05-09-2020, 09:45 AM | #1 |
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12volt horn?
Hi Guys, I am changing my 35 ford over to 12 volts. Can my original horn be used?
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05-09-2020, 10:00 AM | #2 |
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Re: 12volt horn?
Probably but it will sound funny, are you using a relay?, if so I'd change it to a twelve volt one.
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05-09-2020, 11:10 AM | #3 |
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Re: 12volt horn?
There are adjustment screws on most horns and they can be
adjusted to work on 6 or 12 volts. G.M.
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05-09-2020, 02:20 PM | #4 |
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Re: 12volt horn?
When I converted my '39 p/u to 12 volts I didn't change the horn. Just hooked it up. Plenty loud. The sound is a bit different but it definitely gets people's attention.
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05-09-2020, 02:52 PM | #5 |
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Re: 12volt horn?
Put two stock ones on my '48 and wired them in series. Works like a charm on 12 volts.
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05-09-2020, 08:03 PM | #6 |
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Re: 12volt horn?
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05-09-2020, 11:51 PM | #7 |
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Re: 12volt horn?
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05-10-2020, 10:14 AM | #8 |
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Re: 12volt horn?
Horns were originally manufactured and adjusted to a certain amperage draw for the vibrator circuit. The points can be adjusted but a person needs to know what amperage to set it at to insure longevity of the vibrator coils and points. Higher voltage will change the current draw. A large resistor can be installed in the circuit to drop the voltage & current back to normal.
Wiring them is series will change the current draw but I don't know if the drop factor will equal what a dropping resistor will do. |
05-10-2020, 03:49 PM | #9 |
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Re: 12volt horn?
Reference the thread I started:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278797 The '35 horn(s) probably have a different current draw than my '41, but you could experiment like I did to arrive at the right amount of resistance. Maybe start with one 0.5 Ohm resistor (10 watt). The horn will probably not work at all with that value. Just keep adding resistors in parallel until the horn works on battery alone (engine off). Two 0.5 Ohm resistors in parallel would result in 0.25 Ohms; three would be 0.167 Ohms; four would be 0.125 Ohms. Mine worked with the 0.125 Ohm configuration. |
05-10-2020, 09:33 PM | #10 |
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Re: 12volt horn?
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05-12-2020, 11:59 AM | #11 |
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Re: 12volt horn?
Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.
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