Northside Service Company has been an Authorized NuTone Service Center for 35 years and I specialize in the Service and Repair of NuTone Intercom Systems.
Our RU-vid Channel features videos showing many different problems with NuTone Intercom Systems, to aid our customers in having their NuTone Systems repaired.
If your looking for more detailed information about NuTone Intercom Systems, Visit our website: northsideforyourhome.squarespace.com
You can also email us: NSCOMPANY@MSN.COM
You can also call our office, which is open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Eastern Time. 925-743-8236
Hi lzbth: There are fewer and fewer compnaies and people who work on NuTone Intercom Systems than ever before. What level of person you need depends on what Systems you have and what the problems with it are - You can conatct us directly about the problems, we Do Not have a "data base" of companies, however many times the problems can be delt with by us - Chris nscompany@msn.com
Mine had the same exact issue with the awful loud buzzing, but I was able to buy the parts off Amazon and rebuild the power supply, and now it’s back to normal. But I have mine as a collectible item. I had somebody build a wooden box me so that I can fit it in there instead of the wall. I also have a switch on mine, so that it’s not on all the time and it will last longer.
Hi Stewie: Well Done of fixing your IM4006 - The typical life span of an IM4006 begins when it is first installed and usually it will be 25 years +/- before it requires any amount of refurbishment (very long-lasting, I think) Since yours seems to be used mostly as a radio, having a master power swicth is fine - For complete Systems, which inlcude use for the Intercom and Chime, turning the Syetm off is not usually practicle - Chris
This is an amazing video. Thanks so much for the detailed explanations. I cleaned everything as described, and now I have something interesting happening! When I press my doorbell for the 8 note chime, it plays notes 2,3,5,6,7,and 8. It never plays notes 1 and 4! Any thoughts on what might be causing this? Thanks again for the great video- it’s had stopped playing completely, so this is still an improvement.
Hi myfavoriteddrumgear: I would suspect the 1 of the 2 very small wires that comes from the #1 Solenoid have broken loose from where it was solder to the circuit board. It is also important to make sure that the #1 Plunger moves freely inside the Solenoid and that the Spring is inplace. Lastly, it is possible that 1 of the wipers on the Contact Rotor is missing/broken off or misaligned (this is the least likley cause for the problem) - Chris
I have a NuTone IM3303 . The unit has every red light on. The display lights up but is blank. Any ideas on where i should begin troubleshooting? Thank you.
Hiu Michael: The 2 most common causes for the problem you describe are: 1 - An improper reboot after a power outage or 2 - Damage from a power surge or lightening strike. The Only Thing you can do is try performing a Reset on the Master Station - This Video show how to do the Reset: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hJ7hSia0d7A.html If your IM3303 has lightening damage, it is not a do-it-yourself repair. You can contact us direlty is the Reset doesn't solve the problem - Chris nscompany@msn.com
Hi emmanuela: The Antenna should be run up to the attic (or as high as it is possible) then the arms on the antenna should be spread out and fastened to the rafters - Moving the arms of the antenna for best reeption is always a good idea - Chris
Hi James: That will works as well - I don't care for gell filled connectors, which are usually used to prevent corrosion - because they are messy when they need ot be removed - Chris
Hi Ruth: We have all sorts of NuTone Speaker Cones, including the Entrance Directory for the NuTone 478 Apartemtn Intercom System. You can contact us directly about the Speaker Cone - Chris nscompany@msn.com
Hola Chris!! Tengo el modelo IMA 3303, El mismo problema que explica en tu video. Hoy hice todo tal y como lo explicas. Solo logré que se escuchara el radio con mucha interferencia, no logré escuchar el intercom, ni la campana, sin embargo el circuito se activa. Que será?
Excellent video! Thanks for posting! My chime has similar plungers and cleaning them like this fixed it. One thing I didn't do is add the foam bits. Do you think this will cause any problems?
Hi robert: The foam cushions are there to reduce any noise that is made when the plungers are pushed back into the solenoids. This is a less issue on modern Chiem Bases with plastic solenoid caps. - Chris
Hands-free reply does not work on mine and I don’t hear the relay click I replaced the big capacitor on what I think is the power supply board The volume got better, but still no hands-free reply do you know what part could cause this?
Hi RBR: First, you need to understand that the IM3003 only has "Hands-Free Reply to the Master Station" - This means that when an Intercom Call is initiated from the Master Station - to a Remote Station - The reply from the Remote will be Hands-Free back to the Master - There is No Hands-Free Reply in any other circumstances. To have the Hands-Free Reply work as well as it can - the adjustments on the Syetms Must Be Setup Correctly - All of the Volume Controsl (everywhere) Must Be set to Maximum - The Program Volume on the IM3003 needs to be set to provide a "comfortable" listening level for the Radio - All of the Room-Control Swicthes need to be set to "Radio/Intercom" Finally - There isn't "just-one" componet that makes the Hands-Free Reply work. Think of it as a chain of componets that intergal to the Intercom-Control design, which is spread across 2 boards. Also, you have to conside the age of the IM3003 ( between 31 & 40 years old) circuits often do not work correctly simply due to their overall aging - In these cases, a complete rebuild is in order Chris
Everything works on mine, But the FM is a bit funny, only FM sounds low and distorted, but when I place my finger on a certain part on the FM board It sounds loud and clear. I also noticed that there is a wire pole where my finger touched i’m not sure if that’s some type of ground.
Hi Billy: Does your IM3303 have an Antenna connected to it? The Antenna lead is a Flat Twin-Lead Cable that's a milky-white color. On the end of the lead there's a white colored block-connector that slips down over the Antenna Pins on the main circuit board (next to the shiny chrome Tuner Box) The other possible issues can be cold solder joints in the Tuner cirucit (uncommon) or the alignment of the Tuner has drifted and your finger adds capacitance which helps-out some. Try touching the circuit board with a non-conductive plastic tool (no metal) and see what happens - Chris
@@northsideservicecompany3567 Thank you for your information, maybe that intercom is rather old. From Spain my country there're intercoms rather different, maybe they're more similar a telephone and in this link you have a intercom old with this style [ cloud10.todocoleccion.online/vintage/tc/2014/11/02/16/46004050.jpg ] even older than this intercom of your video, this intercom is about the 70s and it's a Golmar intercom, but in Spain there're intercoms similar to the american intercoms too, like this Fermax Fonoporta intercom [ upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Fonoporta_fermax.png ] even older than this intercom of this video about the 70s too.
The first tube removed is cracked. Sound still good. I think the pressure from the plastic insert eventually fatigues the brass. All of mine cracked the same but sounds are ok. Did soften it up as I have a small house.
Hi andy: The Brass Tubes do tend to crack over time - moving the cracks facing away from the plungers will help the sound and adjusting the "volume" (how hard the plngers strike the tubes) helps also - Chris
Thank you so much for educating me. My NuTone doorbell makes only one sound, flunk! I carefully took it apart, cleaned it and think I need new springs. Do you sell them?
Hi koppedea1: "flunk" isn't good. . . We have some Springs availablke, depending on exactly which Chime you have. It woul dbe best if your contacted us directly - Chris nscompany@msn.com
Hi Angi: So, we need to start with the basics - Your IMA303 is powered by a remotely mounted low-voltage Transformer (somewhere in the house or garage) You need to find the Transformer and measure the Voltage from it (it should be between 16.8 ~ 18.9 volts AC) If you can't find the Trasnformer, you can measure the voltage at the connection on the back of the IMA303 - where the 2-wires that come from the Trasnformer are connected to the power wires of the IMA303 - If there's No Power from the Transformer, the Trasnformer will need to be replaced (and you have to find out why the transformer failed) If there is power to the IMA303 - the next step would be to check the ON / OFF Switch on the back of the Volume Control (these do fail sometimes) There are 2 White Wires soldered to the Swicth - You can jumpper across these 2 connetions - bypassing the Switch to see if the IMA303 turns on Beyond these 2 things, anything else will require the Master Station be sent in for repair - Chris nscompany@msn.com
Used grocery twist tie wrapped around the hangar that goes into tube. Also drilled hole in plastic hanger and inserted paper clip. Both working for over two decades. My tubes are cracked like the one in the video so I turn crack away from solenoid to improve sound.
HI andy: If your Tubes have pressed in - recessed end caps - you can remove the end cap by dropping a wooden dowel down inside the tube (from the bottom) then flip the tub end-for-end (moving the crack to the bottom) then reinsert the end cap - Chris
I bought one of these new in the box from the closeout table at my local NuTone distributor, probably around 1990 or 91. I am just installing it this Summer, I didn't want to rush the job, had to let the unit age like a fine wine. Mine does not have the on off switch underneath, it has the NuTone model tag there and no hole in the case for a switch. Of course I'm a glutton for punishment, since I also have just about every other NuTone item installed: IMA-806 intercom system including the phone hookup which still works using Ooma, LAC-55 doorbell tied into the intercom, SA-2253 security system, the Food Center with every accessory including the slide out trays to hold them, round Heat-A-Ventalites in every bathroom, various vanity cabinets from their bath division, built in wall scales, build in magazine rack/toilet paper roll holder and probably more I've forgotten.
Hi user-mi4sr7vu3b: You have classically what used to be called "A whole house of NuTone". You have many of the very best item that NuTone aver made, especially the fold-down Scale and the bathroom "relaxation unit" . If your IMA806 is still working, be extra nice to it so it doesn't go South on you. . . I do miss the days when NuTone products were somethng special and people reall did desire them in their homes - It was simply "The Best of Times" and it was an honor to be involed with NuTone as both a Service Center and Distributor - Chris
@@northsideservicecompany3567 Hi Chris, yes I agree, at one time NuTone products were top of the line and added a custom finishing touch to the home. Yes my IMA-806 works fine, playing Sirius through it right now. Back in the day I started with the original 806, not the A version. That one didn't hold up too well. I sent it back to Red Bank Rd for service and they replaced it with the A version which has run fine now for 30 plus years. I also bought a spare NOS one and have tons of remotes in stock. One thing I'd like to ask, is for the scan of the HD-100 brochure. I tried to find it on your site but could not. I have all the brochures and catalogs from my items eras but don't have the HD-100 flyer you show in the video. Sincerely, Nick
I wired it as noted in the video. It worked for months. For some reason, all the sudden the chime stopped working. The camera still worked fine and I got notifications on my phone. I ordered a new Nest doorbell camera. Wired it exactly the same. Chime didn't work. Several weeks of frustration ensued and one out of 30 rings the chime, somehow would sound. I installed a dedicated transformer to the Nest Hello and that didn't help. (I had previously been using one of the 2 transformers in the Nutone main control box.) Finally, I checked the comments on here and found one that reminded the reader to "TURN ON" the CHIME ON/OFF selector on the Nest App. Problem solved and a beer was enjoyed. I suspect that either the app was updated and defaulted to "OFF" or I failed to notice the setting when I installed the new doorbell camera. Great video! I never would have been able to pull this off without your help.
Hi topco: Well Done! The settings in the app trip-up lots of people, it would be more helpful if the companies who make the Cameras provided decent documentaion instead of cartoony drawnings about what to do (just my take on it) - Chris
hello, i have nutone ISA445WH remote stations throughout the whole house and they all work perfectly fine except one. buttons all work fine but no sound from the speaker. any idea what the issue could be?
Hi jungko: There are s few possible reason your ISA445 doesn't play music. 1. The Room Control Switch on the Master Station is not set to "radio-intercom" - 2. There is a wiring problem between the Master Station and that ISA445 - 3. The Speaker Cone has failed in the ISA445 - 4. The Swicth Board in the ISA445 has a problem. - Or some combination of these problems To narrow down the posibilites - Do The Following: 1. Check the Room Control Swicth and make sure it's set to "Radio / Intercom" 2. Swap the non-working ISA445 with a working Station (from another room) - If the working station does not work in the non-working location, you probably have a wiring problem. If the non-working station does not work in it's new location, you have a Remote Station problem - which can be either a bad Speaker Cone or Swicth Board (or both) 3. Swap the Speaker Cones from the non-working and working stations - to see if that solves the problem 4. Same a step 3 , except swap the Switch Boards Wiring Problems between the IMA4406 and the Remote Station is to difficult to explain here - you can contact us directly about those steps - Chris nscompany@msn.com
Hi tunni13razo: I don't completely understand - Has the "Common" Terminal Connector been taken off the Circuit Board??? Or - is it something else??? - Chris
Have plastic hangers on my L42N D65H. Used paper clips and twist ties to replace broken hangars. Drilled broken remnant for paper clip and looped grocery twist tie around shank then reinstalled in tube. Has held up for 20+ years. My cover same as Lucy’s.
Hi hugh: Some of the difficulties with the IMA806 are from it not being a common model for repair - simply put, I'm not really used to working on them - Chris
The Edsel of radio-intercoms. If there are not many left in the world, it's doing the world a favor. Great job repairing something with so many problems.
Hi ronk: My dad had antique cars (Model T's and Model A's) I grew up going to auto shows and swap meets - Back then Edsel's were more common and not well though of - It seems that today they have become more "collectable" and as you said, rare, because most of they have been scrapped. I doubt that the IMA806 will ever achieve that staus. . . - Chris
10:40 Contacts maybe sulfurized bronze which is more elastic so less likely to loose tension. Aka spring tension bronze. I will defer to any machinist or metallurgist on this.
Hi Andy: It is unknown what type of material was used on the original Springs - Our replacement Springs are made from "Music Wire" or 302 Stainless Steel - Chris
Well, This IMA806 is finally finished - Yeah!!! It was a lot of work which included the Factory updates and modifications and in the end, it worked just like a IMA806 woule be expected to work. . . - Chris
Hi Mike: I was unaware that WD40 may such a cleaner, which seems to be a "contact cleaner" for use with electrical and electronic equipment - I have other such cleaners (which I rarely use) I prefer something less harsh and I'll stay with alcohol - Chris
Hey! Do you still operate this channel and monitor this video. I have questions about my customers IMA-3303 that I’m trying to repair for her instead of her ordering a new one
Hi wildy9033: Yes, I post a new Video about once a week - The IMA3303 was discontinued in 2010, so find a "new" unit is beyond difficult - You can can contect us directly about your customers System - Chris nscompany@msn.com
Troubleshooting ~ Troubleshooting and more Troubleshooting. Then some work gets going - then parts need to be ordered - However, progress is being made - Chris
Northside's relay connected an Amcrest doorbell cam with a chime module to a Nutone 3303 following the schematic in this video with no issues at all. Works perfectly. Something I wanted to do for a while, thanks for the relay and video.
Mine entire system was completely dead after a power outage. Not even the clock showing. This worked!!!! Your help saved me so much trouble and money. Thank you!
Hello i start watching your awesome videos. Really appreciate for sharing your knowledge . Now do you know how can i make work my ring video doorbell to be able to open remotely a standard door striker? do i need more electronics to make it work?. hope to hear from you soon. please let me know i want to order the relay but if i need something else before i place the order,thanks.
Hi fiesfor77: Well, I have sooooo many questions for you. Here are a few, to begin with: 1. Will the Ring Camera be installed by itself or will it be connected to either a Doorbell or Intercom System with a buit-in Chime? 2. Does the Door Release need to unlock automatically whenever the button on the Ring Camera is pressed? Please let me know Chris
@@northsideservicecompany3567 The ring video doorbell is going to be installed by itself, there is a standard nutone doorbell system, 1 doorbell at front gate, chine and speaker and open button striker release inside the house. Which is not working anymore. I was thinking to use the relay that i saw in your video to make it work. But i would like to be able to grant access to my visits trough my ring app in my cellphone. When im not at home. Is this something that can be done whit your electronic knowledge?
@@fiesfor77 Unfortunately not. Unless the App has a "Door Relaeas" feature designed into it, there no way to have this work. You might try contacting the Ring to see if they have any information about how to make this work through their App - Chris
Yep their imperfect straw really sucks. I attach a hyperdermic needle to it so I can squirt it into the small holes in pots. The old flow control was a great idea so you didn't waste so much product, but that's long gone. By the time your finished doing a large mixing console you got fluid dripping off everything no matter how careful you are. Very frustrating now!
Hi ronk: What? - It's got that classic 80's style thing going on. . . Gotta love the faux burled walnut - The black masters looked very classy. - So Modern yet sleek - Chris
Well, what can I say . . . I haven't had a NuTone IM / IMA806 in the shop for a very long time - It brings back sooooo many memories (not all good either) It's such a troublesome model to work on - Parts 2 is underway - Chris
Hello sir, I'm working on a '96 nutone westminster chime. We had some components short and go bad when a wall paper guy dripped some water on it. Any chance you might have a schematic for the board? If not maybe we could organize a repairt. Thanks for any help you could provide!!
Is it a good idea to have the “volume this speaker” slider set to max and have “ volume all speakers” slider set to low at all times? I recently found out that when it’s set like that the intercom is loud & clear when speaking and the radio is at a decent not so loud volume. But if I keep it like this will it damage the amplifier or anything else?
Hi pl9og8my6d: Here is what you need to understand: "Volume to all Speakers" is the Gain Control for the Amplifier. It sets the amount of power that the amplifier is making and is available to all of the Remote Stations Having all of the Volume Controls set to "Maximum" including the "Volume this Speaker" allows each Station to use all of the power that the Amplifier is making So - You have an Amplifier that is making enough power - for the listening level you want - and the Remote Stations are using all of the available power - This is ideal (see the Note below) Also: Since the Volume Controls are set to Maximum - they are not reducing the volume of your voice as you speak into the station when using the Intercom functions (a volume control set to 50% of maximum, reduce the volume of your voice by 50%) NOTE: If you have the Gain Control set to "Maximum" the Amplifer is making all of the Power it possible can (8.5 watts) If then the Remote Stations are set to a low-volume (usually 20% of maximum) they are using only a tiny bit of the power the amplifer is making. This Is Completely backwards of how it should be setup This brings up the question - what happens to the extra 80% of the Amplifiers Power, that isn't being used by the Remote Stations???? The Answer is - It turns into Heat in the Amplifer and everyone should know that when "Heat" and "Amplifer" are using in the same sentence, it's Very Bad. Over Time it will damaged the Amplifier and cause what's commonly refered to as a "Blown Amp" which is an amplifier that has an underlying "bassy" sound that you cannot adjust away - Chris
Hi, I have one I bought brand new years ago and I decided to open it up so I can install it in my house. I hooked it up to power, and everything works as it should, but I noticed most of the time when I see a master station in someone’s house it always has a light switch next to it. Am I supposed to run the transformer off the light switch when installing it? Also where could I buy the proper wire to run the remote stations?
Hi Roger: It is not common or necessary to have on / off light switch wired to the Transformer of the IM2003. The IM2003 is designed to be powered up 24 / 7 so it is ready to use from any part of the house at any time. The IM2003 Requires NuTone IW3 or IWA3 or IWA3UL - 3-conductor intercom cable - Using any other type of wire may cause an imbalance in the system and the Intercom functions will wil work correctly - To quote the person who trained me, he would say "wire is cheap and labor is expensive" don't try using the worng wire, you won't know if it causes a problen unitl you try the system for the first time. SInce the NuTone cable is no longer made (since 2010) eBay wuld probably be a good source for it - Chris
Hi ellen: The These Door Stations have been discontinued for over 10 years. The Update Frames only come in White, we painted them to match the Door Station. We do have access to the original IS69 Door Stations, which were available between 1986 ~ 2010. You can contact us directly about these - Chris nscompany@msn.com
