Aiphone CCS-1A ChimeCom2 Single-Door Answering System

EDIT 2/26/2015: I discovered something important. I got lucky on the first one I installed. I used two runs of 18/2 thermostat wire because the home store was out of small spools of 18/5. The distance was about 25 ft. (50 ft. of wire for both runs) and everything worked great. I bought a second intercom for my daughter's house and got a spool of 18/5 so I'd only have to pull one wire. BIG MISTAKE! Nothing but static. I tried all kinds of things. I finally resorted to running a separate line of 18/2 for the voice. I still connected it to the existing doorbell wire near the transformer, but I was careful to keep the voice run several inches away from the power run as much as possible. Presto! Crystal clear voice. So don't mix power and voice in the same sheath, use two separate runs.--------This unit is everything I needed and nothing else. Aiphone has another model that is battery powered and will unlock a door, but it does not have a lighted button and does not go "ding dong" at the outside unit. I wanted the light and "ding-dong" and did not care about battery power or door unlock, so this model is ideal for my needs. In fact, I just ordered another one to install in my daughter's home.Hooking up the outside unit is a piece of cake. Just remove the existing doorbell button, move the two wires from the old button to the intercom and screw the new unit to the wall where the old button used to be. Now hooking up the inside unit is another story. The instructions are pretty good, but there are multiple ways of hooking it up based on how your existing doorbell is wired. I know my way around electrical circuits so I figured it out okay, but I can see how it would be intimidating for a real novice. You have to pull four wires from the inside unit to the transformer. I used two runs of 18/2 thermostat wire. Two wires connect to the transformer for power and two wires connect to the old doorbell button wires coming in from the outside unit to carry voice. Snaking the wires inside the wall was the most difficult part of the installation. But once done the intercom works great and makes for a very tidy looking installation. Voice is very clear and no interference. Be sure to use good wire, keep the connections tight with new wire nuts, and don't run the wires close to any AC wires.You don't have to use an existing doorbell transformer and wiring if you can't or don't want to. Just purchase an Aiphone 12V plug-in transformer and connect two wires to the transformer and run two wires directly to the outside unit.

This review is for the actual Chime/Intercom & not the picture. :)I installed this (security) system Oct 2009.Nearly 9 years of use. It has never failed to do the job.Exterior unit has bright little light to locate in the dark.The pleasent but hearable door bell can be heard throughout my small house.The vocals are clear and crisp on both the interior and exterior speakers.You do not need to expose yourself to someone at your door anymore.* Update: August, 2018 - This unit is still working as it did new in 2009. Amazing...I would recommend this for purchase and would buy it again.

My wife is at home alone at times and she does not feel comfortable answering the door to strangers. The result could be worse if bad guys think that the home is empty. This was a great replacement for the original doorbell. It was easy to install directly below the existing doorbell in my entry hallway.From inside the house...I removed the wires that went to the outside button from the interior doorbell assembly then removed the old doorbell assembly and the power wires that were attached to the transformer located in a box behind to old doorbell assembly.Now to the outside...I removed the old doorbell button, attached the existing wires to the new button and screwed the new button (screws included) to the wall.Back inside ...I attached the mount for the intercom to the wall just under the old doorbell assembly (not across wall studs), punched a hole in the sheetrock in the middle of the mount for the wires. With a coat hanger, I pulled 2 sets of new wires (not supplied) from the intercom mount to the box for the old doorbell.I attached both sets of wires behind the intercom and attached the intercom to the mount (screws included).Finally, in the old doorbell box I attached 1 set of the wires to the wires that lead to the outside button and the other set to the transformer (see included diagram).This was an easy install. I think the hardest part was feeding the wires from the doorbell assembly down the wall to the new mount because there was insulation in the way.At first, there was a lot of feedback squealing when I opened the door, this was fixed with a volume adjustment on the main unit.The total install took about an hour and 1/2 of that time was pulling those 2 sets of wires 2 feet.1 last step, you should cover the box with a blank face plate or reinstall the old doorbell.If my wife asks, I'm still trying to decide. ;)

I replaced my door bell with this device. I did need to separately purchase some "doorbell wire" to run it to the location I wanted it to go to in my wall, but besides that I didn't need anything extra besides some tools I already had on hand. The reason I had to relocate it is that my original doorbell was up rather high on the wall, and I wanted this intercom more at shoulder level so the button was easy to press.The way it works is that if someone outside presses the button, the device inside chimes like a doorbell, the volume is adjustable. If they talk at this point you don't hear anything, but if you press the button inside for a second, or to ask "who's there?" then you can hear them talking for a period of time, something like 20 seconds I guess, they only hear your side of things if you are pressing down the button down.Most of the time this just works as a doorbell for me since I mostly have friends coming over, but if someone questionable comes to the door, I can use this to talk to them instead of opening the door and that is really nice. I already had cameras set up on my porch, but no audio so this was a perfect solution for me. Oh, the doorbell button on the outside is also faintly illuminated, not very obvious during the day but at night you can see it which helps people find the button and realize it is a doorbell.

After 24 years the original Aiphone intercom that came with my house finally died. I was surprised to find that they were still making this. Installation was simple. I just matched the wires to the original one. Let’s hope this unit lasts 24 years!

It was delivered fast it was a replacement item so it was easy to install and works like a charm.

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