Doorbell

[AtomicNo13]

OK OK I know... who the heck needs a door bell on an Airstream!
My Excella has one however the button is beginning to fail. Anyone have a source for the original button? Mine is the one built into the handle/deadbolt/doorbell casting.
Ideally I'd love one to fit that also had an led (I'm a Clark griswold type).

[idroba]

Self answering question: who the heck needs a door bell on an Airstream!

But I did have one on my 310 motorhome. In 10 years no one ever used it, not once.

Since it is a 12 volt DC system, not 16 volt home AC bell system, it would take a special DC lighted doorbell button, and I kinda doubt you will find one. Even an original black one may be hard to locate.

[AtomicNo13]

Since it is there.... I want to keep it working! People use mine all the time! Fwiw the hardware store doorbells work just fine with 12v!

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by AtomicNo13

OK OK I know... who the heck needs a door bell on an Airstream!
My Excella has one however the button is beginning to fail. Anyone have a source for the original button? Mine is the one built into the handle/deadbolt/doorbell casting.
Ideally I'd love one to fit that also had an led (I'm a Clark griswold type).

Most any hardware store or Home Depot has the door bell button.

!2 volts DC is the same as 19 volts effective AC voltage.

12 volt DC motors work exactly the same on 19 volts or there about AC.

Andy

[Skatiero]

While we are on the subject, how about a replacement for the rest if the doorbell-- the unit inside? I need a replacement door bell-- not the button. where can I get that? Will a Home Depot one work? -Katie

[dznf0g]

Most of the home ones are AC powered with a 16V transformer. Maybe there are some battery ones out there, but that is what you need......or a 12V one hard wired to your coach batteries. OEM is 4 D cells, IIRC.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Skatiero

While we are on the subject, how about a replacement for the rest if the doorbell-- the unit inside? I need a replacement door bell-- not the button. where can I get that? Will a Home Depot one work? -Katie

A regular 24 volt AC door bell will work just fine on 12 volts DC.

The original bell that Airstream used was for 24 volts AC.

Andy

[Skatiero]

The OEM one in both of our Airstreams are 12 volt and hard wired to the coach batteries. Hmm, I guess a house one won't work, then? I guess I'd better see who sells a 12 volt one! Katie

[idroba]

It was the OP's desire to use a LED lighted button which I was referring to. The normal lighted button has a small very long life incandescent light in it and would work fine on AC or DC. But when you go to an LED light some internal circuitry has to be involved to get the right power to any LED used. Since home doorbells use 16 volts AC any LED lighted doorbell button designed for that power source probably would not work on the 12 volts DC of the Airstream doorbell circuit. And an incandescent lighted doorbell button would become a bad constant power leak on the batteries anytime the rig was not plugged in.

I have not seen any LED lighted doorbell buttons, but there may be some out there.

[richinny]

as fir the bell, i added a 12v buzzer (radio shack) to the rear bedroom because you can barely hear the bell over the air conditioner or television. why they use a battery bell when 12v is available is beyond me. the buzzer is nice and small and loud enough to hear over the air conditioner. i wired it to the existing 4 d cell bell.

[AtomicNo13]

I used a $9 replacement ding dong unit from Lowes. It is identical to the OEM unit that pooped out in my unit. Some have referenced battery powered bells? Not mine
... 12 volt coach powered..
As far as the button goes, I have tried the available replacements and all are the wrong size... too big or too small. I just know there is the perfect one lurking with an Excella blue led!

[sandlapper]

I replaced our button with one from Lowes. It is not black, like the original, but is lighted. Just popped the pooped one out, hooked up the new one, pushed it back in for a perfect fit.

As for using it, only Classic owners know it is there and use it. Still, we love it.

John

[Skatiero]

Great info, thanks!

[bweldon]

Anybody have a pic of what the button looks like? Mine is missing from the hole. I asked the PO when I bought what the box on the wall underneath the table was and he had no idea after owning it or 15 years. When I removed the box recently to pull the wall panel I got a ding dong sound and then I knew. I would like to get a button back in there and use. I may check with Colaw RV salvage as they are just an hour down the road.

Barry

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by bweldon

Anybody have a pic of what the button looks like? Mine is missing from the hole. I asked the PO when I bought what the box on the wall underneath the table was and he had no idea after owning it or 15 years. When I removed the box recently to pull the wall panel I got a ding dong sound and then I knew. I would like to get a button back in there and use. I may check with Colaw RV salvage as they are just an hour down the road.

Barry

Barry,

The door bell button is round and is sold in about every hardware store that's in business.

Nothing special about it.

Andy

[sandlapper]

Originally Posted by bweldon

Anybody have a pic of what the button looks like? Mine is missing from the hole. I asked the PO when I bought what the box on the wall underneath the table was and he had no idea after owning it or 15 years. When I removed the box recently to pull the wall panel I got a ding dong sound and then I knew. I would like to get a button back in there and use. I may check with Colaw RV salvage as they are just an hour down the road.

Barry

If the button is missing, the 2 wires that power it may have dropped down inside the wall cavity. They are small, low voltage wires.

John

[Lumatic]

I got a 93 Excella a few weeks ago. The doorbell does not work. Can anyone point me in the right direction for troubleshooting. Other than the black button itself I have no idea about where the ringer is or how the doorbell works.

[sandlapper]

Just replace the unit itself. It is a standard, low voltage residential door bell available at any big box store. Look under the front couch.

The button is also a standard item. Just gently pry it out of it's hole in the handle. 2 small wires, don't let them drop down inside the wall.

[Lumatic]

This is a lousy photo, but it was real hard to get to. If this is the unit I don't see how to replace it without pulling the gaucho or the wooden cover behind the gaucho. Is this it? Any suggestions

[Lumatic]

I'm thinking I could hook up an Aaoogah horn under the entrance stairs. That would be fun to watch.