Can a doorbell low voltage converter share another circuit's breaker by both wires plugging into it? Or should a single wire go into the breaker but split it inside the panel using a wire but? Or does it require its own whole breaker/circuit?
Electrical – Sharing a Breaker with a Doorbell Low Voltage Converter
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From the description of odd voltage readings, and the fact that you shorted the connection and still couldn't get the bell to ring, I'm guessing the transformer failed. It wouldn't be the door bell button or that wiring since you eliminated that with the shorting. And since you later tested with another power source and verified that the door bell chimes work, that's also eliminated as a possible failure. The only other thing except for the transformer it could be is the wiring from the transformer to your door bell chimes, but that can be a lot more difficult to repair, depending on how far apart the transformer and chimes are. You can double check the wiring by disconnecting it, shorting one side, and checking the ohm reading with your multi-meter on the other side.
You can pick one up relatively inexpensively from the home improvement store, so I'd start there. Make sure to turn the breaker off before touching anything that's connected to the house wiring, and always test the wires for voltage before touching them. I wouldn't bother with repairing the transformer, they're easy and cheap to replace, but hard to repair.
You won't want to install the transformer inside the panel. Instead you'll install it on the panel.
- Remove the retaining nut from the threaded fitting on the other side of the transformer (the bit in your hand).
- Feed the wires and threaded fitting through an appropriately sized knockout in the panel.
- Thread the wires through the retaining nut, and tighten the nut down on the threaded fitting.
- Connect the primary wires from the transformer to the proper terminals in the panel.
- Connect the low voltage wires to the terminals on the secondary side of the transformer.
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Best Answer
It doesn't require its own breaker because it's a low load.
A breaker terminal shouldn't have multiple wires within it. Take the doorbell out, add a pigtail, and wire nut it together.