Horn Wiring
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Elder User
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From: Highland Village, TX
Horn Wiring
Hey All Happy 4th!
Trying to wire up my horn today, horn works by running pos and ground direct to battery. Now I am trying to get it working with a relay. Can anyone tell me if the horn button completes the pos or ground connection?
Thanks
Trying to wire up my horn today, horn works by running pos and ground direct to battery. Now I am trying to get it working with a relay. Can anyone tell me if the horn button completes the pos or ground connection?
Thanks
Cargo Master
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From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
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From: Poway, Ca.
Well, if he's running battery power off the "BATT" post of the starter solenoid - as he should be, then when the generator isn't turning he's pulling megaamps from the battery to the horns throught the starter solenoid. But I would venture to say that the clicking may be the horn relay.
The Horn button completes the ground for the horn relay. The relay then closes and power flows to the horns from the relay.
If you have a 6 volt system then the 6 volt relay and 6 volt horns should be fine. If you have converted to 12 volt, then the horns will still work but you need to change to a 12 volt relay and relocate 2 wires.
Take a look at my relay diagrams at this link:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-box-wire.html
Good luck
The Horn button completes the ground for the horn relay. The relay then closes and power flows to the horns from the relay.
If you have a 6 volt system then the 6 volt relay and 6 volt horns should be fine. If you have converted to 12 volt, then the horns will still work but you need to change to a 12 volt relay and relocate 2 wires.
Take a look at my relay diagrams at this link:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-box-wire.html
Good luck
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Highland Village, TX
Well got a horn working, thanks all. Not the horn I wanted unfortunately all my trial and error seems to have fried the beautiful 57 F100 horn I bought on ebay. Now I have the 'Freeway Blaster' from O'Reilly's groan, I hate normal.
Anyway found it worked best without any horn relay just straight battery power and neg ground from the horn itself. Not sure why this would cause an issue? Don't think I'll have any power draw without the ground complete.
Anyway found it worked best without any horn relay just straight battery power and neg ground from the horn itself. Not sure why this would cause an issue? Don't think I'll have any power draw without the ground complete.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,641
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From: Poway, Ca.
Well wait a sec,,,,,,,,your 57 horn may not be burned out. If it has a tone adjustment on it, it may just be out of tune. On my 51 trumpets, I had to retune (change the points gap) on all FOUR of my horns when I switched them to 12 volt. They wouldn't sound at all until I did that.
Ross is very definately right. You do NOT want to engage the horns without a relay. The relays are designed to handle the high amperage the horns draw and th ebuttons are not - which is exactly why there is a relay in the first place.
If you hit the horn button while the lights are on or there is another reason for you generator/alternator to be putting out amps, chances are very good that you won't necessarily burn out the horn button, you will weld it together in the on position - then you are going to start frying stuff.
Ross is very definately right. You do NOT want to engage the horns without a relay. The relays are designed to handle the high amperage the horns draw and th ebuttons are not - which is exactly why there is a relay in the first place.
If you hit the horn button while the lights are on or there is another reason for you generator/alternator to be putting out amps, chances are very good that you won't necessarily burn out the horn button, you will weld it together in the on position - then you are going to start frying stuff.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
The 1957 horn is 12 volt. Prior to 1956, the horns are 6 volt.
In fact...
B8AZ13832B .. Hi Pitch Horn
and...
B8AZ13833B .. Low Pitch Horn
Were used on most passenger cars/trucks from 1956 thru at least 1979.
As Julie mentiond, these horns have a nut you can turn to adjust the tone.
In fact...
B8AZ13832B .. Hi Pitch Horn
and...
B8AZ13833B .. Low Pitch Horn
Were used on most passenger cars/trucks from 1956 thru at least 1979.
As Julie mentiond, these horns have a nut you can turn to adjust the tone.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Highland Village, TX
Well wait a sec,,,,,,,,your 57 horn may not be burned out. If it has a tone adjustment on it, it may just be out of tune. On my 51 trumpets, I had to retune (change the points gap) on all FOUR of my horns when I switched them to 12 volt. They wouldn't sound at all until I did that.
Ross is very definately right. You do NOT want to engage the horns without a relay. The relays are designed to handle the high amperage the horns draw and th ebuttons are not - which is exactly why there is a relay in the first place.
If you hit the horn button while the lights are on or there is another reason for you generator/alternator to be putting out amps, chances are very good that you won't necessarily burn out the horn button, you will weld it together in the on position - then you are going to start frying stuff.
Ross is very definately right. You do NOT want to engage the horns without a relay. The relays are designed to handle the high amperage the horns draw and th ebuttons are not - which is exactly why there is a relay in the first place.
If you hit the horn button while the lights are on or there is another reason for you generator/alternator to be putting out amps, chances are very good that you won't necessarily burn out the horn button, you will weld it together in the on position - then you are going to start frying stuff.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
the horn sucks a TON of amperage (power) to operate.. the tiny button contact and the small wire up the column really can't take the abuse..
So, a relay is used to shunt all that drain onto something that CAN handle the load.
the button just closes the relay circuit, the power flows THRU the relay..
on the relay are 4 terminals.
87/30 are the device (horn) and power leads.
85/86 are the relay control circuit leads.. one is power, one it ground.
so when 85 gets grounded, the relay closes and power flows from 87 to 30.
Sam
So, a relay is used to shunt all that drain onto something that CAN handle the load.
the button just closes the relay circuit, the power flows THRU the relay..
on the relay are 4 terminals.
87/30 are the device (horn) and power leads.
85/86 are the relay control circuit leads.. one is power, one it ground.
so when 85 gets grounded, the relay closes and power flows from 87 to 30.
Sam
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
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From: Poway, Ca.
Ok there is lots of good info in this post but it's all a little piecemeal - lets put it together.
You mentioned that the horns work fine until you tried to hook them to the relay. So, OK the horns work - hold that thought.
You mentioned you heard (your starter solenoid) clicking when you hooked up the horns to the relay. Ok, even on my truck sometimes when the truck is not running (ie alternator providing good stepped up amps and higher voltage) the horns will not sound the relay just "grinds/clicks" I know this is horrible to say but it's just a thud when the button is pushed.
Honestly, I think your components are all ok - maybe your relay needs to be replaced - and you need to make sure it is wired correctly - good CLEAN contacts. But, also maybe you need to check it with the truck running and the generator/alternator providing some good clean power. Spray some WD-40 down in the throats too.
There is no greater horny feeling than hearing that sucker sound and seeing that very first big rust brown cloud blow out of the horn. Stick with it, play with it, I think it will work and be ok.
You mentioned that the horns work fine until you tried to hook them to the relay. So, OK the horns work - hold that thought.
You mentioned you heard (your starter solenoid) clicking when you hooked up the horns to the relay. Ok, even on my truck sometimes when the truck is not running (ie alternator providing good stepped up amps and higher voltage) the horns will not sound the relay just "grinds/clicks" I know this is horrible to say but it's just a thud when the button is pushed.
Honestly, I think your components are all ok - maybe your relay needs to be replaced - and you need to make sure it is wired correctly - good CLEAN contacts. But, also maybe you need to check it with the truck running and the generator/alternator providing some good clean power. Spray some WD-40 down in the throats too.
There is no greater horny feeling than hearing that sucker sound and seeing that very first big rust brown cloud blow out of the horn. Stick with it, play with it, I think it will work and be ok.