Horn issue
 

Have a 30 coupe with a 6 volt generator. When the engine is not running the horn works fine. When the engine is running it also works OK.
Turn on the headlights and the horn barely sounds at all.
Wondering if I should run another wire direct from the battery??

Dave Eddie

Re: Horn issue
 

Does your ammeter show discharge with the lights on??

Bob

Re: Horn issue
 

Do you have a good original or quality wiring harness?
You should have two wires with one terminal on the output side of the cutout.
One wire is for the lights and the other wire is for the horn.
Also be sure the horn is oiled and has a clean commutator.

Re: Horn issue
 

Try cleaning out and servicing the contacts on your light switch assy. It maybe contaminated with steering box oil and or dried crud..make sure the charge rate is up to spec

Re: Horn issue
 

You may have to move the charging rate up on your generator to compensate for the draw of current with the lights on. What does the ammeter read while driving normally? If only 3 amps, that will go to discharge when the lights are turned on at normal driving speed. 5 amps is borderline whether an adjustment is needed. Try revving up the engine with the lights on and then hit the horn. If the horn works under this condition, the generator needs a slight third brush adjustment. It wouldn't hurt to run an additional wire to the battery for added juice, but even that won't overcome a generator not putting out enough current. Just don't over do it and run the charging rate up too high, such as 10 amps. That will eventually burn out the generator if the car is run for a long distance at one time.
Marshall