Doorbell wire - safe on exterior

[Randy Day]

One of my projects for when the weather warms is to install a doorbell in this old house. I'd like to know what the safety/legality is of using doorbell wire along the outside wall.

The local bigbox hardware store has 75' rolls of 'bell wire', and I think the easiest & most out-of-sight route is down the door frame and under some moulding around to a basement window (I can't go in through the wall).

The wire is 3 conductor with an outer sheath, but it does not specify indoor or outdoor use. Is there any code (Canada) regarding exterior cable in low-voltage applications such as this?

URL's, pointers and opinions welcome.

[cornytheclown]

what about a wireless doorbell

[Randy Day]

[snip]

There's a base for one stuck to the doorframe; Either a previous tenant took part of it with him, or some kid from the neighborhood did.

I want to install something a little more permanent...

[Edwin Pawlowski]

No, not the old style ding-dong types. this is like the regular bells.

[RobertM]

People think that the more times they push a button, the faster I'll get to the door. I finally replaced it with a wireless motion sensor mounted out of reach that beeps inside when someone drives in the driveway or starts walking up the front sidewalk. Then I put a large round doorbell button with no wiring next to the door so people can push the button all day to relieve their anxieties while they wait for me to answer the door. The transmitter and receiver together cost $34 for the wireless motion sensor, and it's sure easier than running wires.

Bob

[Edwin Pawlowski]

I just fixed our doorbell a few months ago. It broke in 1982 and frankly, we didn't miss it. People that I really want to see know to come to the side door by the family room.

[Corinne]

Bob, Could you please tell me the brand and model no. of your unit?

I purchased one of these, and it went off constantly, even when the wind would blow.

Thanks.

Cor> Randy Day wrote:

[Bob]

[Bob]

I've been looking for one. What brand and model do you have, so I know not to buy that one.

[RobertM]

Instructions say you can experiment with putting tape over part of the sensor for limiting direction. Only time I have a false alert was during a windstorm when a large branch fell.

Bob

[RobertM]

Bob

[trader4]

To answer the original question, AFAIK, there is nothing thay prevents you from running low voltage door bell wiring anywhere around the exterior of the house. If you have it covered under some trim molding, it should work fine. Or, the wireless units are an option too.

[Bob]

[Justin West]

Randy, I have skimmed the Canadian Electrical Code-Part 1 and "Wiring for Canadian Homes and Cottages" (CSA publication as well), and could find no references to the above.

That being said, the typical scenario is a step-down transformer to reduce your 120Vac to typically 24Vac, which then runs up to your chime and push button. My personal recommendation is to run a minimum of

14guage wire.

Beyond that, you may not want to run the wire where it is exposed as there is a higher degree for tampering with it, and being affected by the elements.

[RobertM]

An after thought. When I ordered, they were out of stock and notified me immediately that it would be backordered. Delivery was a little slow (3 weeks) but well worth the wait.

Bob

[RobertM]

Most wire will have a type number assigned to it. If you can determine this, you can do a google and then check the UV rating. Some types of insulation deteriorate when exposed to the sun.

Bob

[Randy Day]

My intention is to be as by-the-book on this as possible. I know about the 24v xformer, and I suspected the 'book' might not address it because of that, but I thought I should ask the experts here before assuming anything.

So there are no apparent restrictions on it, but no guidelines, either. Oh well...

14 gauge might be a bit large to fit under the moulding, but I'll look into it.

I don't have the option of ripping out the wall to install the wire, so exterior seems the least objectionable alternative.

Thanks.

[Randy Day]

There's a small plastic plate mounted by the front door where a doorbell would be; someone had a wireless unit and took it away with him, or someone else took the button...

Something like that seems a little too 'portable' for a rental unit.

[Mark Lloyd]

Now I'm getting an idea for an anti-multiple-presses device. Have the button start a timer that causes additional button presses during the next 3 seconds (or whatever you specify) to be ignored.

I used to have one of those motion detectors. I got tired of birds (warm bodies) setting the thing off every few minutes. Reducing the sensitivity just replaces lots of false positives with lots of false negatives.

BTW, while I was typing that, I got to see an example of when Windows unexpectedly disables insert mode. As I was correcting a mistake, I could see the cursor "eating" the following text.

[RobertM]

Easy enough to do with an Interval On relay. Or a timer chip such as a LM555 or 74HC122. The 74HC122 would be good because it's a retriggerable flip-flop. Every time they pushed the button it would extend the non-response time for another 3 seconds. The more they pushed the button, the more they wouldn't be heard. I kind of like that.

Bob