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Craig · 09-14-2002, 05:20 PM

My 78 Excella 500 has a doorbell that doesn't work. I can't find any info. regarding the doorbell in the owners manual or service manual.
In the front credenza, just to the right of the fuse box, there appears to be a box that looks like it could be the "chimes". If it's not, I don't know what it is. Any help would be appreciated!

wb13798 · 09-14-2002, 05:28 PM

if you have a fold out teble , look under there . that was where mine was if i remember there is a fuse mounted on the door bell that is probably blown. hope that helps.
al

davidz71 · 09-15-2002, 05:59 PM

Craig,
My door bell is located under the couch on the curbside front area. It is several inches off the floot. The cover slides off and I can see the chimes easily.

wb13798 · 09-15-2002, 06:43 PM

can you see a fuse mounted on the door bell at the top of the
door bell case???

al

Craig · 09-15-2002, 07:45 PM

Craig - is your sofa on the curbside, or front of the TT? My sofa is on the curbside. I don't see chimes in the doorbell box...maybe that's the problem. Would it be possible for you to post a picture?

My doorbell is located to the right of the fuse box above the univolt. Accessed through the credenza. But the fuse is intact, so I don't know what the problem is.

Thanks,

Craig

ALANSD · 09-16-2002, 05:14 AM

the most common problem seems to be the switch. They are easily replaced.
Pull out your old one, if you haven't already; and jump the terminals to see if it rings the bell. The bell is not very loud when it does work. The switches are fairly easy to find at a home supply place and can be wired in no time. I found that the ones that fit have a light in them which will last about 3-4 months. The chimes don't look like much until you pull off the cover.

davidz71 · 09-16-2002, 08:24 AM

Craig,
The couch is on the curbside to the right of the entrance door. As you open the door, you can put your hand on the couch standing outside the trailer. The chimes are mounted about 5 feet from the edge of the door toward the front of the trailer. I will try to post a couple of pictures for you this evening. The chimes, by the way, are not real soft nor are they loud. All my hunting buddies get a kick out of a doorbell on my trailer and they can't keep their fingers off the button.

john hd · 09-16-2002, 04:39 PM

when were in a campground near town we order pizza, when the delivery boy shows up, i love to scold them for knocking on the door....good god man, don't you know we have a door bell!

we always tip well in exchange for the prank.

john

Craig · 09-16-2002, 05:36 PM

ALANSD,
How do you remove the switch? Mine looks like I would need to remove the AS name plate to get at it.
Craig

ViewRVs · 09-19-2002, 12:24 PM

I looked in Lowe's at door bells. They are all 16v and use a converter to change the house 120v to 16v. How should that work in RV?

davidz71 · 09-19-2002, 04:56 PM

Craig,
I'm having a slight delay in borrowing a digital camera. I hope to get it tomorrow morning and will post the chimes tomorrow afternoon.

Craig · 09-19-2002, 07:58 PM

Craig,

No problem. I assumed you had a digital camera because of your pictures posted. It I had known you didn't have one, I wouldn't have asked. I don't have one myself...

Thanks again,
Craig

davidz71 · 09-20-2002, 10:37 AM

Craig,
Just received the camera. Headed to the house and will post soon.

ALANSD · 09-20-2002, 10:50 AM

in my case I pryed the switch body out with a small knife- it was then easily replaced with a round switch from home depot, same size diameter. It was wired with as I recall just two wires. The new switch is a small chrome circle around the plastic button area.
Lighted, but the light burnt out after two or three months.

davidz71 · 09-20-2002, 12:11 PM

Craig,
The disc drive in my home computer has failed. I had to get on another computer but here are the pictures of my door bell chime unit.

davidz71 · 09-20-2002, 12:12 PM

Closer shot.

ALANSD · 09-20-2002, 12:52 PM

Looks just like the one in my motorhome, if you jump the posts does it chime?

Craig · 09-20-2002, 01:01 PM

Craig,

Thanks a lot for posting the pictures! Mine does not look like that. I'll need to get my hands on a digital camera to show you what mine looks like.

Craig

davidz71 · 09-20-2002, 01:38 PM

Alan, I haven't tried jumping the posts. Since it is working fine I'm afraid I will burn the rascal out.

Craig, I guess Airstream is like any other company, when supply starts to run low or a contract runs out, you get something that meets the specs and buy in bulk. I have found that even gun companies like Browning use different brand recoil pads for the same exact model shotgun manufactured during the same year.

davidz71 · 09-20-2002, 01:41 PM

Craig,
When you do get a chance to post a picture of your doorbell internals, could you also take a picture of your external button. It seems like my button was replaced with another type and I was curious what the original looks like and if they are still available.