Horn Relay Question

[Drbrown]

'47 Ford converted to 12 volt .... Does the original horn relay need to be replaced with a newer 12 volt type or are they unaffected by voltage. My original works but concerned re long term use. Thanks

[scooder]

Originally Posted by Drbrown

'47 Ford converted to 12 volt .... Does the original horn relay need to be replaced with a newer 12 volt type or are they unaffected by voltage. My original works but concerned re long term use. Thanks

Should really go 12 volt relay, then you'll have no concerns.
They are voltage sensitive.
I'm sure folk will say, I've used the 6 volt relay for years and all's good. But you asked the question.
Martin.

[JSeery]

1956 12v horn relays still use the screw on wire terminals and looks similar to the 6v. 1957 and later use the push-on terminals. The 1956 photo attached is a VanPelt item, $11.

[Drbrown]

Scooter and Jseery ..... Thanks for your replies . I thought it might be like keeping one's 6v starter and selinoid after converting to 12v .... momentary use would probably not be a problem.

Surprised yesterday when I found the recent/previous owner who did the 12v conversion also disconnected the horn leads from the relay (that's how often I beep my horn). The relay clicks when the horn rim is pushed and both horns sound-off, so the system is working. BUT I'm concerned the relay may have been mis-behaving. He and I used/use a disconnect switch on the battery ground so middle-of-the-night wake-ups would not have been a problem.

As little used as the original was during the past 68 years, time to put it in my museum and buy a 12v relay. Yes, I much prefer screw terminals wherever/whenever possible.

Thanks again, Dan

[drolston]

If the 6V relay ever sticks on, it may burn out; otherwise momentary use on 12V will work indefinitely.

The real problem is how to cut the voltage to the horns, so they will sound right on 12V. I have tried every type of voltage reducer, and nothing works. Probably because the horn current goes through another buzzer like relay that breaks the current at a high frequency.

Does anyone have a solution for the horn sound on 12V?

[Ross F-1]

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If you pop the cover off the back of the horns, you can adjust the breaker points. (It really helps to clean all the dirt and dead bugs out of the horn before doing this!) Changing the gap changes the tone. Some horns sound fine after this, some don't.

[Drbrown]

drolston and Ross F-1 .... I learn something ever day. It didn't occur to me that running 12v to the horns would affect them. However, when I tested the horns to see if they worked, I connected 12v direct. They of course gave different pitched tones but they sounded as I expected. Someone ran new wiring from the relay to the horns so maybe "they" made some adjustments. I'll get the new relay and see what happens.

[Drbrown]

Fished on the internet for 12v 1956 Ford screw-terminal relay prices (6v are less).... eBay ridiculous; VintageCarParts $27.95; Mac at $25.62 after tax and shipping; DC did not stock; RockAuto least at $18.59 but one week to delivery.

I'll keep it fast and simple .... AdvanceAuto up the street can get in one day for $22 and I suspect NAPA might even have on their shelf for that.

[Ross F-1]

Are there no junkyards in your town? They used them up into the 80's, after that most used a relay in the fusebox.

[JSeery]

VanPelt says $11 on their site.

[Mac VP]

We still have some old aftermarket stock just like what you see in the picture.....still $11 til they are gone. Just call our sales office to order.....during business hours of course.

[Drbrown]

JSeery .... Following up on your first post I checked VanPelt's web site using the part number shown in your image for that $11 relay and could not find it there. Then looked at others and a few had horn relays around that price but they were 6 volt. The 12v units appear to be about double the price of 6v. Can't believe a fellow on eBay was asking 38.95 for a horn relay, of course with free shipping.

Real junk yards are passing into oblivion. They're going out of business because of fluid spills, their cost of insurance, and zoning regs. We have one auto junk yard in our small city, which isn't a "yard" at all. They are a high-teck operation with six guys behind six computers ordering parts from out-of-town. First time in I asked them if they could just go out in the yard and get the part off a car. All I got was a smirk and "we'll have to order it for you. All they do is ship stuff in for a high price. Only new-part retailers stock parts anymore.

[JSeery]

See if this helps: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/i...prices-pg3.htm

FAA-13853 Horn Relay - 6V (equivalent to 7RA-13853 relay) 1937-1955 $11.00
7RA-13853 Horn Relay - 6V (equivalent to FAA-13853 relay) 1937-1955 $13.00
2Q-13853 Horn Relay - 12V 1956 only $11.00
B7A-13853 Horn Relay - 12V 1957-63 $11.00
B8C-13853 Horn Relay - 12V 1957-66 $11.00

[JHFORD51]

6 volts horns on 12 volts are just like tornados in trailer parks--they "sound like a freight train coming up the driveway"! Get the 12 volt screw on relay; the 6 VDC unit will burn out and stuck on horns are LOUD when you are under the hood trying to disconnect the battery...don't ask me how I know.

[Drbrown]

JHFORD51 .... I won't ask how you know. We're just glad you don't have short-term memory (yet).

I haven't banged my head on the underside of a car hood since I got married and learned how to use "selective hearing".

[4ford]

hello I would like to ask a question about horns and add it to this post if I may. is there a wiring diagram for the horn relay and on the steering wheel?

[JSeery]

It is going to depend on what year car/truck you are working with. The early years did not even use a relay. These are the parts to the column horn parts I am using (F1 pickup parts).