Background
The doorbell chime in this house is unlike any I’ve seen before, and I’d like to keep it around indefinitely. I decided to replace the existing doorbell ringer with something more modern while keeping the original chimes functional.
The doorbell chimes from the “golden era of doorbell chimes.”
Project Goals
- Keep the existing chimes.
- Replace the ringer with something modern (in this case, the UniFi Protect Doorbell).
- Preserve wiring so everything can be reverted in the future if needed.
Part 1 – Add Chime to LAN
I was able to trigger the chime’s ringing sequence by connecting to the same circuit the doorbell button connects to on the board. To replicate this electronically, I used a Wi-Fi–enabled dry-contact relay. The relay’s job is simply to close the circuit when it receives a Wi-Fi signal, which starts the chime sequence.
With the cover off and the relay attached.
My first oversight was not considering the relay’s power source. I ultimately decided to use PoE with an adapter to convert to 5V micro-USB while still relying on Wi-Fi for connectivity. (Had I not already had the Wi-Fi relay on hand, I might have chosen differently.)
With the chime removed from the wall.
After widening the hole and running an Ethernet cable down the wall from the attic.
The view from above in the attic.
Some initial cable management and remounting the chime body to the wall.
With the PoE-to–micro-USB adapter installed.
Close-up of the final wiring job.
The initial test — it worked! 😃
The Home Assistant automation that made it possible.
Part 2 – Installing the Ringer
Finding a good path to run the Ethernet cable to just outside the front door was more difficult than expected. The attic is also quite hot in late summer and early fall, so I postponed this part of the project until November.
I eventually concluded that I needed to access the space above the soffits by the door. I had hoped to avoid this, but it worked out fine in the end.
Fishing tape down below.
Fishing tape up above.
With the old ringer removed.
As I was about to finish the wiring, I discovered a hidden electrical box that had once been part of an intercom system.
The irony.
