Re-Opening A Closed Post... Nest Doorbell Wired Gen 2 - Terrible Humming / Buzzing at Chime

[RiskyBizniz]

I wanted to go back into my original post and give an update that my issue was not fixed after all. It seemed to work alright for about 2 weeks but the humming/buzzing is back just the same as it was before. So not sure what to do now. Any advice would be helpful.

Here is my original post: https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Cameras-and-Doorbells/Nest-Doorbell-Wired-Gen-2-Terrible-Humm...

I thought I fixed by swapping out everything (bell, chime, transformer) but doesn't seem like I did. 

[MplsCustomer]

@RiskyBizniz 

I guess two possibilities are that you received a SECOND faulty "chime puck", or your "chime puck" is not wired correctly, as indicated in the wiring diagrams here: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/12153643?hl=en

[RiskyBizniz]

Thanks for the reply. I'm definitely wired correctly. I suppose it's possible I got a second faulty puck. That would be quite unfortunate. Honestly just kind of want to dump this whole experiment and go back to a dumb bell 🙄

Maybe it's the cold weather that made this suddenly start buzzing again? It's about 20°F today - not exactly super cold in my opinion - so I hope that's not the issue. 

I've seen suggestions of installing a small resistor to the chime. That's essentially what the puck is doing correct? 

[Brad]

@RiskyBizniz

I can imagine it has been an inconvenience, and I would love to look into this further for you. Have you checked your transformer or other wiring to determine your doorbell is getting enough power? That could possibly cause a buzzing, or if it is loose where it's installed, could also possibly cause the same concern. Please let me know. 

Thank you for your helpful suggestion here, MplsCustomer. 

Best regards, 
Brad

[RiskyBizniz]

Hello Brad,

I've only done a physical pull test to ensure that all the wires are terminated properly at each end. I could put a meter at the bell wiring to get actual readings. Is there a specific range of values that you would think I should be looking to confirm?

I've seen suggestions of installing a small resistor to the chime to help with buzzing. That's essentially what the puck is doing correct? I don't want to add a resistor but it seems like a possible fix per the YouTube videos I have seen.

[Brad]

@RiskyBizniz 

I would suggest reaching out to support to see what they think. I don't know if my limited electrical knowledge would be sufficient enough to help with this inquiry. They would be able to give you a better idea of what may be causing this. 

Best regards,

Brad

[Brad]

Hi there, 

Let me know if you need anything from me, but I am just seeing how the conversation is going. Were you able to reach out to support? We'll leave this thread open for a little longer for follow-up questions and concerns. 

Best regards, 

Brad

[RiskyBizniz]

Hey Brad, you can close this thread. Not necessarily because I received any sort of closure, but I just legit think nobody is going to be able to help me. I get the same generic responses from phone support, which I why I thought I might try my luck on the online forum instead.

My buzzing issue seems to come and go intermittenly - and for the past few days (without me changing anything at all) has gone away again haha... which makes me think that the cold weather is in fact the newest culprit causing the buzzing rather than any issues with the actual product or electrical wiring... But outside of a trained electrician coming to my place and checking things from start to finish, I don't think there's much more for me to ask for from the support teams.

Thank you for your assistance regardless!

[MplsCustomer]

@RiskyBizniz 

I'm not an electrician, but maybe your issue has something to do with how your doorbells are wired. Your earlier photo of your transformer shows 2 wires going to EACH post on your transformer, but our transformer has 2 wires (one from each doorbell) going to one post, and 1 wire (from the "Trans" post on the chime) going to the other post. That's also consistent with all the 1st gen and 2nd gen wiring diagrams, like this one: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/12153643?hl=en. They all show wiring for ONE chime.

I don't know how your wiring is set up, but it makes me wonder whether yours is wired for TWO chimes, since that would explain the second wire on the second post on the transformer.  Do you have a second chime?

[RiskyBizniz]

Thanks! Yeah that may have something to do with it... to be honest, I am not 100% sure where each of those runs from/to. I need to hire someone to come in and trace the wires and better understand the overall layout of my house. I just moved in a few months back and there is a lot of low voltage wiring. My assumption was that one of those two wires coming off the transformer for the bell and the second was for something entirely different - like a water softener which I know is on the same breaker. I appreciate your help and will get a professional in to help me eventually.

I think that at some point in the past, there was a front and back bell, but I cannot locate anything on the back side that makes me think one still exists...

[MplsCustomer]

@RiskyBizniz 

Older homes are a challenge. I've been in ours for decades and so have traced down most everything.

You could try something, with the circuit turned off.

Each of the two WHITE wires connected to the same post on your transformer may have connected to the "TRANS" post on each of our two chimes (and you don't know the location of the other chime).

So you could try disconnecting the white wire that is bundled with the snipped off blue wire. (You have a blue wire connected to the "REAR" post on your chime, so those may be the wires for the rear doorbell.)

And if you cannot locate your rear doorbell, you could also try disconnecting the blue wire connected to the "REAR" post on your chime.

If it does not work--or makes things worse--you could simply reconnect the wires.

[janthadeus]

Hey there,

Checking in — did you get a chance to try the suggested steps provided by MplsCustomer? If so, how did it go? Let us know if you need anything else.

I appreciate the help here, MplsCustomer and Brad.

Thanks,

JT

[RiskyBizniz]

Hey JT! No, I have not tried. The buzzing went away and for these past 2 weeks or so it's been silent. Note: I didn't change anything to fix it lol. So I attribute the previous hiccups to some consistent cold weather in my region (around 10 degrees F).

[janthadeus]

Hello RiskyBizniz,

Got it — thanks for giving us a heads up! To make sure, do you have other questions or concerns?

Thanks,

JT

[RiskyBizniz]

Hey JT,

Thank you for checking 🙂 I am all good now! Have a great day.

[EmersonB]

Hi everyone,

@RiskyBizniz, thanks for getting back to us and we're glad that it's resolved now. We’ll consider this one complete so let us know if you have other questions or concerns as I will be locking this after 24 hours. Feel free to start a new thread and we'll be happy to help.

Thanks for lending a hand, MplsCustomer, Brad and JT.

Best, 
Emerson