Changing the doorbell (mute switch)

Accomodation, House and Garden
1
Hello, I am renting a flat with Livit in Zurich Wiedikon, it's OK but the appliances are kind of old. Nothing that bothers me too much, but recently we had some incidents of sporadic nighttime disturbance, and I would like a switch on my doorbell to mute it *completely* when I want. I'm talking about the intercom at the entrance of the building mainly, but it would be awesome if the door bell could be muted as well. In other apartments I had lived before, the doorbell panel inside the apartment had a mechanical switch that could mute the bell, but not this one (see attached pictures, rotated 90 degrees because of resolution limits). I could ask Livit to change it and cover the expenses, but 1) I'm not sure they'll agree, and 2) even if they do, it's gonna take forever. On the other hand, I'm sure if I do it myself nobody will complain (I had previous experience with Livit on similar little home improvements).

So, how to do it? Any experience? Do you think it's possible to, I don't know, shop around on Galaxus and replace it? But how about the color of the cables? Shall I rather DYI by drilling a hole and adding a switch myself?

Thanks for any useful reply

2
I think that as long as you put back the old intercom when you leave, you can install your own, should count more as appliance update (like a light fixture) than cabling intervention.

I am not sure if you need written permission to do so, legally speaking - probably yes.

The colors of the cables are IMHO the issue for both solutions, replacement and DIY switch. You should search for the datasheet of the current doorbell, and make sure the new one has the same form factor and functionalities. I am looking into this myself, because the current buzzer is just too loud and scary. I haven't found a nice diagram yet and put it to low priority...

Maybe the easiest and cheapest solution is really to drill a small hole in the plastic cover and apply a small switch. Make sure you pick up the right cable and that the switch is appropriate for that voltage, a multimeter will be your best friend here. Also try to get a replacement cover on Ricardo for when you'll leave.

Another thing that popped into my mind: is there a legal requirement for doorbells to not be mutable, e.g. because of possible emergencies?

3

I can't imagine, as there is no legal requirement to have a doorbell or intercom in the first place. I know quite a few people who live in older buildings with no bell or intercom system whatsoever. The worst are friends who live on the 11th floor of such a building: when you arrive you have to call them, and they have to come down in the lift or stairs to let you in. The front door can only be opened from the outside with a physical key, and from the inside you have to turn a bolt to open the door. There is no option to access the building using a code. Not very convenient...

*And I know for your average EF-er who makes 120,000.- CHF per year the concept of having only key access to a building is horrifying and very third-world, but plenty of lower-rent places that were built 40 years ago or more don't have any remote or electronic means of opening the front door.

4
Just a necropost-update on this: I DIY-ed a switch in the doorbell and works perfectly, basically I drilled a hole and made a bypass on the power line of the bell with a cheap switch. Easy-peasy!