Weatherproofing a doorbell push

[harryagain]

WD40

[Scion]

Hi all,

Got a wireless doorbell push that has stopped working - looks a little corroded inside. I'm going to clean it up and resolder any dodgy looking joints, once this is done what's the best way of preventing more corrosion? Some spray-on or brush-on gunk that is OK with electronics and plastics.

There's various options out there but can anyone recommend something in particular?

[Mr Pounder]

In the old days the trick was to shove some grease in. I did this at my old house and 18 years later the doorbell push was still fine. It wasn't wireless.

[Bob Minchin]

As well as water ingress, the real problem is that insufficient current passes through the contacts to keep 'em clean. For such jobs I use silicone grease which is completely insulating as well as being a water repellent. My tube is marked MS4 but I think it is now known as HS4 The same stuff is useful to apply a film onto car door seals so they dont freeze shut at this time of year.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Put it inside a condom?

[jkn]

Heh, there was a thread I started on a similar topic a few weeks ago - sear ch for 'failure mode' IIRC. I meant to post a followup on that thread, but I'll do if here instead.

One (reasonable) suggestion was that the cheap pushbutton switches inside f ailed due to not being specified for outside use. Certainly the ON resistan ce of mine pointed to that as a possible problem. I fitted some new switche s but to no effect.

It is also possible that the DIL switch setting the addresses is corroded. I haven't yet checked; since changing the switch didn't help, and since the LED is not going on when the button is pressed I am thinking it is a bigge r problem that is not going to be fixable.

My current half-plan is to use a 'proper' friedland bell push outside, wire d to one of these wireless units fitted just inside the porch to keep it dr y. Of course that doesn't help you if the entire point of buying one was th e 'no wires' part.

I haven't seen any wireless pushbuttons that appear fit for purpose with re gard to being 'British weather proof'

HTH Jon N

[Bod]

I've been through about 6 wireless bell pushes, they all seem to be useless. I'm going back to the trusty wired from now on.

[Bod]

I would've thought that *switch cleaner* would be more suitable.

[Scion]

jkn put finger to keyboard:

It's not the DIL switch - there isn't one! There are tracks on the PCB for it but the selection has been made with a solder bridge.

I need to disassemble it properly (it is at a friend's house) and give it a good look.

[Scion]

Bod put finger to keyboard:

Doesn't that evaporate without leaving a coating?

[Scion]

Bob Minchin put finger to keyboard:

Good suggestion, thanks.

[Bod]

Yes. Use switch cleaner first and then maybe some silicon grease applied, similar to applying it to car battery terminals (not on the contacts (of course).

[charles]

not very good on contacts

[DerbyBorn]

You would think that there are now so many people pissed off with the quality of these that a manufacturer would realised that price is not everything and market something of better quality. Many would pay a premium.

>

[Bod]

Agreed.

[charles]

I think my radio doorbell is at lest 10 years old. Yes, I bought Freidland.

[Bod]

You bought out Friedland!? :-) (seriously though)... you normally get what you pay for in this world.

[Mr Pounder]

We have a Byron SX21. Its been fine for 6.5 years. Dunno is they are rated good or not.

[Adam Funk]

Well, where "many" means "many of the uk.d-i-y lot"... ;-)

[Jeremy Nicoll - news posts]

Every so often I contemplate installing some sort of door video-phone, for use especially at times when I'm more or less bed-bound and callers are a huge problem, but my front door faces SW on an exposed Scottish hill. Pretty much all units say to install in a sheltered location...