automated gong?

S-F · 02-07-12, 02:54 PM

So I just tore a wall in my house in half and it just so happens that the doorbell chime was on the part that got trashed. I was looking at the options for doorbell chimes and am unimpressed so I got the great idea to build my own. I started by looking for chimes that I could hang when I ran across gongs. That's right folks. I'm thinking about having my doorbell sound a gong. I found some nice ones on Amazon and I figure I can just hang it on the wall. The only problem now is how to hammer it? I know not so much about electronics but I imagine that there is a motor of some kind that can get enough force to swing a gong hammer. I would hang the gong about 4" away from the wall so the hammer wouldn't have too far to travel. It could be powered by 120v and I could use a relay from the 16v that my doorbell system uses. Or.... I don't know what else.
I'm thinking about this gong.

There are a bunch of creative folks here so I thought I'd toss this out and see what bites.

Any ideas?

Daox · 02-07-12, 03:30 PM

Grab a $5 automotive power door lock actuator off ebay. You'll have to install a spring so it automatically retracts, but 16V on a switch would smash that gong pretty good. Put different tips on the actuator to tweak the sound.

S-F · 02-07-12, 03:58 PM

Not a bad idea. Making it retract might be an issue though,

My friend sent me a link to this site which is apparently all about solenoids. I just don't know how powerful and fast the action of them is.

EDIT:

Daox, A thought just came to as to why not. AC vs. DC. Oops. Good idea though.

hamsterpower · 02-07-12, 05:24 PM

Not sure how much force you need to get a good sound, but my first thought is to use a basic doorbell. My basic bell is just two little solenoids, that when the button is pressed, jump a quarter inch and strike the chime plate. if this was mounted where it struck your gong instead, it might be enough to sound it.

Ryland · 02-07-12, 06:51 PM

My door bell is pretty basic and the solenoid that hits the chime is just a simple electro magnet with a steel rod that gets pulled to the center and a wood tip hits the chime, I've made solenoids like that before with small copper wire wrapped around a drinking straw and a chunk of nail, use a weak spring to return it.

Daox · 02-07-12, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S-F

Not a bad idea. Making it retract might be an issue though,

My friend sent me a link to this site which is apparently all about solenoids. I just don't know how powerful and fast the action of them is.

EDIT:

Daox, A thought just came to as to why not. AC vs. DC. Oops. Good idea though.

You could rectify the AC power with a couple diodes.

02-07-12, 02:54 PM	#1
S-F You Ain't Me Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northampton MA Posts: 662 Thanks: 6 Thanked 71 Times in 58 Posts	automated gong? So I just tore a wall in my house in half and it just so happens that the doorbell chime was on the part that got trashed. I was looking at the options for doorbell chimes and am unimpressed so I got the great idea to build my own. I started by looking for chimes that I could hang when I ran across gongs. That's right folks. I'm thinking about having my doorbell sound a gong. I found some nice ones on Amazon and I figure I can just hang it on the wall. The only problem now is how to hammer it? I know not so much about electronics but I imagine that there is a motor of some kind that can get enough force to swing a gong hammer. I would hang the gong about 4" away from the wall so the hammer wouldn't have too far to travel. It could be powered by 120v and I could use a relay from the 16v that my doorbell system uses. Or.... I don't know what else. I'm thinking about this gong. There are a bunch of creative folks here so I thought I'd toss this out and see what bites. Any ideas?

02-07-12, 03:30 PM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Grab a $5 automotive power door lock actuator off ebay. You'll have to install a spring so it automatically retracts, but 16V on a switch would smash that gong pretty good. Put different tips on the actuator to tweak the sound. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-07-12, 03:58 PM	#3
S-F You Ain't Me Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northampton MA Posts: 662 Thanks: 6 Thanked 71 Times in 58 Posts	Not a bad idea. Making it retract might be an issue though, My friend sent me a link to this site which is apparently all about solenoids. I just don't know how powerful and fast the action of them is. EDIT: Daox, A thought just came to as to why not. AC vs. DC. Oops. Good idea though. Last edited by S-F; 02-07-12 at 05:51 PM..

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02-07-12, 05:24 PM	#4
hamsterpower Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 142 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Not sure how much force you need to get a good sound, but my first thought is to use a basic doorbell. My basic bell is just two little solenoids, that when the button is pressed, jump a quarter inch and strike the chime plate. if this was mounted where it struck your gong instead, it might be enough to sound it.

02-07-12, 06:51 PM	#5
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	My door bell is pretty basic and the solenoid that hits the chime is just a simple electro magnet with a steel rod that gets pulled to the center and a wood tip hits the chime, I've made solenoids like that before with small copper wire wrapped around a drinking straw and a chunk of nail, use a weak spring to return it.