BC208 Lee Electric Three-Family Unlighted Doorbell Button Station

BC208 Lee Electric Three-Family Doorbell Button Station in Polished Brass or Polished Chrome

The Lee Electric BC208 puts three wired doorbell buttons and three name plates on one plate about 7 inches tall, for a triplex, a three-flat, or any building with three units behind one front door. Each button has its own contact and its own pair of screw terminals, so each one rings its own chime. The buttons are black and unlighted. Choose the finish from the drop-down: BC208B in polished brass or BC208C in polished chrome. Both come with three mounting screws.

Lee rates the BC208 for chimes, bells, and buzzers up to 24 volts, so it covers the common 16V doorbell transformer and the 24V transformers used in some larger buildings.

How the BC208 Works

Behind each dome is a separate momentary contact with two screw terminals. Pressing a button closes that contact and completes the low-voltage circuit between the transformer and whichever chime that button is wired to. There are no electronics, no battery, and nothing to pair. The three circuits are independent, so a visitor pressing the top button rings only the top unit.

Wiring Three Units

• One transformer, three chimes: run one leg of the transformer to one terminal on each button, then each button's second terminal to its own chime, and the chimes back to the transformer. A transformer with headroom such as the T1615 16V 15VA handles three mechanical chimes comfortably.
• Separate transformers: if each apartment already has its own chime and transformer, each button simply goes in series with its unit's existing circuit. Nothing about the BC208 ties the three circuits together.
• Replacing an old three-button plate: move each pair of wires to the matching button, mount with the three screws, and label the name plates. The package instructions say it in one line: attach one wire to each screw terminal, mount with the screws provided.

Turn off the doorbell circuits before you move wires, and tag each pair so the buttons end up matching the units. If a chime does not ring after the swap, check that unit's transformer and chime before suspecting the button. Our doorbell transformer guide shows how.

Polished Brass or Polished Chrome

The two finishes are the same layout but not identical stampings, so check the fit numbers if you are covering an existing set of holes:

• BC208B, polished brass: bright brass-tone plate and domes, about 7⅛" tall x 1¾" wide x 1" deep. Mounting holes about 4¾" apart.
• BC208C, polished chrome: mirror chrome plate and domes, about 7⅛" tall x 1¾" wide x 1¼" deep. Mounting holes about 4⅝" apart.

On both, the mounting screw holes sit inside the three name plate pockets, so a slipped-in card covers the screw heads. Name cards are not included; the pockets take a strip of card stock or a printed label.

What Makes It Different

Most of our wired doorbell buttons serve one door. For two units, the Lee BC203 two-family button is the smaller brother of this plate. The BC208 is the one to pick when there are three doors behind one entrance and you want a single labeled station instead of three separate buttons lined up on the trim.

• Three independent buttons on one plate, each with its own terminals
• Three name plate pockets, one under each button
• 24-volt rating, higher than most single-family buttons
• Polished brass or polished chrome to match the building's hardware
• Three mounting screws included, no special wiring

What's in the Package

• 1 x BC208 three-button plate in the finish you choose, with three name plate pockets
• 3 x wood screws for mounting
• Lee instruction card

BC208 Specifications

• Brand: Lee Electric (West New York, NJ)
• Models: BC208B polished brass, BC208C polished chrome
• Type: Wired, unlighted, three-family push button station
• Buttons: 3 black round push buttons, each with its own two-terminal contact
• Name plates: 3 pockets, one below each button
• Plate size: about 7⅛" tall x 1¾" wide; 1" deep (brass) or 1¼" deep (chrome)
• Mounting: Flush mount with three wood screws (included); holes about 4¾" apart (brass) or 4⅝" apart (chrome)
• Suggested mounting height: 36" to 44" above the sill, per the Lee card
• Voltage: Up to 24V AC, low-voltage wired systems only
• Works with: Wired chimes, bells, and buzzers on a doorbell transformer
• Not for: Battery-powered chimes or wireless doorbells
• UPC: 721667208003 (BC208B), 721667208201 (BC208C)
• Made in China for Lee Electric Inc.

Where the BC208 Fits

Three-flats and triplexes are the obvious use. It also suits a house with two rental suites, a small professional building with three offices off one lobby door, and a storefront with two apartments upstairs. Property managers like having one part number that covers the whole entrance.

For a full walk-through of choosing and wiring a shared-entrance button, read our guide to doorbell buttons for duplexes and multi-unit entrances.

If you are starting from scratch, see our doorbell transformers and wire and the wired doorbells for the chimes themselves. For matching an existing opening, the push button measurement guide shows how we measure plate size and screw spacing.

The Lee Electric BC208 gives three households one clean, labeled doorbell at the door. Pick polished brass or polished chrome and order it here with the mounting screws included.