Air horn Install ?'s

import2nr · 05-23-2009, 02:21 PM

My dad got an Air Horn Kit with a relay and air compressor to install on his 95 f350

I thought it would be easy to install but i don't even understand the instructions completely...lol

here is a copy of the diagram install

any help would be appreciated

TitanBlue · 05-23-2009, 05:31 PM

For starters, use 10 Ga. Wire for most of the wires... 4 mm squared = 11 Gauge, so use 10 Gauge wire for those circuits, as it is a bit heavier and more commonly found in any store. 1 mm squared = 17 Gauge, so use 16 gauge wire for those circuits. FYI, 16 gauge is thinner than 10 gauge.

The rest makes sense. But, you need to determine if your OEM Horn is turned on by a Ground being completed by the Horn Button in the Steering Wheel, or by a Positive being completed in the Steering Wheel. Looks like you will cut an existing wire, that is what the scissors means.

The little 3 pronged fork looking emblem, means Ground. That means you will attach that end of the wire to the Frame of the vehicle.

Did they provide a Single Pole, Double Throw Switch? If so, it will be used to select OEM Horn, or Air Horn.

How did you want to uses these horns?

This is a poorly translated diagram, but useable.

Naturally, the Compressor has an Air Outlet, to power the Air Horns. It will be an Air Hose, and go to a 3 Way Splitter to Distribute the Air to all 3 Horns.

Personally, I would not want to touch my OEM horn circuit. Especially on a computer controlled vehicle like the Titan with its picky IPDM. I'd put Air Horns on a separate circuit. Depends on why you bought them...

import2nr · 05-23-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitanBlue

For starters, use 10 Ga. Wire for most of the wires... 4 mm squared = 11 Gauge, so use 10 Gauge wire for those circuits, as it is a bit heavier and more commonly found in any store. 1 mm squared = 17 Gauge, so use 16 gauge wire for those circuits. FYI, 16 gauge is thinner than 10 gauge.

The rest makes sense. But, you need to determine if your OEM Horn is turned on by a Ground being completed by the Horn Button in the Steering Wheel, or by a Positive being completed in the Steering Wheel. Looks like you will cut an existing wire, that is what the scissors means.

The little 3 pronged fork looking emblem, means Ground. That means you will attach that end of the wire to the Frame of the vehicle.

Did they provide a Single Pole, Double Throw Switch? If so, it will be used to select OEM Horn, or Air Horn.

How did you want to uses these horns?

This is a poorly translated diagram, but useable.

Naturally, the Compressor has an Air Outlet, to power the Air Horns. It will be an Air Hose, and go to a 3 Way Splitter to Distribute the Air to all 3 Horns.

Personally, I would not want to touch my OEM horn circuit. Especially on a computer controlled vehicle like the Titan with its picky IPDM. I'd put Air Horns on a separate circuit. Depends on why you bought them...

thanks for the response

its going on a 95 f350 ... and it did not come with a toggle switch.
how do i go about finding if the OEM Horn is turned on by a Ground being completed by the Horn Button in the Steering Wheel, or by a Positive being completed in the Steering Wheel?... and if they did not prive me a TOGGLE swithc and i am going to be replacing tyhe factory horn with these then do i even need the toggle swithc ? if NOT then do i just leave that prong alone?

TitanBlue · 05-23-2009, 06:58 PM

I don't have an easy answer for you on that one! If it was right in front of me, I think I would be taking apart the steering wheel (if no air bag!) and testing for power vs ground in the horn contacts. Can't quite tell you what to do in writing though, and be comfortable it would guide you well... You'll need to identify the correct wires in the engine bay. Best to find somebody comfortable with wiring and troubleshooting to help you put this in. OK to follow instructions they gave you though. You do need to buy a Switch, so you can select which Horn will blow. Or, skip the Switch, delete the Factory Horn Circuit, and use the Air Horn all the time.

prm · 08-26-2010, 12:58 PM

I put in air horns and wired directly from the existing wires supplying power to the oem horns... left the oem horns connected... in order for ALL horns to blow, will I need to install the relay between the oem horns and the compressor for the air horns? I can't tell for sure if the oem horns are working or not... air horns are sounding off fine... I would like both sets to sound off when hitting the horn button... there is no other switch involved in my set-up, just steering wheel horn button - thanks for any input!

donny612 · 08-26-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prm

I put in air horns and wired directly from the existing wires supplying power to the oem horns... left the oem horns connected... in order for ALL horns to blow, will I need to install the relay between the oem horns and the compressor for the air horns? I can't tell for sure if the oem horns are working or not... air horns are sounding off fine... I would like both sets to sound off when hitting the horn button... there is no other switch involved in my set-up, just steering wheel horn button - thanks for any input!

If it was me I would use the existing power feed to the horns to pick up a relay which would then be switching power to the compressor. Don't try to feed the compressor directly from the existing horn's power. Feed the relay contacts +12v (make sure you use appropriately sized wire from the battery to the relay and from the relay to the compressor, and that the relay can handle the current draw of the compressor) and power the relay's coil from the existing horn wire. A old Ford starter relay has always worked for me in the past. If it's beefy enough to run the starter it should handle most anything you're switching through it.