|
Posted by terry on November 20, 2008, 8:03 am
> Vic Smith wrote:
> > On Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:44:47 -0800 (PST), Mikepier
> >>> Wired doorbells have a transformer which is always on and always usin=
g
> >>> electricity. This is yet one more thing in the house which does this =
like
> >>> TV, microwave, remote control things, things with clocks, plug-in pho=
nes,
> >>> etc.
> >>> These things add up...
> >>> I replaced/rewired my switch so the transformer is only on when the d=
oorbell
> >>> button is pressed! Thus the transformer is off most of the time now.
> >>> I installed a regular electrical box at my front door, ran 14 ga. rom=
ex from
> >>> this box to the doorbell transformer, then got a nice brass blank wal=
l
> >>> plate, drilled a hole in this plate, then installed a 120V momentary =
push
> >>> switch in the plate. Then wired this to switch on the transformer whe=
n the
> >>> button is pressed. Then connected the two wires which were going to t=
he old
> >>> button so the doorbell would ring as soon as it receives power from t=
he
> >>> transformer.
> >> Congratulations, you've just saved yourself 25 cents a year in
> >> electricity.
> >> Not to mention it might not be safe if someone is standing on wet
> >> pavement and they gey shocked by 120V.
> > Geeze, I replaced the transformer powered doorbell in my house 10
> > years ago with a 15 buck wireless chimer. =A0Couple screws and it's
> > done. =A0Replaced the AAA batteries once in all that time.
> > --Vic
> Doorbells once used carbon-zinc batteries. =A0Their shelf life wasn't
> good. =A0That explains the change to transformers.
> I've tried battery-powered wireless door chimes. =A0I used AA alkalines,
> which have a much longer shelf life than conventional carbon-zinc. =A0The
> problem was the current draw of the receivers. =A0A set of batteries woul=
d
> last only a few months, and a lot of visitors might leave frustrated
> before I realized my chime was out of service.
> How about a wired chime using a lithium battery? =A0The battery could
> outlast a transformer and be cheaper to replace.- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -
Make your own batteries?
As mentioned before; in the 1950s I found the remnants of of some
original LeClanche cells.
Leclanche cells were renewable. A glass jar with a carbon stick
positive anode that never wore out, immersed in a strong solution of
alkali (called Sal-ammoniac) and a zinc plate negative. Wires were
attached to the carbon and zinc.
When the zinc wore away and/or the Sal-ammoniac dried out spares could
be purchased at a local hardware/iron-mongers store.
With todays low power solid state (transistor) devices perhaps we
could make our own batteries out of sea water, vinegar or household
bleach and scrap iron????????
Now if I could only make one (several) big enough to run those 'dud
battery' cordless drills I have lying around!!!!!! :-)
| 
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap