How to Add a Second Doorbell Button or Receiver

Quick answer: with a wireless doorbell you can add another push button for a second door, or another receiver for another room, without running any wire. Buy the add-on from the same series as your kit, put the receiver into pairing mode, and press the new button while it is listening. Each series has its own limit on how many transmitters one receiver can hold, and SS, LRA and ERA products do not mix.

First, find your series

Look at the model number on your receiver or kit box. Add-ons only work within the same series.

Series	Range	Transmitters per receiver	Receivers per transmitter
Safeguard Supply SS (e.g. SS110, WC180-SS, SS130)	600 ft	Up to 58	No limit
Safeguard Supply LRA (e.g. LRA-D1000, LRA-D1000S)	1,000 ft	Up to 4 on the LRA-DCRX; up to 2 on the LRA-DCRXS plug-in strobe receiver	Multiple
Safeguard Supply ERA (e.g. ERA-UTDCR, ERA-DCKIT)	4,000 ft	Up to 12	No limit

The SS155 page states the rule plainly: it "does not work with ERA, LRA, or Dakota Alert products." None of these series pair with Ring or other video doorbells.

Adding to an SS Series doorbell

Add-ons:

• SS111 push button: works with all SS Series products, 600 ft range, weather-resistant.
• SS135 plug-in receiver: 58 melodies, 4 volume levels up to 90 dB, pairs with up to 58 transmitters.
• SS155 strobe receiver: adds a flashing receiver, 15 flashes per trigger.
• SS132 door contact: sounds the chime when a door opens.

Pairing: the button in a kit comes paired from the factory. To add another button or contact to an SS135 or SS155 receiver:

1. Choose the melody you want for the new button.
2. Press and hold the Volume button on the receiver for about 5 seconds, until it plays "Ding-Dong" and the LED starts flashing. The receiver is now in pairing mode.
3. Press the new push button (or trigger the door contact) to send its signal.

The SS135 and SS155 have no separate learn button; the Volume button does the job. Our SS130 programming guide notes that pairing mode lasts only a few seconds and is needed for each transmitter, so have the new button in hand before you start. The WC180-SS programming guide covers melodies and volume.

Adding a receiver: pair the existing button to the new receiver the same way. Each receiver keeps its own melody for each button, so the front door can play one tune in the kitchen and the same tune or a different one upstairs.

Adding to an LRA Series doorbell

Add-ons:

• LRA-PBTXA-L lighted push button: 1,000 ft, outdoor rated, CR2032 battery included.
• LRA-DCRX-L battery receiver: up to four transmitters, with a strobe on/off switch.
• LRA-DCRXS-L plug-in strobe receiver: up to two transmitters, with sound only, strobe only, or both.

Check compatibility first. LRA products come in "-L" and non-L versions. The LRA-PBTXA-L page links to an LRA Series compatibility notice, and the LRA-RPX repeater page says it only works with non-L products. Match the suffix on your existing receiver.

How LRA zones work: per our LRA programming guide, the LRA-DCRX has four zones, and each zone holds one transmitter. Giving each zone its own melody tells you which door was pressed. If a zone already holds a transmitter, you must clear that zone before pairing a new one there.

Pairing a new button to an LRA-DCRX (from the LRA programming guide):

1. Make sure the receiver has fresh batteries or is on its plug-in adapter, and open the cover.
2. Press and hold the Zone selector button for about 3 seconds, until the strobe flashes and zone 1 blinks. Press it again to move to an empty zone.
3. Press the Melody selector button to choose the melody for that zone.
4. Press the new push button.

The receiver leaves programming mode on its own after about 10 seconds. If pairing keeps failing, clear the zone memory using our LRA zone memory guide and try again.

Adding to an ERA Series doorbell

Add-ons: every ERA transmitter works with every ERA receiver, except that the ERA-PIR-SPK is a standalone unit.

• ERA-PBTX push button: outdoor rated, rated -4°F to 140°F, with a green glow for night.
• ERA-UTX: a push button or door contact in one unit, outdoor rated, 18-24 month battery life.
• ERA-RXPG plug-in receiver: sound only, strobe only, or both; the strobe flashes about 15 seconds at 2 flashes per second.
• ERA-DCRX desktop/wall receiver: 4 zones, 12 melodies, four 12V DC outputs and a C-form relay.
• ERA-VPRX portable receiver: rechargeable, vibrates and/or chimes.

Pairing to an ERA-DCRX (from our WDK-ERA-STROBE setup video):

1. Plug in the receiver. On the side are three buttons: mode, zone and volume.
2. Press and hold the mode button for about 2 seconds until you hear a short tone. The receiver is in program mode.
3. Press the button on the new transmitter. You will hear a short tone.
4. Press and hold the mode button again until you hear another short tone. The two are now paired.

The ERA-VPRX uses its own button sequence; see programming the ERA-VPRX.

Tips before you start

• Do it indoors first. Pair the new button next to the receiver, confirm it works, then mount it.
• One transmitter at a time. Most receivers need to be put into pairing mode again for each new transmitter.
• Write down which melody goes with which door.
• Use fresh batteries in the new button. A weak battery shortens range and makes pairing unreliable.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add a button to my wired doorbell instead?

Yes, but that means running wire to the chime. A wired chime typically has FRONT and REAR terminals, and many 16V chimes play two notes for the front and one for the second door.

Can I add a wireless receiver to my existing wired doorbell?

Yes, with an extender such as the ERA-EXKIT (for 5V-28V wired doorbells) or the LRA-EX1000S-L. These do not work with video doorbells.

I added a receiver and now it rings when my neighbor's doorbell rings.

Clear the receiver's memory and pair only your own buttons again. The WC180-SS page lists 17,000 unique privacy codes. Our article on avoiding interference with a neighbor's doorbell has more tips.

Compare all series on the wireless doorbell series comparison, or browse wireless doorbells.