Aftermarket Horn Wiring

[gsatterw]

Hey guys,

So my girlfriend got me this dual horn set, much like the one below:

http://www.amazon.com/CANDLEPOWER-COMPLETE-ELECTRIC-HORN-230312/dp/B000WJJB4K/ref=sr_1_122?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1357718610&sr=1-122&keywords=-air+-cover

Does anyone have any advice on how to wire this up/mount them both? She's gonna be pissed at me, for some reason, if I can't get them running

Graham 

[BockinBboy]

Here is a link to the section of the wiki for horns.  I know it isn't specific to what you have, but it has a little bit on wiring them up.  Just something to keep you reading if you haven't seen it yet, and until someone can fill in the gaps.  I plan on adding an aftermarket horn at some point myself, but haven't fully committed yet to be able offer much on the actual install.

- Bboy

[jestercinti]

I bought a Stebel Nautilis horn.  Everyone hears me now going down the road.  There was a special wiring kit that I bought with it that was a lifesaver.  I bought it from Twisted Throttle.

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/stebel-nautilus-compact-dual-tone-motorcycle-air-horn-12-volt-139-db-black-or-chrome
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/plug-n-play-wiring-kit-for-stebel-compact-nautilus-airhorns-by-twisted-throttle

[weedahoe]

If you are going g to use the relay......

Take the 12v fromthe orinal horn to pin 85
Use the (-) wire from the horn wiring to pin 86
Take a wire from the battery to pin 30
Take a wire from pin 87 and go to one side of each horn
Take a wire from the other pin in each horn and go to ground

[gsatterw]

so run a wire from the battery?

I guess I'm gonna have to build some sort of bracket. The mounting bolt for stock faces the front of the bike, these mounting holes face the outside of the bike when the horns face forward

Graham

[weedahoe]

10-4

Run a wire (around 14-16ga) from the battery to pin 30. This will provide the actual power to the horns whn the ccontact switch

[gsatterw]

And where is the best place to ground near the front of the bike?

[weedahoe]

You could use the other wire off the OEM horn or if you have a F model, use a ring terminal and secure it under a bolt that holds the fairing brackets

[gsatterw]

So would I solder a wire onto the ground wire on the oem connecter for the ground? I've got an 02, so no fairing. Or could I just use a terminal ring and bolt it onto any bolt on the frame?

Also, how do I know which is the positive wire and which is negative on the stock connector?

Graham 

[weedahoe]

You should go to Walmart or an auto parts store and buy male/female insulated spade connectors. These will crimp in the wires. You can use them to connect to the relay, the OEM wiring and horns.

Use a volt meter or test light to determine which of the two wires is (+) and (-) on the norm wiring or see the electrical schematic in the manual 

[gsatterw]

I actually just got back from the hardware store to get some connectors and such

So with the voltmeter, I touch the end of one of the connectors, then to ground and if I get a reading around 12, that will be my positive? And the negative one, I should get no reading?

Graham

[weedahoe]

Just take the two meter leads and connect to both wires and see if you get a +12 or -12v.

Then you will know if you have your meter leads correct or backwards

[gsatterw]

Ah. I'll do that.

I think I got it backwards up there^.

Would another way to do it be to touch the meter leads to the horn connector and one to the positive terminal on the battery? The one that gives me a reading is the ground, and the one that gives a reading is hot?

Just trying to make sense of this all.

Graham

[gsatterw]

I stuck the voltmeter leads into the connectors and nothing happened either way. hmmm...

Graham

[gsatterw]

Ok, stick the leads into the connector with the bike on and press the horn button. got it.

So the black is hot, and the black with blue stripe is ground. Got it.

Graham 

[adidasguy]

I stuck the voltmeter leads into the connectors and nothing happened either way. hmmm...

Graham

volt meter: connect black to ground (frame or battery negative). Red meter lead to one horn lead: what happens? Press horn button and what happens? Repeat with other wire.

It helps to have your colored wiring diagram in front of you and follow the color coded wires. It is so easy: exactly like reading a map. Red line: that's I-5 and can follow it from Seattle to Portland. If I can't get there: the bridge is out. Wiring is same: orange is +12: can follow it from this connector to that other one. If I don't see +12 at each point then the wire is broken somewhere between point A and point B. Or there is a switch (like a draw bridge on the highway).

[gsatterw]

Alright, got em all wired up! They are LOUD. Thanks for all the help, I don't know what I'd do without you guys 

Just gotta make a bracket now...

Graham

[weedahoe]

You should do a YouTube video

[gsatterw]

I'll see what I can do over the next few days. Got a big ol' bioChem exam on saturday, and will eat my time, but I'll try and get one up after that

Graham 

[gsatterw]

So I got a few pictures of the bracket I built for the horns:









And here is a little video showing how its mounted on the bike...so it turns out my camera doesn't do sound...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opdyx8HFzDs

Graham