Air Horn Experts

[RHARVEY]

I have the horns mounted under the truck, the air lines to the compressor and tank. All I need to do is complete the power to the compressor and also the solenoid.

What I need is some confirmation on how I have it planned to wire in the solenoid that activates the horns. The idea that I have is the cut into the stock horn wire and connect it to a switch inside the cab. The purpose of this switch is to make the circuit going to the airhorns hot and will work with the stock horns. When I am in town or dont want the airhorns to work... I flip the switch and it breaks the circuit to the solenoid.

What you think??????



Rick

 

[Casey Ray]

Why don't you get your power from the stock horns and run a wire into the cab for the solenoid ground? That way both sets of horns work through the steering wheel when the air horns are grounded and only the stock horns work when the ground circuit is open. I ran mine this way so far so good, but I went a step further and disconnected the stock horns so that I can turn off the air horns at night and not have any horns blaring if the alarm goes off, been there done that. I also had a problem of the false alarm so my neighbors were pretty @#$% with air horns going off.

 

[John - K5AWO]

I agree with Hoof Hearted. I would get the hot wire from the horn mounting. Cleaner install.

 

[RHARVEY]

OK... . let me try to explain the way I understand what you said. . When it comes to doing the wiring side of things. . I am slooooooooow.

So... just run the hot side of the stock horns to the + side of the solenoid and then run a wire from switch inside the cab to the (-) side if the solenoid. This does make sense to only run ground instead of hot thru the switch.

I wouldnt have a problem with the alarm because it does not use the stock horns. . it has its own speaker.

I am going to do the compressor the same way... I will run the ground wire into the cab and connect it also to a switch just incase I need to override the pressure shutoff valve. There is one thing that I will add is a small light to show me when the compressor is running and also when the air horns are online. . and ready to scare the ... ... out of somebody

One more thing. . where would be a good 'key on' circuit to hook into for the compressor???? I thought about running it directly to the battery but if the air tank drops pressure overnight. . I dont want the compressor running during the night and taking the batteries out.

Once I get this system perfected. . my wife is already after me to get a horn setup on her truck



Rick

 

[Thomas]

. . . where would be a good 'key on' circuit . . . "



The power to the cigar lighter is key-on. Fuse 15 (20 a. ) in the Junction Block or the red/orange wire to the lighter recepticle.

 

[RHARVEY]

Cool!



Thanks

Rick

 

[Casey Ray]

Rick,



I have the compressor on a switch as well, mounted to the battery, but I just might move that to a "key on" circuit. I am sitting here trying to think of something I've wired into a "key on" circuit. You can use a "fuse tap" or ACCESS-A-FUSE or TAPA CIRCUIT



I've got my gauges on "key on" circuits, but don't remember which wire I tied into. If you have a "light tester" you can find a hot wire w/key on with no problem.





Casey

 

[RHARVEY]

Casey,



I just checked the Pep Boys website and found the Tapa a circuit. . That looks like the way I will go. . Also these are the mini fuse taps.

I wonder if I can tie into the horn circuit this way instead of doing a wire splice on the horn wire???? Wouldnt it work the same way as doing the splice. I will still break the ground with the toggle switch...



Rick

 

[John - K5AWO]

Ground side wiring:



This is preferable because IF any shorts developed in the cab side of the wiring, the only ill effect would be a lot of horn noise. That would get your attention and you could pull the fuse.



If the hot wire is run thru to the cab, and a short develops- there is potential of "smoke" and not from diesel fuel.



You have it right. Hot off the horn to solenoid, ground side of solenoid to switch. Switch to ground.

 

[Casey Ray]

Rick,



You will have to splice into the original horn circuit for the air horns to work via the center of your steering wheel. By adding a fuse tap on the fuse that powers the original horns would only supply a constant power supply to the solenoid, just as you can tap the center of your steering wheel and activate the original horns w/o the ignition key being on. Accessing the horn wires was a bit of a pain as I tied into them where they meet the horn, if I remember correctly I couldn't get both hands in a once, I might of even removed the battery to gain access. I used a scotchlok to make the connections.



Casey

 

[RHARVEY]

Casey. .



I knew that was what you were going to say... Those horns are hard to get to.

When we bought my wifes truck. . there was a Scotch lock on the lp wire to fire off a push pump. When I took the push pump off. . I didnt realize that there was a tap on the lp wire. Over a period of a few months there was enough vibration that caused the Scotch Loc to cut completely thru the lp wire. . So broke wire means NO FUEL PRESSURE...

It took me about an hour to repair the wire and get the truck back on the road. If I have to. . I will cut the wire completely and use butt connectors to splice into the circuit...



Hey since you are just over the big hill from me... want to take a drive and show me how to wire it up



Rick

 

[Casey Ray]

Rick,



I wanted to solder my connection, my preferred method, but the space just wasn't there for me, guess my hands are too big. Was enough of a pain to get the scotchlok on there. I'd be happy to help you out, show you my setup, maybe give you some ideas. How much of a hurry are you? Are you going to the BBQ on the 12th maybe we can do it then? I've got limited time this Saturday, maybe you can drive up to my place and we can do it there, save me some drive time. Sat evening, wife is throwing a party for her work, many females, they'll be hitting the jaccuzzi, I'm the desinated drinker and BBQ'er.



Since all we'll have to do is wire it up, shouldn't take much time at all. You'll spend more time finding a place to put your switches and lights.



PM me and we can set something up.



Casey

 

[knewman]

if you are putting train horns may want to listen to them on a ball valve verses a solenoid with the ball valve you can feather the horns to make sound better just my opinion used to have train horns on 18 wheeler.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Originally posted by knewman

if you are putting train horns may want to listen to them on a ball valve verses a solenoid with the ball valve you can feather the horns to make sound better just my opinion used to have train horns on 18 wheeler.

You mean like this?



#ad

 

[knewman]

that works also make a chrome one just for this saw on friends pete at christmas he bought at jackson ms. peterbilt probaly give them a call and get vendor name or have them ship to you also have chrome train horns ava. lots better than were we used to have to get them

 

[Got Smoke?]

Man I really miss my 24" grover! :{ It commanded respect! Told a few people what I thought 'bout 'em too! :-laf



I need to get it installed on my new truck soon! Oo.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Originally posted by knewman

that works also make a chrome one just for this saw on friends pete at christmas he bought at jackson ms. peterbilt probaly give them a call and get vendor name or have them ship to you also have chrome train horns ava. lots better than were we used to have to get them

That valve works like a real locomotive valve because it is one.....



#ad

 

[knewman]

Yo Hoot thats so COOOOOL



Last truck i drove with them on it people would ask where you get those? i always said off of an ICE CREAM TRUCK!!!! Really the owner of the truck bought them from a guy thats probably in jail because of doing such things. That brings me to my question is there a place where we can get them legally.





Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[RHARVEY]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100716&perpage=15&pagenumber=2



The above link shows where I mounted my horns. .



The system is plumbed with 3/8" lines and fittings. The compressor is a Hadley that is suppose to supply 150 psi which should be fine if it can pump up the air tank that I have to mount on the frame.

All I need to do now is wire in the pressure switches and the mount the tank. . and heat up the compressor. Also I need to mount my air pressure gauge to the tunnel right next to my trans temp gauge.

My buddy has a set of the Air Chimes that I wanted but I could get them away from him. That is another project of helping him mount them on his 97 Peterbilt.

Being the innocent people that we are. . I know that our air horns are only used incase of an emergency. And they wont be used to frighten ladies that just might be sitting at a stop light putting on makeup. . Oh no we wouldnt do that would we... .

Yes



Rick

 

[knewman]

on the pete left front batt. box is easiest and loudest then tee into hand valve and put ball valve we also used to put them under the sleeper at a 45 so the cars would get a loud blast had a set stolen off of a buddys tk that were mounted to cross-member under 5th wheel good luck