Doorbells, buzzers and chimes are essential, particularly if you live in a flat. Without some way of attracting your attention, visitors, post and other deliveries can end up standing for hours on the doorstep. Whether you choose a simple 'one note' buzzer or a set of chimes that plays a medley of your favourite tunes, installation is very straightforward.
The 'bell' can be positioned anywhere convenient as long as it is not over a source of heat. For the most part, the bell is usually in the entrance hall so it can be heard throughout the house. Doorbells are generally the 'trembler' type: when power is supplied to the bell it activates an electro-magnet that causes the striker to hit the bell. This can be battery or mains-transformer operated.
Buzzers work in the same way, except that a striker hits the magnet instead of a bell. Chimes have two tubes or bars tuned to different notes and between them is a wound coil known as a solenoid, which acts like a magnet. When the bell push is depressed, a spring-loaded plunger in the solenoid strikes against one tube to release a note. When the bell push is released, the spring throws the plunger against the other tube to make the second note. There are also chimes with microprocessors built in, which will provide you with a whole range of different tunes.
