Switch Between Train Horn and Normal Horn

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Forum Name: Relays
Forum Discription: Relay Diagrams, SPDT Relays, SPST Relays, DPDT Relays, Latching Relays, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=99392
Printed Date: May 15, 2024 at 1:52 PM

Topic: Switch Between Train Horn and Normal Horn

Posted By: zsupra1221
Subject: Switch Between Train Horn and Normal Horn
Date Posted: November 27, 2007 at 9:12 AM

Hey guys,

I want to wire my train horn to my normal car horn. I want to install a switch that i just click and it will change from my normal car horn sound to my train horn sound. I want both noises to happen when I push the normal car horn. I think this involves relays, which I am completely clueless about. Thanks for any help given.

-ZSupra1221

Replies:

Posted By: tvcomputerwiz
Date Posted: November 29, 2007 at 7:41 AM

an on/on switch could do that, if im following you correctly.

ebay or electronix.com

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: November 29, 2007 at 8:10 AM

Right I knew the on/off switch would allow me to switch between them, but how would I wire the train horn into the regular horn yet still be able to use both when I want.

Posted By: hotwaterwizard
Date Posted: November 29, 2007 at 8:45 AM

Are you wanting Both to put out sound at the same time or one at a time?

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John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Stockton California
When in doubt, try it out !

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: November 29, 2007 at 9:44 AM

one at a time, I would like the option to use one or the other

Posted By: tvcomputerwiz
Date Posted: November 29, 2007 at 10:00 PM

use a standard 5 connector relay and a regular on/off switch

Posted By: hotwaterwizard
Date Posted: November 29, 2007 at 10:05 PM

Here are 2 circuits One with just a switch and the other using a Relay
posted_image

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John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Stockton California
When in doubt, try it out !

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: November 30, 2007 at 6:47 AM

so which one would be better? would they both make it so I can push the horn on my steering wheel and depending on which one the switch is on, be able to switch between the train horn and then regular horn ?

Posted By: hotwaterwizard
Date Posted: November 30, 2007 at 8:00 AM

The switch is better to me because no extra power source is needed.

The switch has to be able to handle the current from the horn.

Here is how you do it.

pull the wire off of the existing horn. Put that wire to the center post on the switch.

now run one side of the switch to the horn and the last post on the switch goes to the second horn.

posted_image

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John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Stockton California
When in doubt, try it out !

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: November 30, 2007 at 8:31 AM

wow thanks for your help that was perfect!

How do I determine whether or not the switch can handle the current for the horn?

Posted By: hotwaterwizard
Date Posted: November 30, 2007 at 8:50 AM

You could use an Amp meter in line with the horn and honk it to read the amp draw.

Or find a 30 amp switch. I think a 20 may do it but not sure.

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John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Stockton California
When in doubt, try it out !

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: November 30, 2007 at 1:53 PM

okay thanks a lot!!

Posted By: dualsport
Date Posted: December 04, 2007 at 12:07 AM

Is this a real train horn or just something that sounds like a train horn? If you're dealing with something that needs a lot of power, using a relay would let you control the switching with just a tiny wire passing through to the passenger compartment.
I assume you want the switch inside, rather than under your hood, so you don't need to decide which horn you want to honk before you start driving?

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: December 04, 2007 at 8:30 AM

this one to be exact: Horn

and yes I would like to be able to have the switch inside so I can choose while I'm driving.

Posted By: dualsport
Date Posted: December 04, 2007 at 8:49 AM

Probably better if you used relays then, otherwise you have to deal with heavy gauge wires running through the firewall.
You might consider just using two relays for each horn so you don't need to leave a relay energized constantly when selecting one horn or another, if it needs to work while the car's turned off.

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: December 04, 2007 at 10:34 AM

Okay, so how would I go about doing that?

Posted By: hotwaterwizard
Date Posted: December 04, 2007 at 10:01 PM

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John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Stockton California
When in doubt, try it out !

Posted By: hotwaterwizard
Date Posted: December 04, 2007 at 10:53 PM

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John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Stockton California
When in doubt, try it out !

Posted By: hotwaterwizard
Date Posted: December 04, 2007 at 11:25 PM

You could use an old extension cord for the switch wires.

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John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Stockton California
When in doubt, try it out !

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: December 05, 2007 at 10:03 AM

Is the symbol with the three lines making a pyramid shape, the symbol for ground wire?

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: December 05, 2007 at 10:05 AM

and one last question, I think, is there a way to set up my train horn to a wireless key?

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: December 05, 2007 at 10:15 AM

hotwaterwizard wrote:

I'm not to sure if I understand this? How many horns are actually here? To me it looks likes three.

Posted By: tvcomputerwiz
Date Posted: December 05, 2007 at 10:26 AM

yes but u would need to use another relay to activate the other relays

Posted By: hotwaterwizard
Date Posted: December 05, 2007 at 10:56 AM

Show me the third horn!

The car already has a horn relay.

Why not use it so we don't have to tear up the original wiring?

The box in red has a note.

How can you get confused?

I spelled it out clearly.

Remove the wire from the existing horn and run it to the middle of the switch.

Use the switch to choose which horn you want to use.

posted_image

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John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Stockton California
When in doubt, try it out !

Posted By: hotwaterwizard
Date Posted: December 05, 2007 at 11:02 AM

For wireless switch just use the original horn as it is and wire the train horn into the wireless device.

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John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Stockton California
When in doubt, try it out !

Posted By: zsupra1221
Date Posted: December 05, 2007 at 11:16 AM

Is the symbol with the three lines making a pyramid shape, the symbol for ground wire?

Posted By: tvcomputerwiz
Date Posted: December 05, 2007 at 11:36 AM

that stands for a common ground. if u look under google images and search "ground symbol" go to the second page. theres a picture of the two ground symbols.

Posted By: tvcomputerwiz
Date Posted: December 05, 2007 at 11:38 AM

ps thats 1 question toooo many