door bell wiring

M

Matt the electrician

Member
Location
Virginia Beach
Occupation
Electrician
When I am running the low voltage wiring for a doorbell from the transformer to the chime to the actual doorbell what is the best low voltage wire overall to use? I do have cat 5 but I am unsure if that is the best choice.
Thanks, Matt
 
Maybe not the best choice but I have used Cat-5 because it was already there. You have 8 conductors, just double up each one.
 
CAT 5/6 cable is too small (24ga or so). Use 18 to 20 gauge, and use more than 2 conductors if you want extra ones. Similarly, I like 18/7 or 18/8 for thermostat wiring. Even if they have a simple furnace and only need 3 wires, they could put in AC or a heat pump in the future. Retrofitting doorbell and thermostat wiring later can be a pain.
 
18/2 covers 99% of the scenarios for the button. Most doorbell cameras just have the two terminals and use Wi-Fi to connect data. 18/2 for the transformer and/or chime.

However if it's specifically requested or if it's for a higher-end home then additionally running cat 6 makes sense. It's a very rare scenario to install an ethernet doorbell camera for the vast majority of projects. In my experience these would be POE anyway and wouldn't need the 18/2

I used to run Cat 5 and double up the conductors but it NEVER was utilized for ethernet after years of running it. Just ended up being more of a pain at trim out.

Rob G
Seattle
 
NJTommy said:
99% of the doorbells I have installed do not need cat wire. Even the newer doorbell cams wireless connections.
Click to expand...
This will likely be changing in the reasonably near future. WiFi leaves unwired devices more susceptible to eavesdropping and hacking (e.g., search for such devices on shodan). With PoDL and SPE, the two conductors that run out to the doorbell button (why do we can the button AND the annunciator "doorbells"?) can be repurposed to provide a high speed data connection AND power to the "smart doorbell".

Wired to a switch/router, one can then upgrade the security of the switch/router and gain those benefits for ALL devices served (instead of having to update the camera each time an exploit for that camera or technology is exposed).
 
Ynibe said:
This will likely be changing in the reasonably near future. WiFi leaves unwired devices more susceptible to eavesdropping and hacking (e.g., search for such devices on shodan). With PoDL and SPE, the two conductors that run out to the doorbell button (why do we can the button AND the annunciator "doorbells"?) can be repurposed to provide a high speed data connection AND power to the "smart doorbell".

Wired to a switch/router, one can then upgrade the security of the switch/router and gain those benefits for ALL devices served (instead of having to update the camera each time an exploit for that camera or technology is exposed).
Click to expand...
That’s what I was saying about the shielded repair it could be power or communication and then you’ve got the cat6e

You’ve pretty much got it covered in every way possible whether it’s wireless or not.
 
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