# How do I get old and new style doorbells to work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-old-and-new-style-doorbells-to-work/723879>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 30, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-old-and-new-style-doorbells-to-work/723879 "2015-06-30T16:49:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![fastdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@fastdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fastdan)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-old-and-new-style-doorbells-to-work/723879/1 "2015-06-30T16:49:21Z")

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I bought a new style doorbell (electronic with a speaker) to add to my existing system to better hear the bell throughout the house.  
The problem I’m having is that the old style solenoid doorbell must be pulling down the voltage to the point where the new electronic doorbell won’t trigger (it is constantly powered by the transformer).  
I have the doorbells wired in parallel.  
Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-old-and-new-style-doorbells-to-work/723879/2 "2015-07-01T08:39:08Z")

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Have you tried replacing the doorbell transformer? Most run at 16v but over time the output voltage may drop. My transformer is in the attic but there’s no hard and fast rule of thumb to determine its location.

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**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-old-and-new-style-doorbells-to-work/723879/3 "2015-07-01T09:42:34Z")

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Your old doorbell was a three component system; power transformer, door button, and bell. I’m guessing your new bell is a standalone unit with two wires for a momentary button switch. By “wiring in parallel” I suspect that you’re feeding voltage into your new bell. A relay at the old bell that switches the wires from the new bell may work.

It’s hard to say without seeing a hookup diagram. You may have fried your new bell.