Wireless Doorbell Rings A Real Bell

Tired of hearing that flat sounding wireless doorbell when visitors happen to come by? Don’t get rid of it, improve it by adding a real bell. This hack rigs up a small hand bell to the wireless doorbell receiver. It was prototyped using LEGO pieces to shake the sound out of the bell, but the finished version uses a servo motor on a wooden frame. An Arduino monitors the wireless receiver, driving the servo when a transmission from the front door button is received.

Traditionally door bells have actually been chimes that are struck with solenoids. We appreciate this rendition because it adds an element of kinetic art to the home, laying bare the functional hardware instead of hiding it in a box. Don’t miss the demonstration after the break.

This is the finished version:

[flickr video=http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilspikey/4957539834/]

Here’s the LEGO version. We actually like this one bettter.

[flickr video=http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilspikey/4816173880/]

[via Boing Boing]

13 thoughts on “Wireless Doorbell Rings A Real Bell

  1. You know you can just goto many a shop and buy a mechanical chime/bell doorbell, and many people still use them, so then you just need to make the activation wireless.
    What I’m thinking now is that it might be fun to go alternative and have a bell that ‘knocks’ instead of chiming.

  2. I need to hack my doorbell too. I need something LOUD that will overcome earphones. I’m also thinking of incorporating a strobe light. Just so you can’t miss the doorbell.

    That way UPS and Fedex don’t have an excuse to tag and run, those bastards.

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