History
William Murdoch, a Scottish inventor, installed a number of his own innovations in his house, built in Birmingham in 1817; one of these was a loud doorbell, that worked using a piped system of compressed air.[1] A precursor to the electric doorbell, specifically a bell that could be rung at a distance via an electric wire, was invented by Joseph Henry around 1831.[2] By the early 1900s, electric doorbells had become commonplace.
Wired doorbells
Old door bell pull knobs in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. It is unclear whether bells were running by wire and pullies, or by electrical connection.More elaborate doorbell chimes play a short musical tune, such as Westminster Quarters.
Typical two button doorbell circuit
Fully battery-powered wired models are also common, either using a two-bar design or an electric bell. These do not consume standby power, but require the user to change the batteries, which are usually large primary cells located in the bell box.
Wireless doorbell with piezoelectric button
In recent decades wireless doorbells have become popular, to avoid the expense of running wires through the building walls. The doorbell button contains a built-in radio transmitter powered by a battery.
Staff Call Bells
Before electrical doorbells, large houses and estates often had complicated mechanical systems to allow occupants of any room to pull a bell pull and ring a bell at a central bell panel in the staff quarters, to summon a servant.
Smart doorbells
With the rise of the Internet of Things in the 2010s, a number of internet-connected bell systems, known as smart doorbells have appeared on the market.
The video is typically recorded direct to a cloud internet service, meaning that if the unit is tampered with, damaged or stolen then this event will be captured and can be analysed to determine the identity of the responsible party.
How do I choose a wareless doorbell
A wireless doorbell can be placed anywhere and is affordable and easy to install. Radio waves connect the transmitter to the bell, so physical wiring and electrical work is unnecessary. There are many different types of wireless doorbells on the market with a variety of styles and chimes. Choose a wireless doorbell that has a sufficient range to work throughout your home and matches your sound preferences and decorative tastes.