The reason I ask is because the layout of my apartment is kinda weird. The front door opens to a small hallway with a left turn to get to the kitchen and the livingroom, and then my bedroom/office if way off in the back to the right. Consequently, I often don’t hear the buzzer when I’m in there, and when I do, I have to run like the dickens, making at least three sudden course corrections, stubbing my toe and wishing death upon whoever came up with this floorplan in order to get to the intercom in time so the UPS guy doesn’t go away.
So I want to put another intercom in my room so I can buzz my visitors from there. The intercom in question has exactly three buttons, Listen, Talk and Buzz. If I take it apart and get a similar unit and hook it up in paralell, does it stand a chance in hell of working?
Not iner-operable standard like phone systems, but there are only a limited number of companies that make these systems. NuTone, Aiphone and Siedle are some of the larger companies in this business.
So don’t take anything apart – just look for the manufacturers name and model number on your intercom (or look on the big one in the lobby). Then search google to find info about that system. Once you figure out the brand name & model, you ought to have no problem finding a unit for sale online. Or you might even try your local building supply stores – they have these for sale, and you might find the model you need.
Wiring up a second unit in your apartment may be a bit tricky. Not in the design – generally, most modern systems are designed to allow for multiple stations in an apartment. But the exact wiring details may be a bit complicated to figure out. The bigger problem may be the actual work of threading wires thru walls, etc. And getting permission from your landlord to do this. If you’re willing to have exposed wires running along the ceiling, you might have an easier time of this. Might even do it as a temporary installation, without even letting the landlork know about it.
On the other hand, you are making an improvement to his apartment that is likely to be permanent (you probably have no need to take it with you when you move out). So ask him to give you a credit against your rent for this. Suggest something like 50% of what a professional electrician would have charged for such an installation. You’ll have to show him that it works, that you’ve installed it neatly, etc., of course. But many landlords will be amenable to such a suggestion. You’re probably not the first tenant to be annoyed by the current layout.
Thanks for the info, t-bonham, that’s a good starting point. I have no plans to make it permanent so I’ll probably just run the wires on top of the mouldings. Anyway, off to Google I go.