NuTone MelodyTime Electronic Chime Model LBC55

NuTone Electronic Chimes sound through your Radio-Intercom System!

 “Electronic models connect to NuTone Stereo and Intercom Systems to relay chime tones to all rooms in which speaker are located. Chimes can be heard clearly above music or intercom; also within normal hearing distance if system is not in operation.”

LBC-55 Electronic MelodyTime with Digital Clock

 “In addition to providing a selection of 25 tunes to play when your front door pushbutton is pressed, MelodyTime also incorporates a digital clock. It can be set to strike the hour, half hour and quarter hour. Choice of Dark or Honey Oak finish frames.” (NuTone catalog 1983 price $199.95)

This LBC55 MelodyTime Chime was sent in for repair due to a constant hum that had grown louder and louder over time. This is a common problem on older NuTone Electronic Chimes. This LBC55 is from 1979, which means it has accumulated 315,000 hours of time on its electronics since it was installed.

If this type of problem is corrected when it's first noticed, the repair is simple and straightforward. If the problem is ignored and left un-repaired, it can cause more extensive damage to the chime.

The worst case scenario will be that the Microprocessor will be damaged and the chime will simply not play. The Microprocessor is a priority NuTone part that is no longer available. Since the Microprocessor contains the “songs”, it is a vital part of the chime.

The “55” series of chimes were made for a long period of time and in many different configurations. It is sometime possible to substitute a Microprocessor from another “55” series chime, however the song list may be different, shorter and not correspond to the songs listed inside the chime's door.

 

As you can see, the darkened area of the circuit board is caused by excessive and long term heat radiating from the power supply area of the chime.

 

The LED Display Board is separate from the main chime board and there is little that will go wrong with it.

 

The “keyboard” uses “bubble switches” like the type that were common on calculators of the same time. Since the buttons are rarely pressed, the bubble switches don't often cause many problems. The plastic keyboard covers do tend to come loose, so a little adhesive from a glue stick will reattach them nicely.

After the repair is complete, this LBC55 is ready to for many more years of greeting guests to this home.