Truck horns, which ones???
#16
Semi's use pumps that are gear driven and attached directly to the motor. Some smaller class straight trucks use belt driven compressors. If you want an engine driven one, the best bet would be to go with something like this --> Project Jeep CJ-7 - Onboard Air System York AC Compressor Conversion
#18
Yeah, hornblasters has some good stuff.
Just because you brought up compressors I will bring this up.... Using your A/C compressor plumbed into your air tank would work fine. Just put a toggle switch on it to turn it on and off. Its belt driven and pumps air. I did it for a while but since its a 22 year old compressor it seized up eventually and I got a 100% duty cycle compressor from hornblasters. I have a tank off a semi which means its pretty big (im not sure how to determine the volume?) but I need to get a second compressor to make it perfect. If you stick with a smaller 2 gallon tank or so you will be in great shape.
And as they said, trumpets are cheaper at a truck junkyard. Get the compressor from HB and even the tank, look elsewhere for a horn(s). They do have some for sale but I think theyre kinda pricey and I cant vouch for them personally.
Just because you brought up compressors I will bring this up.... Using your A/C compressor plumbed into your air tank would work fine. Just put a toggle switch on it to turn it on and off. Its belt driven and pumps air. I did it for a while but since its a 22 year old compressor it seized up eventually and I got a 100% duty cycle compressor from hornblasters. I have a tank off a semi which means its pretty big (im not sure how to determine the volume?) but I need to get a second compressor to make it perfect. If you stick with a smaller 2 gallon tank or so you will be in great shape.
And as they said, trumpets are cheaper at a truck junkyard. Get the compressor from HB and even the tank, look elsewhere for a horn(s). They do have some for sale but I think theyre kinda pricey and I cant vouch for them personally.
#19
Ok, I'm really liking that kit, only thing is it doesn't say what size hose they include? I guess thats trivial anyways since I can just buy some bigger hose w/ different fittings.
Is there a way I can wire my horn up to the steering wheel button? If I do that, I'll just put a switch on my dash to change it from the regular horn to the air horn but both activated by the horn button. It just instinct to push that and when I need the horn most, I'll push the horn instead of hitting a switch so I'd rather have the air horns hooked up to my steering wheel. That possible?
Is there a way I can wire my horn up to the steering wheel button? If I do that, I'll just put a switch on my dash to change it from the regular horn to the air horn but both activated by the horn button. It just instinct to push that and when I need the horn most, I'll push the horn instead of hitting a switch so I'd rather have the air horns hooked up to my steering wheel. That possible?
#20
Yup, its possible. I did it because I eventually wired my air horn into my aftermarket car alarm so since I had the electric switch anyhow I wired it that way.
Relay under hood to OEM horn wires, use a toggle to switch between 87 (factory) and 87a (air). (I assume you understand how a relay works? no offense.)
Relay under hood to OEM horn wires, use a toggle to switch between 87 (factory) and 87a (air). (I assume you understand how a relay works? no offense.)
#21
I got lucky. I found a guy who was junking a mid 90's Dodge Caravan that was handicapped equipped. It had a 12 volt air pump in it and the guy told me I could keep it for moving the van off his lot for the junk man. So if you go to a junk yard, look for a van like that. They usually have air bags in the back so they need pumps. I just haven't installed mine yet haha. That's better than those expensive pumps you gotta buy new
#22
Yup, its possible. I did it because I eventually wired my air horn into my aftermarket car alarm so since I had the electric switch anyhow I wired it that way.
Relay under hood to OEM horn wires, use a toggle to switch between 87 (factory) and 87a (air). (I assume you understand how a relay works? no offense.)
Relay under hood to OEM horn wires, use a toggle to switch between 87 (factory) and 87a (air). (I assume you understand how a relay works? no offense.)
#23
I got lucky. I found a guy who was junking a mid 90's Dodge Caravan that was handicapped equipped. It had a 12 volt air pump in it and the guy told me I could keep it for moving the van off his lot for the junk man. So if you go to a junk yard, look for a van like that. They usually have air bags in the back so they need pumps. I just haven't installed mine yet haha. That's better than those expensive pumps you gotta buy new
#24
But, a relay is an electrical switch. There are numbers on a relay: 85, 86, 30, 87. (87a) which is not always there but you can get relays with it. Newer relays are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and they work the same way.
85 (2)- Battery or ignition Power
86 (1)- Ground (switched) This makes it easier to just run a wire in to a switch and ground it instead of looping a power back to battery.
30 (3)- Battery/Fused
87 (5)- accessory (air horn)
87a (4)- accessory (OEM horn)
Basically with the relay off (86 toggle switch off) the relay is not functioning and will default to 87a. When you turn it on, the relay will activate and switch to 87 and you will have your air horn circuit.
Sorry, im having a hard time visualizing it. Im pretty sure thats right though... I havent messed with one in a while. So basically when you energize 85 and 86 electromagnetism closes the contacts between 30 and 87 (or 87a) creating a circuit. With this setup you can use low amperage to turn on the switch and it will step it up and put out higher amperage which helps save in bulkiness of wires.
Sorry if this confuses you.. You can just wire it directly or however you would do it but when you know how relays work you will never go back, haha. It keeps everything contained really well and if youre like me and really obsessive compulsive about wiring messes, theyre godly.
#29
Ok I think I'm leaning more towards this. It seems to be the same as the other kit I posted but just a 325c compressor instead of a 400c one. Would I need to purchase a electric valve or do most air horns have them on them already?
#30
Ok I think I'm leaning more towards this. It seems to be the same as the other kit I posted but just a 325c compressor instead of a 400c one. Would I need to purchase a electric valve or do most air horns have them on them already?