How to connect horns without a relay (manual)
Content
When it comes to connecting air sirens, it is best to use the relay method. But other methods can also be used. In some situations, temporary or permanent, it may be necessary to connect air sirens without using a relay. I've successfully done this several times on my truck and clients' trucks, and I'm going to teach you how to do the same in this guide. You might be wondering if wiring a horn without a relay could cause damage. Well, this is the easiest way to connect air horns and it can be safe. The relays simply pass the correct amount of current to the horns.
To connect a horn without a relay, first install it at the front of the car (next to the engine). And then ground the horn. Run a wire from the horn to the horn button and another wire from the horn to the positive terminal of the 12V battery using jumper wires. Press the horn button to check the horn.
What do you need
- Horn wiring kit
- your car
- Connecting wires (12-16 gauge wires)
- Pliers
- Adhesive tape
- metal pins
How to set the beep
Setting the horn is the first thing you should do before connecting the horn. These steps will guide you through the installation process:
- Set the horn towards the front of the vehicle using the included mechanism.
- You can connect the compressor to the horn using the supplied tube. Avoid kinks and secure them securely.
- Test the factory horn with a multimeter, which should read 12 volts when the air horn is passed and zero when it is off.
Ground your horn
In order to connect a horn without a relay, you need to first ground the horn with connecting wires.
Follow these steps to ground the horn:
- You can use wire (16 gauge) or a metal stud to ground the horn.
- Now connect the negative terminal of the horn to any grounding surface in the vehicle. You can connect it to the metal frame at the front of your car.
- Secure the connection to prevent ground disconnection while the vehicle is in motion. (1)
running wires
After you have grounded the horn, connect the wires to the car battery and the air horn. It is worth noting that using the correct wire gauge is critical. The wrong wire can burn or even damage the horn. I recommend using 12-16 gauge wires for this experiment. (2)
However, before using them, it is necessary to prepare the connecting wires. Follow the steps below to prepare and route the wires:
Step 1: Preparing connection wires
Use pliers to cut off a large portion of the connecting wire.
Step 2: Remove the wire insulation
Strip about ½ inch of the connecting wires (at the terminals) with pliers. You must be careful not to cut the entire wire. Go ahead and twist the exposed wire strands to make them strong.
Step 3: Run the Wires
With the wires ready, run one wire from the horn to the positive battery terminal. And then run another wire from the horn to the button next to the dashboard. You can use duct tape to cover exposed wires.
Step 4: Check the stability of the audio signal
After wiring, make sure the horn is securely attached to the vehicle.
Step 5: Horn Testing
Finally, press the horn button next to the dashboard. The horn should make a sound. If not, then there is a problem with the wiring. Check them and make any necessary corrections or perform a wire continuity check to make sure they are working. Use a multimeter to check for continuity.
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- How to check the car ground wire with a multimeter
- How to connect ground wires to each other
- How to distinguish a negative wire from a positive one
Recommendations
(1) motion – https://wonders.physics.wisc.edu/what-is-motion/
(2) experiment – https://study.com/academy/lesson/scientific-experiment-definition-examples-quiz.html
Video link
