How would you hook up a second horn?

Thinking about getting a klaxon horn hooked up to a separate switch. How could I wire it up?

 

Or a cow horn

 

Look up the basic wiring for aux lights. Wire it the same way, with a horn in place of the lights. It's not unheard of for a horn to need 15-20 amps, so use 14 gauge wire. Use a momentary switch of your choice to activate a separate relay.

 

Alright. I figured it would be like lighting.

 

Which fuse could I use? I would want it hooked up to a fuse. I need to find a diagram of the fuse box and which ones are which? And how could I run a wire to the switch in the cab? I've never really done wiring.

 

You need to add a new fuse at the battery. If you buy an aux light wiring kit designed for two 100 watt lights from the auto parts store, it will come with a fuse holder, fuse, relay, and wiring that should be easy to adapt to your new horn. You'd just have to swap the switch for a momentary one.

The stock fuse box won't have enough reserve to tap a new horn into. They do pull some juice.

 

Run to a local autoparts store (we have PepBoys in my area) and they should have the add-a-fuse kits. I'll check which fuse I used to illuminate my hella switch tomorrow morning. Autoparts stores should carry different kinds of relays too.

This thread should help as well: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/205143-add-circuit-fuse-question.html

Edit: above post is correct - the fuse will only be good for powering an illuminated swith. Sorry if my reply was misleading

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/103969-electronics-basics-reference.html

Good info here.

I would wire in a new inline 20 amp fuse at the battery, run 14 gauge wire to a 30amp relay, then to the new horn. You can also wire the relay's coil "control voltage" to the incoming power from your new fuse. Then run another wire through the firewall to a momentary switch that will ground the wire to activate the relay's coil, and trigger the horn. Keep in mind that you must use 14 gauge wire or better in the entire circuit if you are relying on the 20 amp fuse for the horn and the relay control circuit.

 

Thanks

 

why not just run it into the factory wires
http://www.buy.com/pr/product.aspx?sku=227017230&sellerid=29810391

 

I suppose he could try that. The one time I tried it, I blew the factory fuse. I was adding the new horn in addition to the existing one. That sounds like what the OP is going to do also.

I actually ended up doing as I suggest above, but I used the factory horn circuit as a trigger. So hitting the horn button activated the factory horn and the aftermarket one at the same time.

 

you could just add an inline fuse between the aftermarket horn and where you tap into the factory wiring.

not saying any idea is better/worse than the other, just trying to throw possible options out there!

post up how you ended up doing it OP!

 

This is for future reference if I do this. Not 100% sure if I will or not. If I do, pics will follow

 

I just need to fing a good klaxon. Prefer under $30

 

No, you can't.


---(FUSE)---(HORN)
xxxxxxxxxxx\---(FUSE)---(HORN) = Still drawing two horns from the factory fuse.

It MUST be wired properly. High current + small wire = burned truck.

The fuse is not there to protect the horn. The fuse is there to protect the wiring harness and needs to be as close to the battery as possible.

Listen to Joe. Wire it EXACTLY like aux lighting, but use a momentary switch to trigger the relay. That is the only SAFE way to do it.

 

I plan on doing what Joe said if I add a horn.

 

anyone know of cool sounding horns?

 

Shay,

Found "Chrome Ahh-ooo-gah Horn" on Amazon.com for $24.95 plus shipping. Also found a "Wolf Whistle" there that sure would make your Taco unique. Good luck getting the electricals ironed out. Let us see some photos of how you complete the horn mods.

 

Damn, didnt realize still draws from the same fuse that way.

fuses are over-rated everyone likes a good fireworks show

 

Thanks! The reviews on it seem okay. It just sucks you can't find one that actually sounds like original antique horns without spending a lot.