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wiring up a second switch for airhorns

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=108942
Printed Date: April 30, 2024 at 3:51 PM


Topic: wiring up a second switch for airhorns

Posted By: nycmaximas
Subject: wiring up a second switch for airhorns
Date Posted: November 15, 2008 at 5:47 PM

I want to wire in a second switch to control my airhorns. The switch inside the steering wheel works fine but driving a manual shift car, it is sometimes a PITA to have to take my hand off the shifter to honk the horn.

I have one of those push button switches that are usually used for the push button starter and I was thinking of putting that ontop of my shift knob. The button is the perfect size for the task.

What I'm thinking is to wire the second switch I could tap power from the cigarette lighter then on the other terminal on the switch run a wire to the power wire on the horn compressor.

Will this work or am I missing something?



Replies:

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: November 15, 2008 at 6:07 PM
Chances are that switch will not handle the current required by the compressor.  If you had stated the make model and year of your vehicle, we could tell you which wire under the dash to tap into. 




Posted By: reax222
Date Posted: November 19, 2008 at 9:51 PM
If the compressor is of a big size, then the wiring will shouldn't support it should you ever have anything connected to the powerpoint.

You can do that, but I would use a relay. Using a relay would also let you use the switch for ground which you can pick up anywhere.




Posted By: anewman
Date Posted: November 24, 2008 at 7:23 PM
A horn button on the gearstick, and interesting idea. However, apparently resting your hand on the gearstick increases wear in your gearbox.




Posted By: nycmaximas
Date Posted: November 26, 2008 at 6:54 PM
anewman wrote:

A horn button on the gearstick, and interesting idea. However, apparently resting your hand on the gearstick increases wear in your gearbox.

Yes, I've heard of that also. I don't usually rest my hand on the shifter unless I'm shifting gears. I just think something closer to the shifter would be the ideal location for a second horn button because that's what my right hand is usually occupied by.





Posted By: nycmaximas
Date Posted: November 11, 2009 at 4:16 PM
ok so I finally want to do this (i've been putting it off)

Basically my airhorns (wolo) are already wired to the factory horn and works fine. I have a 12volt 10 amp push button switch that I want to add in as the secondary button for the horn. The factory horn is a (-) output.

How do I wire in the second switch?

This is on a 99 Maxima. Link to the wiring below.
https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/alarmdetail/1632.html




Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: November 11, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Ground to switch to neg horn wire.




Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: November 17, 2009 at 5:29 PM
How can resting your hand on the gear shift increase wear?  The only possible answer is clutchless stick shifts where placing the hand on the shifter causes the clutch to depress.  Hillman Minx "Easidrive"  UK circa 1962.  Proof that whatever goes around comes around 30 years later! 





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