Visual Doorbell - Hearing Impaired

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Keri_WW

Keri_WW

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I'm looking for information regarding "visual doorbells" for the hearing impaired. Basically I want to have a pushbutton outside the suite door that will make the lights in the suite do the opposite of their current state (temporarily).

Can this be accomplished with a basic momentary switch connected in three-way with the lights and switch inside or is it a bit more complicated?
 
Low voltage push button to a relay with control transformer that flashes a few lights in the apt. I utilized a Omron relay for flashing.
 
Thanks Brian, do you have a simple wiring diagram that I could look at? I'm slightly confused on how your setup interacts with the switch inside the suite (in my case it is 2 switches for dual ballast control).

Thanks! :D:D
Keri
 
090105-0903 EST

Keri_WW:

If you only want the pushbutton to affect one light circuit, then you need a normally closed (NC) pushbutton in series with the light circuit. If the current in the light circuit is in excess of what you can obtain in a pushbutton switch, then you use a normally open (NO) pushbutton to control a relay with a normally closed contact in the light circuit.

If you have multiple light circuits to flash, then you need to go the relay route.

I can not tell you whether an Allen-Bradley or Sq-D machine tool pushbutton will be code compliant for direct switching of your light. Ask the code guys. But get more information first.

Logically what you want to perform is a NOT function.

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Thanks gar, there will be one 4-lamp, 2-ballast light to be controlled (two interior switches controlling each ballast)... one circuit.
 
090105-1015 EST

Keri_WW:

I think it would be better to have the pushbutton contol a strobe lamp, Momentary operation of the pushbutton might initiate a pulsing strobe light for maybe 5 seconds per pushbutton initiation. The rep rate of the strobe would be maybe 2 per second.

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Keri, I would replace the SP switches with 3-ways, and have the doorbell switch a DPDT relay, using each pole as the companion 3-way to each existing switch. That way, as you said, the lights will flash regardless of the present switch positions. Orient the 3-way switches so up is still on with the doorbell not in use.

Most residential doorbell transformers are 16vac, which might be a hard-to-find coil voltage. If a 24vac relay won't pull in, you'll need a 12vac relay. Looking at my on-line Grainger catalog, I'd suggest a pair of RIB's; model RIBU1C, Grainger's part #5LE35, will work on 10-30vac, is rated for 10a.

The main advantage of them is that they are fully enclosed and mount in a 1/2" KO, so labor is minimal. You might even mount them atop the fixture. Each one has SPDT contacts, so you could use a pair of them, one for each ballast, and just parallel the coil wires. Be sure to cap the unused wires.

The price should be even lower than the printed cost. See: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/5LE35
 
a phone flasher

a phone flasher

i would simply use a 12v phone flasher which is basicaly an emergency strobe light which you would see in any bulding they make them in 12v and instead of them being red and say fire they come in a cream color and say phone...and it can be wired for 3 way just as you would a light switch check out ebay item#260313887566 and 400006648996 these may help you.
 
Check the internet. There are several manufacturers that make wireless doorbells that plug into any 120 volt receptacle and will pulse whatever is plugged into it when the doorbell is pushed. A lamp could be plugged into the receiving unit and flash when someone is at the door. This allows the receiving unit to be moved to any room and the doorbell button can be placed on any door.
 
Edwards Signal makes a nice pre-packaged ADA compliant audio/visual doorbell kit that comes with the pushbutton, transformer and chime/light. No real need to re-invent the wheel here.
 
Skip the supply house...

Skip the supply house...

...go to the right place.

Skip the supply house, and making your own control solutions. There are numerous suppliers to the Deaf community that you can purcahse and install easy and effective off-the-shelf solutions for visual signaling for the Deaf or Hearing-Impared.

Here is one link, but you may Google for others.

http://www.harriscomm.com/
 
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