 07/05/2015 07:46, Brian-Gaff wrote:
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months trying
to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old bell
push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is wired so
it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which consisted of
some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat glue. the Woolies
on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a plastic button to short
them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell sound
or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying finger
karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when the finger is
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian


I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail quickly.
I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and water proof
push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As a bell push,
inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

--
Colin Bignell

"Nightjar.me.uk" "cpb"@ insert my surname here wrote in message
...
On 07/05/2015 07:46, Brian-Gaff wrote:
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months
trying
to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old bell
push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is wired
so
it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which consisted
of
some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat glue. the
Woolies
on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a plastic button to
short
them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell
sound
or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and
groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying
finger
karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when the finger
is
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered
if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian


I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail quickly. I
once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and water proof push
switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As a bell push, inside a
porch, it stopped working after about two years.

I just don’t believe that its not possible to do one that will last for
decades.

Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian


I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail
quickly. I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and
water proof push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As
a bell push, inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

I just don’t believe that its not possible to do one that will last for
decades.

I remember that bell pushes used to be very reliable and rarely went wrong.
Todays bell pushes are probably designed with built in obsolescence.

"Bod" wrote in message
...

Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian


I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail
quickly. I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and
water proof push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As
a bell push, inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

I just don’t believe that its not possible to do one that will last for
decades.

I remember that bell pushes used to be very reliable and rarely went
wrong.

Yes.

Todays bell pushes are probably designed with built in obsolescence.

Nope. Its perfectly possible to buy ones that last for decades.

On 07/05/2015 11:21, Rod Speed wrote:


"Bod" wrote in message
...

Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian


I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail
quickly. I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and
water proof push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As
a bell push, inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

I just don’t believe that its not possible to do one that will last for
decades.

I remember that bell pushes used to be very reliable and rarely went
wrong.

Yes.

Todays bell pushes are probably designed with built in obsolescence.

Nope. Its perfectly possible to buy ones that last for decades.

Yes, but the standard plasticky ones *all* seem to be not waterproof.
I know, I've probably had about 6 or 7 go wrong in the last 10 years or
so. We've even got a canopy over our door.

?Decades as long as they are in a porch no out on a front rain lashed front
door, and there are no finger karate experts about.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...


"Bod" wrote in message
...

Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian


I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail
quickly. I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and
water proof push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As
a bell push, inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

I just don't believe that its not possible to do one that will last for
decades.

I remember that bell pushes used to be very reliable and rarely went
wrong.

Yes.

Todays bell pushes are probably designed with built in obsolescence.

Nope. Its perfectly possible to buy ones that last for decades.

Certainly the built in one in the intercom speaker/microphone box was
basically a little push switch f the kind found in old fashioned tape
recorders for record, mounted on a pcb which wads heat glued in the two
runners about half an inch long. The first failure mode was the pcb came
loose. This was duly araldited in, at which point the switch over traveled
and wedged on permanently.
It was then I migrated to the bell push with brass spring strips inside
that let the water in and it started to go green.


Actually, I have a nice bulk eraser here which is of no use with a very big
push button on, it. it will need perhaps a die cast box to put it in, and
see if that survives, but it would not win any prises for design elegance.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Bod" wrote in message
...

Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so
wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian


I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail
quickly. I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and
water proof push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As
a bell push, inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

I just don't believe that its not possible to do one that will last for
decades.

I remember that bell pushes used to be very reliable and rarely went
wrong.
Todays bell pushes are probably designed with built in obsolescence.

On 07/05/2015 10:16, Rod Speed wrote:


"Nightjar.me.uk" "cpb"@ insert my surname here wrote in message
...
....
I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail
quickly. I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and
water proof push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As
a bell push, inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

I just don’t believe that its not possible to do one that will last for
decades.

That's what I thought too. I can build control systems for three phase
machinery that survive ham-fisted apprentices and streams of coolant.
How difficult could a bell push be?

--
Colin Bignell

On 07/05/2015 10:16, Rod Speed wrote:


"Nightjar.me.uk" "cpb"@ insert my surname here wrote in message
...
...
I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail
quickly. I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and
water proof push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As
a bell push, inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

I just don’t believe that its not possible to do one that will last for
decades.

That's what I thought too. I can build control systems for three phase
machinery that survive ham-fisted apprentices and streams of coolant. How
difficult could a bell push be?


My home has a brass bell push that was here when we first viewed the house
over 12 years ago, it looked old then but still works. Only problem is some
callers insist on hammering on the door after pressing the bell as it can't
be heard from outside.

Mike

So we need gold plated wiping contacts inside a hermetically sealed butyl
flexible pod which is then placed inside a normal looking push.
Or even more overkill I guess, a long bit of string to pull which operates
a switch inside the house instead!

Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...


"Nightjar.me.uk" "cpb"@ insert my surname here wrote in message
...
On 07/05/2015 07:46, Brian-Gaff wrote:
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months
trying
to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old bell
push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is
wired so
it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which consisted
of
some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat glue. the
Woolies
on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a plastic button to
short
them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell
sound
or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and
groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying
finger
karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when the finger
is
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered
if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian


I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail quickly.
I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and water proof
push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As a bell push,
inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

I just don't believe that its not possible to do one that will last for
decades.

Brian-Gaff wrote

So we need gold plated wiping contacts inside a hermetically sealed butyl
flexible pod which is then placed inside a normal looking push.

No, just a full sealed hall effect switch and a magnet in whatever you like
that moves.

Or even more overkill I guess, a long bit of string to pull which operates
a switch inside the house instead!

Main problem with that approach is that there are likely
to be quite a few who have never come across a string
pull system and don’t have a clue that they are meant
to pull the string now.

Rod Speed wrote
"Nightjar.me.uk" "cpb"@ insert my surname here wrote in message
...
On 07/05/2015 07:46, Brian-Gaff wrote:
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months
trying
to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old
bell
push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is
wired so
it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which consisted
of
some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat glue. the
Woolies
on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a plastic button to
short
them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell
sound
or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and
groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying
finger
karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when the
finger is
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered
if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian


I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail quickly.
I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and water proof
push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As a bell push,
inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

I just don't believe that its not possible to do one that will last for
decades.

On Thu, 07 May 2015 22:14:55 +0100, Brian-Gaff wrote:

So we need gold plated wiping contacts inside a hermetically sealed
butyl flexible pod which is then placed inside a normal looking push.
Or even more overkill I guess, a long bit of string to pull which
operates
a switch inside the house instead!

At one point, I was considering a string operated doorbell (as with
servants' bells).

On Thu, 07 May 2015 22:34:23 +0000, Bob Eager wrote:

On Thu, 07 May 2015 22:14:55 +0100, Brian-Gaff wrote:

So we need gold plated wiping contacts inside a hermetically sealed
butyl flexible pod which is then placed inside a normal looking push.
Or even more overkill I guess, a long bit of string to pull which
operates
a switch inside the house instead!

At one point, I was considering a string operated doorbell (as with
servants' bells).

Why not? with modern low stretch cordage, you can even include an
intercom function based on the tin cans with length of string
principle. :-)

--
Johnny B Good

In article ,
Huge wrote:
My MIL's front doorbell was clockwork with a mechanically operated bell
push (it had a pushrod that ran through the wall).

Yup. Snag with those is the bell may not be in the best position to be
heard in the house. But at least the one ringing it will hear it.

--
*Plagiarism saves time *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 07/05/15 22:14, Brian-Gaff wrote:
So we need gold plated wiping contacts inside a hermetically sealed butyl
flexible pod which is then placed inside a normal looking push.
Or even more overkill I guess, a long bit of string to pull which operates
a switch inside the house instead!

magnet and reed switch maybe...

Or this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Single-Outdo...outdoor+switch


--
Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the
rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. €“ Erwin Knoll

On Thu, 07 May 2015 22:14:55 +0100, Brian-Gaff wrote:

So we need gold plated wiping contacts inside a hermetically sealed
butyl flexible pod which is then placed inside a normal looking push.
Or even more overkill I guess, a long bit of string to pull which
operates
a switch inside the house instead!


Brian! You're an inspiration to us all!

That's given me (and doubtless almost everyone else) a great idea in
regard of a solution to your problem.

Why bother with a switch (or, for that matter, an intercom amplifier
setup or even electricity) if you're going to use a cord pull?

I'm sure a simple mechanical intercom based on the "Two tin cans and a
length of string" principle could be fabricated such that it operates
both a bell by the front door and one where your old fashioned electric
intercom used to be.

Tensioning springs would allow high amplitude low frequency transients
to operate the bells when the caller pulls the doorbell knob back and
forth through the inch or so of its travel before a stop in the cord
comes back to rest against the diaphragm of the "Speaker/Microphone"
portion of the 'bell push' to enable the "two tin can joined by a length
of string" intercom function.

With the right quality of low stretch cordage and not too many twists
and turns to be negotiated, you could have an effective door intercom
system that requires neither mains nor battery power.

Alternatively, you could simply use the cordage to operate both bells[1]
and use a seperate speaking tube for the intercom function when the
cordage route is just too convoluted to be practical. You might even be
able to run the bell operating cord via the speaking tube.

Just think, with modern materials and design techniques, it may be
possible to escape the tyranny of batteries and bell transformer power
vampires, along with the issues of damp ingress into electrical
connections.

[1] You could get away without a door located bell if the remote bell is
within 'earshot' of the intercom such that the caller can hear it ringing
in response to his efforts (in the former case of the string intercom,
after he's let go of the bell pull).


--
Johnny B Good

On Sat, 09 May 2015 00:41:24 +0000, Johnny B Good wrote:

On Thu, 07 May 2015 22:14:55 +0100, Brian-Gaff wrote:

So we need gold plated wiping contacts inside a hermetically sealed
butyl flexible pod which is then placed inside a normal looking push.
Or even more overkill I guess, a long bit of string to pull which
operates
a switch inside the house instead!


Brian! You're an inspiration to us all!

That's given me (and doubtless almost everyone else) a great idea in
regard of a solution to your problem.

Why bother with a switch (or, for that matter, an intercom amplifier
setup or even electricity) if you're going to use a cord pull?

I'm sure a simple mechanical intercom based on the "Two tin cans and a
length of string" principle could be fabricated such that it operates
both a bell by the front door and one where your old fashioned electric
intercom used to be.

Tensioning springs would allow high amplitude low frequency transients
to operate the bells when the caller pulls the doorbell knob back and
forth through the inch or so of its travel before a stop in the cord
comes back to rest against the diaphragm of the "Speaker/Microphone"
portion of the 'bell push' to enable the "two tin can joined by a length
of string" intercom function.

With the right quality of low stretch cordage and not too many twists
and turns to be negotiated, you could have an effective door intercom
system that requires neither mains nor battery power.

Alternatively, you could simply use the cordage to operate both
bells[1]
and use a seperate speaking tube for the intercom function when the
cordage route is just too convoluted to be practical. You might even be
able to run the bell operating cord via the speaking tube.

Just think, with modern materials and design techniques, it may be
possible to escape the tyranny of batteries and bell transformer power
vampires, along with the issues of damp ingress into electrical
connections.

[1] You could get away without a door located bell if the remote bell is
within 'earshot' of the intercom such that the caller can hear it
ringing in response to his efforts (in the former case of the string
intercom, after he's let go of the bell pull).

http://goo.gl/QuwTAU

On Thu, 07 May 2015 09:16:44 +0100, Nightjar wrote:

On 07/05/2015 07:46, Brian-Gaff wrote:
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months trying
to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old bell
push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is wired so
it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which consisted of
some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat glue. the Woolies
on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a plastic button to short
them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell sound
or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying finger
karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when the finger is
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian


I think it is an inherent property of bell pushes that the fail quickly.
I once built one using an industrial vandal resistant and water proof
push switch, which worked fine for years on machinery. As a bell push,
inside a porch, it stopped working after about two years.

This is tempting fate I'm sure, but I've had an Aldidl wireless bell for
several years now and the push is on a SW-facing door.
I did put a bit of Plumber's Mait around it originally, so that might have
helped.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

Brian-Gaff wrote:
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months trying
to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an old bell
push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it. This is wired so
it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed one which consisted of
some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in with heat glue. the Woolies
on is your basic two brass bits sprung apart and a plastic button to short
them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell sound
or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks and groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying finger
karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when the finger is
removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered if
anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

Google for vandal proof push buttons. RS certainly used to have some
very well made ones and not stupid money either.

On Thu, 07 May 2015 09:42:18 +0100, Bob Minchin wrote:

Brian-Gaff wrote:
Well says it all. I have a little door phone and after about 6 months
trying to keep the call/bell button has been abandoned in favour of an
old bell push I found in a drawer with a Woolworths price tag on it.
This is wired so it shorts the intercom cable as the original failed
one which consisted of some tacky little push switch on a pcb glued in
with heat glue. the Woolies on is your basic two brass bits sprung
apart and a plastic button to short them together.
Tis worked fine till one of two things happened. Firstly, its not
waterproof and when its really wet, it shorts enough to make the bell
sound or make silly whining noises leaving the amp running with clicks
and groans.
Or, the local cold caller or whoever who seems to have been studying
finger karate, squishes it so much the prongs stay shorted out when
the finger is removed.
Most bell pushes seem to still be of this type. I had no idea of the
stringent needs of a bell push in this environment before, so wondered
if anyone else had any bright ideas?
Brian

Google for vandal proof push buttons. RS certainly used to have some
very well made ones and not stupid money either.

What I'd like is a reasonably priced external door phone. One that is a
'normally wired' phone , but will dial a preset number when the button is
pressed, and has a grille for mic and speaker (i.e. just a box). They all
seem to be really stupid prices.