Newhouse Hardware Hardwired Chime Kit with 16-Volt/30VA Transformer and Surface-Mount White Button

A straightforward, dependable door chime kit that just works

A good doorbell setup shouldn’t be a science project. I installed the Newhouse chime kit in an afternoon to replace an aging system that couldn’t keep up with a modern video doorbell, and the experience was refreshingly simple. This is a basic two-note, hardwired chime bundled with a class 2, UL‑rated 16V/30VA transformer and a small white, lighted push button. No frills, no app, no multi-melody selector—just the essentials, done competently.

What you get

• A compact, white door chime (about 7-3/16 inches wide by 4 inches tall)
• A class 2, UL‑rated 16V, 30VA transformer (120VAC, 60Hz input)
• A white, surface-mount, lighted push button (7/8 x 5/8 x 2-3/4 inches)

The transformer is the star of the kit. At 30VA, it offers enough headroom to power many wired smart doorbells that are picky about voltage and current. The chime itself is simple: a two-note “ding-dong” intended for a single front-door installation. The included button is small, plastic, and illuminated—serviceable, not luxurious.

Installation: unglamorous but easy

I mounted the transformer to a junction box near my electrical panel, cut power at the breaker, and made the 120V connections. The low-voltage side uses two screw terminals. They aren’t polarity sensitive, which means you don’t need to worry about plus/minus orientation—handy if you’re replacing old doorbell wire that’s not color-coded.

The chime plate mounts with two screws on a wall near the entry hallway. Wiring is straightforward:
- One low-voltage lead from the transformer goes to the chime’s “TRANS” or common terminal.
- The other low-voltage lead from the transformer runs to the push button, then from the push button back to the chime’s “FRONT” terminal to complete the circuit.

If you’re upgrading from an older, weaker transformer, expect to spend most of your time fishing and securing wires cleanly. The kit itself doesn’t introduce any surprises. From power-off to power-on, my total time was under an hour, not counting the run to grab a cable staple gun.

A few practical tips from the install:
- Kill the breaker and verify the circuit is dead before working on line voltage.
- Use 18/2 doorbell wire and secure it away from sharp edges or moving doors.
- If you’re replacing a transformer, mount the new unit to a proper electrical box for code compliance and safety.

Design and build

The chime housing is as plain as it looks in photos—matte white plastic, minimal detailing. It blends in but won’t draw compliments. The button is similarly nondescript and throws a soft glow that makes it easy to find at night. The transformer is a typical steel can with knockouts and two low-voltage terminals. Everything feels aligned with the kit’s “functional-first” intent.

If you want a decorative chime cover or a satin metal button, you’ll want to source those separately. The Newhouse kit is about completing the circuit reliably; aesthetics are clearly a secondary concern.

Performance and sound

Out of the box, the chime produces a classic two-note strike. In my medium-size, two-story house, it’s audible on the main floor and upstairs hallway, but it won’t cut through a blaring TV or vacuum cleaner. There’s no volume control and no alternate tones. It’s not shrill, not musical—just a familiar, modest “ding-dong.”

Where this kit truly shines is power delivery. The 30VA transformer eliminated the “low power” warnings I’d seen with a previous 10VA unit and brought my wired smart doorbell into a stable, happy state. The transformer ran cool and quiet during extended testing; no perceivable hum once the access panel was closed.

Latency is instantaneous. Press the button, and you hear the chime right away. There’s no reliance on wireless or cloud logic for the audible alert—still the most reliable way to know someone’s at the door.

Smart doorbell considerations

If you’re pairing a wired smart doorbell (Google Nest, Ring, SimpliSafe’s wired variant, etc.), the 16V/30VA spec is a solid baseline. Not all smart doorbells use the mechanical chime the same way—some require an additional chime connector, some ask you to bypass the chime entirely, and some support it natively. I tested the kit with a wired video doorbell that had previously been underpowered and had no issues after the upgrade. No flicker, no dropouts, and no low-voltage warnings.

Compatibility always lives with the doorbell manufacturer’s guidance, so check their requirements. The big point here is that the transformer in this kit provides ample capacity for most mainstream wired options, which removes one of the most common failure points.

Limitations to note

• Single location, two-note chime: This is a front-door-only setup. If you need a back-door single-note option or multiple chimes, look for a unit with additional terminals or plan on a second chime.
• No volume or tone options: If you want adjustable loudness or more melodic tones, you’ll need a different chime.
• Basic aesthetics: The housing and button are utilitarian. They disappear into white trim but won’t elevate your entryway on their own.
• Lighted button draws a tiny constant load: It’s typical, but if you’re tight on transformer capacity with a smart doorbell, consider whether you’ll use the included button or rely on the camera’s button and faceplate.

Reliability and day-to-day use

After the install, the kit was uneventful in the best way. Press the button, get a ding-dong, and see a video notification from the camera with no power complaints. The chime remained consistent throughout a week of frequent test presses, and the transformer never warmed beyond mildly lukewarm. The illuminated button remained evenly lit and weather-sealed well enough for an exposed porch; I’d still add a dab of silicone at the wire entry if your location sees wind-driven rain.

The audible range suited a typical 1,800–2,200 sq ft home. If you have a larger footprint or a basement workshop you want covered, consider adding a secondary plug-in wireless chime elsewhere or moving the mechanical chime to a more central location.

Who this kit is for

• Homeowners replacing a dead or underpowered transformer who want a complete, matching set.
• Anyone powering a wired video doorbell that needs a robust 16V/30VA supply.
• People who value simplicity and reliability over customization and aesthetics.

Who should look elsewhere:
- Those wanting multiple door zones (front/back) and different tones.
- Households that need louder or adjustable chimes.
- Design-focused projects where the chime cover and button are part of the decor.

The bottom line

The Newhouse chime kit is a no-nonsense, hardwired solution that solves the most common pain point in doorbell upgrades: insufficient power. The included 30VA transformer provides the breathing room that many wired smart doorbells require, and the mechanical chime delivers a clean, dependable “ding-dong.” It’s not fancy, not feature-rich, and not meant to be. It’s the kind of kit you install once and stop thinking about.

Recommendation: I recommend this kit for anyone who needs a reliable, basic chime and a strong, UL‑rated transformer—especially if you’re powering a wired smart doorbell and want to avoid low-voltage headaches. If you want multi-zone support, adjustable volume, or a decorative statement piece, pick a higher-end chime and pair it with a 16V/30VA transformer. Otherwise, this kit is a practical, cost-effective upgrade that gets the fundamentals right.