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I’m redoing the main entry way to my house, new entry door, bannister, etc. Will be gorgeous. But, my doorbell is also located here, and I’m trying to understand why door bells are so big and clunky. I don’t wnat three foot long brass chimes. I don’t want imitation woodgrain plastic.
All I want is a small as possible electronic device which can set recessed in the wall behiind a discrete plate. Yes I know Nutone (?) makes (made?) something like this, but even that is bigger than it has to be. Does anyone have a good supply for this? I really don’t see any reason why the doorbell couldn’t almost be invisible.
Carlos
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There are lots of wireless ones that you could stash anywhere. You're right, the boxes are ugly. Most would fit inside a 2x4 wall with a piece of speaker grille for concealment.
I'm glad to hear someone has a bell that actually works! (Ours does, but it has no "ding," only a "dong.")
*CarlosA wireless bell is the way to go; at least you don't have to shop for a good looking one because you can hide the inside unit anywhere. The pushbutton unit has a small battery and transmitter, and the receiver plugs into any electrical box, so it's always on, waiting for the signal to trigger it.Only drawback I can think of is the outdoor pushbutton unit doesn't have its own illumination, so visitors might have trouble finding it in the dark.Jack Feir
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Sounds like a design problem for the woodworkers over at Knots. It seems that it would be simple enough to make a nice wood box for it in whatever style you like...
I just wish they made one that didn't sound like an asmatic elephant playing a trumpet. What I really need is not a doorbell, but someone to answer it!
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I don't have an ugly door bell. I have an ugly door knocker. And it's Y2K compliant.
(Just needed an excuse to try the new digital camera.)
*Carlos, you're right ... doorbells are not only ugly, but often are installed at the worst possible location in terms of appearance. I hid my own doorbell behind an air return grille. Not only is it invisible, but somehow it sounds better. I try at least to paint clients' doorbell units to match the wall, and sometime move them to higher locations, above the normal sight level.I like the wireless units, and will consider them as the opportunity arises.Now, how about some inconspicuous smoke and CO2 detectors?Regards, Steve
*Andrew- the reason you only get a ding and not a dong may be in the wiring of the chime. some chimes have a back door and a front door connection so one door gives a ding and the other gives a ding dong and people can tell which door the caller is at. look under the chime cover and look at the wiring. you may be donging in no time.Jim
*Yes, I know. The mechanism is just gummy and will only work wired as a backdoor chime. I don't care, and at least it has a real metal chime, not one of those tinny electronic things that play "Charge!" and such.
*Carlos,You are right, doorbells are ugly. Maybe we should go over to Nutone.com and ask them why.Jon
*I thought door bells where to be seen and heard. Why would any one try to hide them. The real beauty is all the brass, And the true sounds they are made to make. Sounds like some one does not know what beauty is, Just look and listen, You may need a new set of ears,and eyes, they make some nice units out there.
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I'm redoing the main entry way to my house, new entry door, bannister, etc. Will be gorgeous. But, my doorbell is also located here, and I'm trying to understand why door bells are so big and clunky. I don't wnat three foot long brass chimes. I don't want imitation woodgrain plastic.
All I want is a small as possible electronic device which can set recessed in the wall behiind a discrete plate. Yes I know Nutone (?) makes (made?) something like this, but even that is bigger than it has to be. Does anyone have a good supply for this? I really don't see any reason why the doorbell couldn't almost be invisible.
Carlos