Hello All - Is there someone out there that rebuilds/services old horns and converts them to 12v? Thank you
I saw the new horns for $300.00! If the old ones work, you could still use them on 12 volts. They'll be twice as loud and draw more current. Or, if you can rewire them so you can access each side of the coils of each horn you could wire them in series and use them that way.
Can one of you post a clip of what horns wired in series sounds like? Since the horn diaphragms vibrate at different frequencies, and the contacts mimic these frequencies, you will be getting jagged interrupted power to both horns. Both sets of horn contacts need to be "closed" in order for current to flow through the horns, and as soon as one diaphragm pushes the contacts open it will cut power to the other horn. I suppose they'll still make noise but I can't imagine they'll sound very good.
I have just bench tested 2 X 6 volt horns in series, and as said in Ebbsspeed's post above only got one to sound (not very well) and the other was silent. Seeing his explanation about how they work, this now makes sense. I am now going to wire the high and low in parallel (12 volts to each) through a relay, and let 'er rip!
Horn circuits have big condensers to ground that affect frequency & protect points. So when connecting two in series, some tweaking of the point gaps or tensions might be needed to get the good vibrations going. Old horns usually have a small external knob or screw to do this. I didn't have to do anything with mine. I'll try to post the sound. But they seem to sound the same and as loud as original.
The Jalopy Journal
