door bell , detect activation

[flipper_md]

Hello all

here I come with my very low skills in electronics, to learn stuff that my brain can't compute

I have installed a doorbell downstair, but it doesnt ring loud enought. So I taugh I would make a clever doorbell chime/lights with a PIC brain for upstair, as I don't really wan't to hear a loud thing all the time.

So I extended a wire upstair, thinking I could tap into to signal serially just adding a resistor(it's 12v). uhhh.

http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/atta...1&d=1201800699

But then I realized I would never get anything from that setup, unless I would tap into the line serially with a relays.

So I wonder know, is there a *simple*, electronic way(else than a relay) to get a 5v signal from that setup??
Some kind of ghost current detection?

thanks to the knowedgeables!

Dom