Whose Ringing Your Chimes?

[Halo]

Anybody have electronic doorbells that sometimes go off with nobody at the door?  We do.  Best guess is passing vehicles.  Google search shows many spooksters attributing it to ghosts.  And some suggest pranksters. 

Interesting that the doorbell sound in these errant cases is nothing like what happens when the doorbell is rung -- more like a sequence of notes.  Happens randomly several times throughout the day and night.  We're so used to the distinct sound we just ignore it. 

Nevertheless, just changed the security settings on the upstairs and downstairs modules.  Will see how that works. 

Meanwhile, if you had a similar problem, how did you fix it? 

[Fulmar]

SOLVED

[Curval]

Some kid on Halo's street is snickering after reading this thread.

[DREDIOCK]

I have a pair of barking doorbells the sometimes give false alarms as well.
I just cuss at em and learned to live with it LOL

[CAVPFCDD]

lol yeah, you've never heard of ding dong ditch? (aka ring and run)

that was my childhood

[Halo]

Nah, not mischievous kids.  Finally found the (duh) operating instructions.  Our wireless door chimes provide a choice of six sounds (three chimes and three song snippets). 

When the phantom rings, it's a brief hodgepodge of sounds, not any of the six selections.  Apparent problem is the 150-foot operating range, far enough to include the street and vehicle traffic, the likely culprit. 

This version unfortunately has a crude frequency adjustment.  Five wires, cut any or some of them to change frequency.  Not too bad a chore for either of the indoor receivers, but have to cut the same wire(s) in the front door transmitter that is tinier and has been painted of course to match the door.  Not going to mess with that until the weather warms up. 

 

[Skyeho]

I have a lamp that goes off and on at will.  New wiring did not help.

[ariansworld]

Anybody have electronic doorbells that sometimes go off with nobody at the door?  We do.  Best guess is passing vehicles.  Google search shows many spooksters attributing it to ghosts.  And some suggest pranksters. 

Interesting that the doorbell sound in these errant cases is nothing like what happens when the doorbell is rung -- more like a sequence of notes.  Happens randomly several times throughout the day and night.  We're so used to the distinct sound we just ignore it. 

Nevertheless, just changed the security settings on the upstairs and downstairs modules.  Will see how that works. 

Meanwhile, if you had a similar problem, how did you fix it? 

When I play my Alto sax it will set the door bell off,  but only when I get into the altissimo ranges.   

Arian

[1pLUs44]

Some kid on Halo's street is snickering after reading this thread.

hehehe

[caldera]

lol yeah, you've never heard of ding dong ditch? (aka ring and run)

that was my childhood

I was tempted to do that in my 30s. My brother-in-law and I were visiting my grandmother at her seniors only apartment building. We laughed our butts off at the thought of it but our consciences just couldn't allow it. 

[ROX]

Some of the new electronic chimes (IC) are secceptable to RF interference from either passing cars with CB's with linears.  Many times, the control box is far away from the door, and that 33' or 66' piece of wire can become a very good antenna for RF.  Worst case scenerio, a capacitor in one or both sides of the line might help.  Ferrite cores with the feed wires wrapped around it just before going into the control box helps as well.

RF can be a pretty wily fox to fix.

Good Luck!



ROX