[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by twotogo

My doorbell button doesn't light up. It's 12 years old. Purchased a new button. Problem the circuit breaker box doesn't have a circuit breaker marked as doorbell. I know there is a tool that can be purchased to test if the line is still hot. I called Pike Electric & they will charge $150 to replace. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to be sure the line is dead, before proceeding. Thanks Barb

The doorbell maybe tapped off the same circuit as the low voltage box or the post light. Depending on the vintage of your house this circuit is usually off a GCI circuit breaker or a GFCI in the garage. Carefully loom at all of the circuit breakers, a TRIPPED circuit breaker can be hard to spot. If all circuit breakers are ON, then walk around the garage and check all GFCI outlets. There is a TEST and RESET button on each of these, press the RESET button, if you hear a click it was probably tripped. These also typically have a light to indicate tripped and reset, but the color and location of these vary between manufacturers.
As noted above, the doorbell operates on around 24 volts AC and is not a shock hazard. If your house has vinyl siding, the switch may move slightly when pressed and this can cause the wires to break at the switch, I have seen this happen a few times. The existing wires can be stripped and placed on the screws, NOTE it does not matter which wire goes on which screw.
Let me know if you need more help, VT.