1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Question about horn hookup

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Old 09-11-2005, 04:30 AM
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Question about horn hookup

I have a question about hooking up a horn.

From the relay.... can someone explain how their horn is hooked up? I want to be sure I have it right. I am running a 6v positive ground system.

I currently have two wires running off of the relay to the horn posts. One from the middle terminal (shared with the battery hot lead wire), and the second from the top terminal (shared with the horn button wire).

Is this correct? Or should I be running from the bottom terminal (unshared) to one horn post, and running to ground from the second post on the horn?

Thanks to anyone who takes time to post.
 
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Old 09-11-2005, 05:09 AM
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If I remember correctly, the relay has three terminals (plus the case ground). One terminal gets the battery hot wire. One terminal goes to the horn button. The third terminal goes to both of the horns. You can run a single wire from the relay to one horn, and then to the other horn. The horns get their ground through their cases. Make sure the relay and horn cases have clean areas of contact with the body or frame where they are attached.
 
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Old 09-11-2005, 05:15 AM
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I have a single horn on my 50 F1. I will check the grounds on the horn and the relay.

Earl.... you are saying that only one wire runs to the horn off of the relay? What goes to the second post on the horn? My horn has two posts.
 
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Old 09-11-2005, 06:49 AM
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In the early years the horns had two terminals and didn't use a relay. one terminal was wired hot to the battery and the other to the horn button. I think it's a good idea to add a relay. One of the horn terminals (doesn't matter which one) gets wired to the left terminal of the relay and the other to ground.



Craig
 
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Old 09-11-2005, 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by BlueDolphin
I have a single horn on my 50 F1. I will check the grounds on the horn and the relay.

Earl.... you are saying that only one wire runs to the horn off of the relay? What goes to the second post on the horn? My horn has two posts.
Yup, only one wire goes to the horn(s) from the relay. The second terminal on your horn must be a ground. As Craig mentioned, some of the early horns did not get their ground through the horn case (my mistake). Craig also mentioned that it doesn't matter which horn terminal gets the wire from the relay, and which one is grounded.

Nice diagram Craig.
 
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Old 09-11-2005, 04:50 PM
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Hmmmm...

My horn is working with one lead coming off the ground from relay, and one lead coming off of the shared terminal on the relay that connects to the horn button.

From what it looks like.... I need to use the unused terminal on the relay (not share with the horn button).
 

Last edited by BlueDolphin; 09-11-2005 at 05:14 PM.
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Old 09-11-2005, 05:12 PM
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Hmmmmmmmm

Here is how I have the terminal wired.

One wire to center terminal from the battery.
One wire to bottom terminal (or right terminal) from the horn button.

The horn does not seem to work when I run a lead off of the the empty terminal on the relay (top or left terminal).

In otherwords.... the only way I get the horn to work is running from the center terminal of the relay to the horn (from battery). And then to share the same terminal on the relay with the horn button. Isn't this virtually bypassing the relay though?

This is a 6v POSITIVE ground system mind you.

Perhaps if I run a wire from the relay (use the empty terminal) to the horn. Then instead of connecting to the center terminal on the relay...... just run a wire from the horn to the chasis of the truck?
 
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Old 09-11-2005, 06:47 PM
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Ok....

Thanks guys..... got it.

I have one post of the horn running to body (grounded positive). The other post of the horn running to the empty terminal on the relay, per the above replies.

Seems to be working great.

All is good.
 
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