door to door salespests

I did have one once, took it out for some reason (maybe it went wrong) and went battery.

That's the last thing we need, visitors. ;-)

I'm with her ... unless it's a delivery of course. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

I had Ansmann Energy 16 and 8 chargers already (that do 6 and 4 D cell).

Some are that's true.

Can be up to 2900 mAh. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

Yes. Just watched the most recent episode!

So put AA rechrgeables in them. I saw the convertors in Poundland a while ago, or they're cheap online, as are low cost NiMH AAs.

NT

====snip====

ISTR making this point before but I reckon the cost of the 16 alkaline AA cells amortised over the 15 or more years it took to turn the pair of

When that pack of 16 AA cells finally started to show signs of exhaustion [1], it occurred to me that the excess WH capacity had largely been dissipated as self discharge losses rather than as useful "bell ringing energy" so I decided to consider a more cost effective alternative to replacing the pair of 8 x AA cell battery holders plus *another* bunch of long life alkaline cells.

Remembering those packs of three PP3 batteries I'd seen in Poundland (or Poundworld - it's one *or* the other) which merely needed a couple of battery straps to convert each pack into a 27 volt battery[2], complete with handy hole by which to hang them off the supporting screw in the door frame as used by the original 16 cell battery pack, I invested in 3 or 4 such packs of these cheap Zinc/Carbon PP3s so that I could store the surplus in the freezer[3] ready to replace the first pack in maybe another 3 to 6 years time.

Although the cost of electrical energy provided by primary cells (AA alkaline cells and the like) is some 3 or 4 orders of magnitude greater than that of mains electricity, the losses in a bell transformer can range from a low of half a watt with a high quality unit to as high as 2 or 3 watts with a cheap 'n' cheerful unit typical of those 30 to 40 year old units to be found in many semi detached Victorian and post war properties. Such 'waste energy'[4] represents a range of 1 to 5 quid a year in running costs which can exceed the running costs of a simple battery powered bell which only draws current whenever the bell push is operated.

It was a quick, cheap and cheerful, yet effective solution. I wasn't bothered by the initial battery investment since I knew it was likely to last a decade or more between battery changes. Unfortunately when working in a first floor bedroom converted to office use, I couldn't always hear the front door bell if I happened to be auditioning or editing multimedia files whilst the door was closed.

To address this issue, I added a wireless door chime to the system, wiring the bell to the internally mounted battery powered wireless bell push using a 12v zenner dropper[2] and blocking diode to safely power it from the 24v volt battery pack so that the chime unit in the office was effectively slaved from the original door bell.

I kept the miniature 12v battery installed in the wireless bell push to facilitate testing and to allow SWMBI to announce her return after crossing the front door threshold independently of ringing the front door bell itself (usually when she wants assistance with bringing the shopping in from the car).

The major appeal of these packs of 3 PP3 batteries, despite the need to solder a couple of battery straps, was the reduction in bulk compared to the original 24 volt battery pack and, more importantly, the complete elimination of the risk of corroded battery holder contacts which had rendered the original AA cell holders unusable.

Although I've recently spotted that these cheap Zn/C PP3s are still on sale in packs of 3, my main concern at the time, a few years ago now, was that such a convenient "ready made 27 volt battery pack" looked in danger of becoming extinct, leaving just the 2 pack size as the Darwinian successor in *every* Pound shop rather than in just most such emporia, hence my hoarding another 2 or 3 packs in the freezer.

There's no sense in fretting over this 'waste of electricity' since you can take the entirely rational view that this unavoidable and modest increase in annual expenditure on the electricity bill is simply the price of ensuring a long and trouble free bell transformer service life.

I prefer a lit push button, so batteries are out, and I've replaced the incandescent bulb with a pair of LEDs.

I'm sure we all know friends who have dodgy doorbells "sorry we keep meaning to replace the battery" that you can see why the couriers tend to knock instead of, or as well as, ringing ...

It's similar to the way they test our fire alarms at about 8am when there's no one here to hear them. I think they got confused with trees falling in forests or something.

ere standard in the days you had to drive a mechanical a solendiod that hit two bells alterantively.

I have the facts and those are that rechargable battereis arenl;t really an effcicinet power source for door bells it overkill it's like building a nu clear generator in yuor home to recharge the batteries. Can be done of cour se but not very logical.

YES. about 10X partly because you need 2 sets one in use the other being c harged.

I've never seen that price structure of course if you order your alkaline AAs gift wrapped from harrods you may well be paying more than most do for their rechargable Cs but most won't be doing that.

soi two sets as I said.

Well where do you get 8 recharble C cells from .

Yep that was my main point about using rechargable C cells. If you really were a DIYer you wouldn;t need to buy converters either.

Nope, you still don't ...

They seem to be here?

IYHO I'm guessing?

And what if you can? What if you have one laying around?

Yup.

When you don't know that facts, anything can appear illogical. But again, like most Brexieerts you don't actually ask the right questions or listen to the answers.

At your prices though?

Of course you haven't ... like I said, you simply don't have all the facts.

Nor will I (I have plenty of rechargeables).

Quite, but they aren't 'on charge' so not costing anything in between.

Ah, *now* you are interested in some facts? ....

As it happens, I bought most of them from Lidl when they were reduced so paid no more than £2.49 for them, and that might have been a pair! (4000mAh Eneloop type).

Even if I hadn't bought those, I have plenty of all sizes of rechargeables so could have used any that I already had, rather than going out and replacing alkaline at a few quid a shot (for any worth having).

But hey, let's not let facts cloud your assumptions and personal opinion eh!

Cheers, T i m

s were standard in the days you had to drive a mechanical a solendiod that hit two bells alterantively.

are you a wodney simulator.

ower source for door bells

No it's to do with having an idea, looking around seeing what's being succe ssfully sold. I don;lt see many doorbell systemns with buildt in generators either and I can work out why.

If it weren't just my opinion then I'd expect to see those doorbell systens to be sold with recharable batties as standard but they don;t or certainly don't use C cells.

I don't I'd use my cold fusion reactor which is maintained for free by the galatic federation of renewable energy sources, why would I want anything else ?

which I do.

Yes it might appear illogical but it might also be illogical like buying a horse to use on a treadmill to power your phone, why don't people do that ?

Strange considering I voted to leave, now who doesn't know the facts.

Show me alternative prices then.

Then prove it then.

e paying more than most do for their rechargable Cs but most won't be doing that.

I forgot you s*it them out, sorry about that it's just that most humans don 't.

So how do they get charged by magic or prayer.

As I said there was a students project her that used solar panels for doing that at least if you were chgarging your C cells from solar panles it migh t make a bit of sense.

There is another explanation. Sometimes, to save time, they simply push in the card without bothering to see if you are in or not. I've had this hap pen when I was, by chance, standing just inside the door so I was able to open it and ask for the parcel. He didn't have it with him.

We had that and I noticed his van from the window. Too late to stop him.

The parcel was for SWMBO - who immediately rang his office. They called him and he swore blind he'd knocked and rung twice and waited at least a couple of minutes.

SWMBO mentioned that this wasn't the case and it was all on CCTV. They sent him back half an hour later. He wasn't happy.

Ok, just because I find it funny watching you stumble about in the dark ...

Bwhaha ... oh, did you think I though the Brexiteers are the ones who voted to remain! But your reply couldn't demonstrate any clearer just how confused most Brexiteers are.

Mate, like the whole Brexit scam it's not for those not wanting to leave (the status quo) to justify anything to those who do.

You are the one going on about me using rechargeable C cells in the doorbell you jokingly described with an *if* that 'it was the old solenoid type' ... which it is. But you came to all the justification for your reason why my uses of rechargeable was illogical *to you* without asking me why I did or finding out why I did.

No. You said above 'and 4 on charge', when they aren't 'on charge', they are (re)charged again when I know I need them. Being eneloop (look it up) they don't need re-charging very long before they are ready for use, once I know the current cells are going low.

BS. And in any case, WTF would I want to use AA's with a maximum capacity of 2900 mAh (typically 2500 for eneloop) when I can use the C cells (the doorbell was designed to take) I already have that are 4000 mAh?

You are bonkers mate and any further desperate attempts to try to justify your bizarre position will only make you look more so!

Anyway, thanks for playing. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

Should the mention of Brexit become part of Godwin's Law?

LOL. Carrying on the law, my view of Brexit is that neither side can know what the future holds.

But I'm not a Brexiteer. I wanted us to stay in the EU but with at least a

So of us aren't that simple in thinking if we vote for something it will ha ppen.

Which is exactly why the remainers lost too stupid to put their point forwa rd in a way that coukld be understood.

First you said it was because you already had the battereos the you said yo u brought them for £2.49 each or a pair you couldn't remmeber. Rechargable batteries in such a system as a bell push isn't usually the bes t option, rechargable batteries work best where there is high current drain .

I wouldn;t have brought rechargables for a door bell certainly not C or D o r a battery from a taxi. or any lead acid battery. If I had soenm left over or found some or were given some, but I wouldnb;lt have brough recharchable C s for that type of usuage.

I assume you have to take them out to charge them. if they aren't in the unit what happens if someone pushed the button ?

I had this problem in the lab downstairs where a studetn need to rignt the bell so someone can answer the door to let them in. You NEED to sets iof batteries but ehre is wasn't too bad as students weren 't allowed in the lab at night so that we could if we wanted to charge the batteries up over night.

I've no idea why you'd want such a capacity for a door bell. The unit was designed to be used with standard alkaline batteries why you'd think it better to use recharables I don't know.

Why the f*ck you didn't just buy an adapter to supply the volts I don't kno w.

They aren't, as you said, only 40% of the voteable population voted to leave.

The 'Remainers' shouldn't have been in the race. It should have been 'Who want's to leave', and that's all.

I did.

I did (or thereabouts).

Correct, other than they weren't 'expensive' (or I wouldn't have bought them).

Maybe not.

Like with a solenoid you mean?

Nor did I.

Eh?

Wouldn't fit.

Oh ... really ...!

Oh really ... like if you 'fond some' in your battery box? ;-)

Yes. Like I would take them out if they were alkaline's and they were flat.

The other set are in there?

Of course you don't. ;-)

Who said it would be 'better' (technically I assume you mean) to use rechargables?

Of course you don't, and you are too stupid to ask ... but then that's why you are you and I'm happily using rechargable C cells in my doorbell. ;-)

Cheers, T i m