Wired Doorbell Not Ringing After Installing a Video Doorbell

Quick answer: when an indoor chime stops ringing after a video doorbell goes in, the cause is usually one of four things: a transformer too small for the video doorbell's steady power draw, a missing or misconnected chime adapter (power kit) that the video doorbell maker requires, a loose or swapped wire at the chime, or a chime type the video doorbell's settings do not match. Check them in that order. A 16V 30VA transformer fixes the first one in most homes.

Why a video doorbell changes things

A traditional push button only draws power for the second someone presses it. A video doorbell draws power all the time, for its camera, Wi-Fi, lights and, on some models, a battery it keeps charged through the doorbell wires. A transformer that ran a chime and a plain button for years may not have the capacity left to also ring the chime. That is why the same circuit can work fine before the swap and go quiet after it.

Step 1: check the transformer

Find the doorbell transformer (our guide I can't find my doorbell transformer shows where to look) and read its label. You are looking for two numbers: volts and VA.

• 16V 10VA is the common older size. It is usually right for a plain chime and button, and often too small for a video doorbell. The T1615 page says that for a video doorbell you should "step up to the Craftmade T1630."
• 16V 30VA is the usual upgrade. The Craftmade T1630 page lists multi-chime systems and video doorbells from brands such as Ring, Nest, Lorex, Arlo and Eufy.
• Check the video doorbell maker's requirement. Its installation guide gives a voltage range and a minimum VA. Stay inside that voltage range; more VA does not make up for the wrong voltage.

Signs of an undersized transformer: the chime clicks or hums but does not ring, the chime rings weakly, the video doorbell reboots or drops offline, or the transformer runs hot or buzzes.

The transformer's input side connects to 120V household power. Turn off the breaker before you work on it, or have an electrician replace it.

Step 2: check the chime adapter or power kit

Many video doorbells ship with a small adapter, often called a power kit, that is installed inside the chime. Some models need it for the chime to ring; others need a resistor instead when there is no chime at all. If the adapter was skipped, connected to the wrong terminals, or left loose, the chime may stay silent while the video doorbell works.

Open the chime cover and compare what you see to the video doorbell's installation guide. If the guide calls for an adapter, the transformer alone will not solve the problem.

Step 3: check the wiring at the chime

With the breaker off, look at the terminals inside the chime:

• A typical wired chime has terminals marked FRONT, TRANS (or TRANSFORMER) and REAR. The front button wire goes to FRONT, the transformer wire to TRANS, and a second door, if you have one, to REAR.
• Make sure no wire was pulled loose when the old button came out, and that the screws are tight.
• If the old chime is corroded, has a broken plunger, or is decades old, it may simply be worn out. Replacing it is often easier than troubleshooting it.

Step 4: check the chime type setting

Many video doorbells ask in their app whether you have a mechanical chime, a digital chime, or no chime. If that setting is wrong, the chime may not ring. A mechanical chime has a plunger that strikes metal bars. A digital chime plays a recorded tune from a speaker. Some mechanical chimes behave differently from digital chimes on the same circuit.

Replacing the chime

If the chime itself is the problem, a new 16V wired chime is a straightforward swap, using the same FRONT, TRANS and REAR wires.

• The Craftmade CL4000 is a loud mechanical chime that runs on a 16V transformer (sold separately). It plays two notes for the front door and one for the second door.
• The Craftmade CH1000 and CH2000 are 16V wired chimes with a two-note front and one-note second door.
• For a recessed look, the ICH1730-GV is compatible with 16V transformers and gives a gentle LED flash when the doorbell rings.

Before you buy, check the video doorbell's guide for any chime it does not support.

What will not fix it

• Wireless doorbell extenders. Kits that add a wireless receiver to a wired doorbell, such as the ERA-EXKIT and LRA-EX1000S-L, are not compatible with video doorbells, per their product pages.
• Our wireless chimes and receivers. None of the wireless products we sell pair with Ring or other video doorbells.
• A higher-voltage transformer. If the chime and the video doorbell call for 16V, a 24V transformer is the wrong fix. Stay at the voltage the parts call for and add VA, not volts.

Quick troubleshooting table

Symptom	Most likely cause	What to do
Video doorbell works, chime silent	Missing or loose chime adapter, or wrong chime-type setting	Check the adapter inside the chime and the app's chime setting
Chime hums or buzzes, or rings weakly	Transformer too small	Upgrade to 16V 30VA, such as the T1630
Video doorbell reboots or goes offline	Not enough power	Check transformer VA against the video doorbell's requirement
Nothing works at all	Breaker off, broken wire, or failed transformer	Check the breaker, then the wiring and transformer output
Chime is old, corroded or sticks	Worn chime	Replace with a new 16V wired chime

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a new transformer for every video doorbell?

No. If your transformer already meets the video doorbell's voltage and VA requirement, keep it. Check the label first.

Can I keep my old chime?

Usually, if it is in good shape and the video doorbell supports it. Install any adapter the maker requires.

Will a bigger transformer make my chime louder?

Not beyond what the chime was designed for. It gives the circuit enough power so the chime rings properly while the video doorbell is running.

For transformer sizing in detail, read doorbell transformer sizing and what size transformer you need for a video doorbell. Shop the transformers collection or wired doorbells.