Doorbell buzzes as it rings

[Jim]

My doorbell buzzes at the same time it ding dongs. It only buzzes as long as the button is being pushed. What is up?

[Jeff Wisnia]

The solenoid coil which drive the chime "bonker" typically runs on 24 volt AC current.

It sounds like maybe the hole in the solenoid which the bonker slides in may have gotten worn to the point where the bomker can rattle around and buzz under the influence of the AC magnetic field.

OTOH, maybe something's just come loose in the assembly which is vibrating when pulled on by the AC magnetic field. Since those chimes run on low voltage AC it's safe to pull the cover off and have a look see and gentle probing of the stuff inside while someone leans on the doorbell button to see if you can make the buzzing stop. Don't overdue the holding of the button, stop a while and let the solenoid cool down if it start getting warm

If you get lucky you may find a loose part you can bend out of the way or put a little glue (or if you're desperate enough, even chewing gum) on to make it shut up.

Let the group know what it turns out to be.

HTH,

Jeff

[Rick Shaw]

Nobody Home?

[default]

Doorbells do that. You're putting AC current through a coil in the electromagnet that hauls the "clapper" up when you push the button. That coil and everything metallic nearby is vibrating at 60 Hz, or some harmonic of that, because you've got a magnetic field that's cycling at 60 Hz.

--Goedjn