my doorbell stopped working and I tested it with a multimeter and found no current to the box. How do I locate the transformer to replace it?
Electrical – How to locate the doorbell transformer
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Related Solutions
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.
Yes your selecting an AC voltage setting is correct for a typical doorbell transformer.
If you can find the transformer itself the first test would be to remove one or both low voltage wires from the transformer output and then measure the output with the meter. This will tell you if the transformer is OK or if there is some problem with the AC line voltage feed to the transformer or the transformer itself has failed. This isolation could save a good amount of time trouble shooting the low voltage wiring at the doorbell and switch.
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Best Answer
Typically, the doorbell transformer will be on or near the main service panel.
This is usually, done to save money on wire. If the transformer is mounted to the service panel, you'll only need about a foot or two of 14/2 cable to connect it (which can usually be reclaimed from scrap). The rest of the wiring from that point on will be cheaper low voltage cable, since doorbells typically run on 24V circuits.