Electric bell (6 V) · Exterior view
  1. 1Bell (chrome dome)
  2. 2Armature (spring iron)
  3. 3Striker
  4. 4Coils (electromagnet)
  5. 5Terminal screws
Metal bell, hammer, coil and two terminals
Bell diameter ≈ 50–75 mm; coil and hammer on the base (depends on model)
Outputs

Electric bell (6 V)

In simple terms
What is this?

A small hammer that strikes by itself. Electricity pulls the hammer, when it hits the bell the connection breaks, and the spring brings it back.

What is it for?

This loop repeats continuously; it makes a rattling sound like a doorbell.

Where do you see it?

In old-style doorbells.

How do you spot it?

A metal bell with a coil and a hammer beside it, all fixed to a base.

Caution:

Do not mix it up with a buzzer; a coil draws a lot of current, so never supply it directly from a microcontroller pin.

Technical definition

An electric bell is an electromechanical sound element made of a coil, a moving hammer and a breaker contact. When the coil pulls the hammer, it strikes the bell and the contact opens; when the current stops, the spring pulls it back and the contact closes again. With a DC supply this cycle repeats continuously.

Power supply6 V DC
Current≈0.2–0.5 A
MechanismInductor coil + hammer + contact breaker
Schematic symbol Same in IEC and ANSI

IEC 60617: the drawing style used in Türkiye and Europe.

Pins 2
1Coil supply (a)One end of a 6 V low-voltage circuita
2Return terminal (b)Return through the breaker contact; a bare coil has no polarityb
Features typical
Power supply
6 V DC
Current
≈0.2–0.5 A (depends on model)
Power
≈1.2–3 W
Contact
Opens and closes during vibration
Sound
The hammer strikes the metal bell
Driving
A transistor or relay rated for the current
Surge protection
Diode / RC snubber as the manufacturer specifies
Example part
6 V DC self-interrupting training bell
Common mistakes
Mistaking it for a buzzerA bell makes sound with a mechanical hammer; it does not need an audio-frequency signal like a passive piezo.
Driving directly from a pinThe coil draws hundreds of mA. Use a driver rated for the current and a separate supply.
Tampering with the breaker at randomWrong contact adjustment can lock the hammer. Spike suppression also affects release speed; follow the manufacturer’s wiring.

Test with a multimeter

Test whether this part is good with the multimeter on the measurement screen.

Take a measurement
Where it is used
6 V doorbell experimentElectromagnet representationExamining the breaker contact cycle
Related lessons
Driving a relay and the flyback diode
Module 4 · Diode and transistorsoonSwitching with a transistor
Module 4 · Diode and transistorsoonSound with a buzzer
Module 5 · Sensors and outputssoon
Try it in the Lab