Re: Door Bell Install Via Homerun Closet

[G. Morgan <usenet_abuse@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:56:46 -0700, michael.roback@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

>I have a bit of an unusual situation. I wired up my house when I did a
>remodel to install a key system and an intercom at the front door. As
>such all I did was run a four pair Cat5e from the doorbell to the
>homerun closet. I have decided not to install a key system but instead,
>just a doorbell. Unfortunately i did not run a doorbell wire from the
>location where the doorbell would be to the front door to the chime
>location and back to the transformer! What I did do is run a four pair
>Cat5e from the front doorbell to the homerun closet as well as a four
>pair Cat5e from the area where the chime would be mounted to the homerun
>closet. Couldn't I just connect the the same color e.g. (brown
>white/white brown) pair to the front doorbell as well as the same at the
>chime and do all of the cross connects in the homerun closet to complete
>the circuit and energize the doorbell. That is, connect the doorbell to
>the chime with the same half of the pair and the other two conductors
>(one from the doorbell and one from the chime go to the transformer,
>that will be mounted in the homerun closet. There is not another way for
>me to install a hard wired doorbell. Help if you can. If this does not
>make sense, please let me know. Any suggestions or advice would be
>appreciated.


That's just fine.  Each 24 gauge conductor can carry 577 mA, so even if you
used all 4 pairs it would safely carry 2.3A of current.  Most doorbell
x-formers are 16V AC so even if your bell used 30W (which I doubt), you're
pushing 1.875A.  Either way, put a 1A inline fuse in the closet just to be
safe.