Air Horn

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Oct 15, 2011 | 12:53 PM

#16

william_04_x

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Joined: Nov 2007

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I have relay controlled by a switch on the dash that will send the factory horn signal to either the factory horn, or solenoid for the air horns. Best setup IMO.

Oct 29, 2011 | 03:34 PM

#17

countryboy73703

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Joined: Mar 2011

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question.. I'm doing the air horn option as well, how ever, I'm just going to leave my stock horn in place but not wired up, mostly cause I don't feel like taking the fender off and everything else needed to get to it, SO... I want to just cut the wires and wire them to the new horn set up, but I can't find in my haynes manual the wire colors for the horn so that i can find them and tap into them.. and idea where I can find these wires and what the colors are so that i can tap them... thanks in advance..

Oct 29, 2011 | 08:38 PM

#18

A/Ox4

Thread Starter

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Joined: Aug 2009

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From: Missouri

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryboy73703

They run along the passanger fender inside the engine compartment. Not sure on the colors.

Jan 5, 2012 | 05:21 PM

#19

Alex52096

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Joined: Jan 2012

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jc8825

I plan on adding an 'air horn' when I get some money. I am going a different route. I am going to buy a Whelen siren with two of the 120dB sirens. I will probably never use the siren, but will use the horn a lot.

Not Legal at all. The 5-0 has no way to tell if your using it or not unless they see you doing it. If they do pull you over for a different reason and see the siren, your going to get nailed for impersonation regardless if they saw you use it or if you have ever used it before. Just something to think about..

Jan 6, 2012 | 03:00 AM

#20

newfordy

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Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 467

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From: Central Callifornia

Quote:

Originally Posted by william_04_x

I have relay controlled by a switch on the dash that will send the factory horn signal to either the factory horn, or solenoid for the air horns. Best setup IMO.

Yes, relays are the way to go.
On my F150 with air horns they are set up with 3 switches on the panel below instrument cluster. All run relays so I only have to run switch to common ground with only one hot wire through firewall.
1st toggle switch operates the master power relay, ignition enabled to keep compressor from running when vehicle is off
2nd toggle switch operates a relay to toggle between OEM horn switch and push button switch to open solenoid air valve.
3rd push button switch operates solenoid valve when enabled.
There is a 4th relay that taps into OEM horn power to operate solenoid valve.

Relay #2 defaults system to air horns without running compressor when ignition is off. Pressing OEM panic button will remotely honk air horns until air is exhausted, then to electric horns.(great for getting the neighbors cat out from under the truck) a bit much... i know.

Jan 6, 2012 | 03:38 AM

#21

A/Ox4

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From: Missouri

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex52096

Wrong. In fact the exact opposite. If they cant PROVE you used the siren on a public road they cant do anything about it. Your truck is yours to do what ever you want to it because in theory you could drive it only on private property, so therefor they cant tell you what to and not to do to your truck. They CAN however tell you what they dont want on their roads.

Jan 6, 2012 | 06:16 AM

#22

shorebird

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Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 11,537

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From: Long Beach, Ms.

Legal or not is not the question.
I added a air horn to my tow truck.
There is a switch that I use to energize a relay closing the circuit to the solenoid valve in the pressure line.
When in the off position a press of the horn button in the steering wheel pad only activates the OEM horn.
In the on position power is allowed to pass through the relay to the solenoid valve when the horn button is pressed.
On = both horns
Off = OEM horn

The compressor is wired to a pressure switch in the air tank via a relay.
It is ignition dependent.
When the pressure switch calls for power it activates the relay allowing power to be supplied to the compressor.
If the ignition is off there is no power to the relay to close it.

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Jan 6, 2012 | 12:40 PM

#23

Shake-N-Bake

Post Fiend

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 6,096

Likes: 26

From: Mesa AZ

Trey,
My F450 has a kit similar to this one from Hadley
Hadley

In my case I am using a different compressor because the truck has air ride suspension and air ride fifth wheel hitch but the basic installation would be the same. I have a toggle switch that runs to a relay for power to the compressor with a pressure switch to shut off the compressor when the tank is filled. Then I have a momentary switch that controls a solenoid dump valve that allows air to the horns.

Hope this helps.