mr T

well i went to a big rig wrecker yard and they told me i can have these big horns off a peterbilt...so i need to know what voltage im gonna need and how big should the air unit be and what psi am i most likely looking at??....would a compressor for tires be enough...one of those portable ones?

looking for feedback or better yet links to sites that give me the whole breakdown thanx

Lil Mule

You're gonna need an air tank, nothing overly big, but something to build pressure in. We used an empty coleman propane tank for a while in my brother's truck, but it was a little too small for a blast over about 3 sec.

Then you're going to need a valve, either manual or electric. I'm working on using an electric lockoff from a forklift and wiring it right into my horn circuit through a toggle switch. In one position it blows the regular horn, in the other, it opens the lockoff blowing the air horns.

Hopefully, below is a picture of an electric lockoff, it will screw directly into the horns then run the other line to the tank. This eliminates running lines into the cab to use a manual valve (lanyard)

The valve is sitting on a CD for size reference.

From there you can run a small compressor from a ford/buick/caddy with the air ride to keep the tank aired up. The compressor can be small since it's fillinf the tank instead of running the horns.

4doogie

where are you going to mount the horns? i was thinking i might want a train horn in mine. chris

welder27

That's what I want! Scare the heck outta people who can't drive right like the rest of us!

MnTom

Here ya guys go.......... http://search.ebay.com/train-horn_W0...ectZ1QQfromZR8

mr T

valve huh....where can i get one of those.....and anyhow what presure do i need for these big horns? 20 psi?? more??? less???

Haulin_in_Dixie

100

4doogie

my friend drives a hay mover (squez) and he tricked it out with the best sounding pipes i have ever heard (IT HAS A CUMMINS UNDER THE HOOD) and also a sweeeet train horn. the thing looks like a semi backed into a huge forklift. it has about 4.5 ft of pipe going right out the hood, and the tain horns under the hood. the rig already has air breaks so he just added a line and hood a valve up to it, you can hear it about a mile away. now think how you would feel having something that loud 10 ft behind u i know i would be scared. chris

greatwhite

Saw a big rig in a truck stop the other day with a chrome train horn on each front fender. Told the driver that if they were on my truck, every time I used them, the brakes would dynamite. BIG volume to operate.

Lil Mule

Anything less than 80psi will sound weak. Anywhere from 100-140psi is optimum.

As for the valve, I think I may have a few laying around. Pm me if you're interested

phox_mulder

Where's Hoot.

Check his album, he has a set of 3 under the bed, powered by a nitrogen tank in the bed,
with an actual train horn valve by the 4x4 shifter.

Kinda overboard, but effective to say the least.


https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...0&ppuser=17718


phox

Haulin_in_Dixie

Couple of tips on horns.... Truck and car horns are regulated by DOT as to how loud they are. Fire department and emergency horns are not. Of course train horns are not either.

Lil Mule

This time a website.

http://www.cascorp.com/downloads/lin...E/Solenoid.pdf

This is the handle I am using for a shifter ****, it has a built in button, prefect to run the horns. I have the button set up to run a relay that feeds the soleniod.

You have to drill and retap the hole since it's too small to screw on to our shifter, but an easy task.

Haulin_in_Dixie

I have been planning mine for some time and will use the overhead console garage door compartment for switches. Will have four switches mounted on the cover. One for the horn will be a pull switch that will have a lanyard on it for the horn pull through a solonoid. The other switches will be for marker lights, road lights (long toggles for the light flashes) and the fourth any one of a series of switches that I need. They will be single wire ground operated relay driven switches. There will only be one four conductor light gage wire through the post.

For the horns I am mounthing a twin horn engine switcher set (high pitched) under the bumper area, and one deeper fire truck horn, also hidden. Decided against the chrome horn deal on the roof. Will be running 130+ pounds to 3/8 or 1/2 line. If I can't get a valve large enough, I will use a small valve and a brake relay valve for the horns.

If you are using non DOT approved horns, best to keep them hidden, no attention needs to be drawn.

Lil Mule

Haulin....You're P.M. box is full