Horn wires
 

pardon my dumbness: Why doesn't the horn ground to its frame?

Re: Horn wires
 

The wires to the horn are hot. Your horn button provides the ground.

Re: Horn wires
 

I have 2 terminals outside the horn. One is grounded to the horn frame and the other is insulated from the horn frame and connects to the horn coil

Re: Horn wires
 

xxx

Re: Horn wires
 

Which vehicle are we talking about? Some years/models of Ford use a horn relay and some do not. In general 32 thru 37 (and some later trucks) uses a hot wire directly to the horns and then a ground wire from the horns to the button on the column. Starting is 38 Ford added a horn relay. The hot wire connects to the relay and a ground wire connects from the relay to the column button. When the button is pushed on these models it closes the horn relay which connects the hot lead to the horns and the horns have a ground connection to the frame.

Re: Horn wires
 

If it has a horn relay, they do ground to the frame, it just may be through the bracket. The only path back to the battery is through the body/frame or a directly connected ground wire back to the battery.

Without a horn relay, the horns need to be insulated from the frame.

Re: Horn wires
 

I'm trying to use a new -to -me horn. I'm realizing both wires to the horn should go thru insulated pots. one is not and I will fix that. It is a 39 pickup. I had a relay on an earlier horn but that quit. I found a cute little horn with a bracket that looked like if fit on a taillight, Turns out it is labeled Ford, Makes a sound like a moose ona goose. I'm guessing it is for a T. I told my clubbers it was to be mounted behind the right tail light to warn that I was turning right in Jersey into a Jug handle!!
I hope to work on it tonight

Re: Horn wires
 

Just need to decide if you are wanting to use a horn relay or not. If you are using a relay there is no need to insulate the ground wire at the horn. If you are wiring it up directly, then insulating it would be a good idea. I thick sleeve of heat shrink might work will.

Re: Horn wires
 

thanks. I am to old to be this dumb. When I test the horn on the bench, GREAT PPFFLATTT IS heard. When I bolt it to the frame, nothing as the horn is shorted out. duuuuh. I have some fiber washers from train repairs and carb gaskets to insulate the horn wires

Re: Horn wires
 

Sounds a little strange, but maybe worth a try. I wouldn't think the ground point would matter, but? Can you post a photo of the horn?

Re: Horn wires
 

Golly this task has got me big. The horn sez Ford on it. It is a squawker, not a motor. one post is insulated, the other just now is, BUT:

There is only one wire inside the horn. It goes from the insulated stud to the coil which has an iron center core. The other end of the coil goes to a vibrator with points on it.

On the bench if I ground the horn case and attach negative battery post connection, the horn squawks.

Maybe I can't use this design?

Really grinding on me

Stay safe

Re: Horn wires
 

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First of all, what type of car are you doing this on? And what are you trying to use to 'beep' the horn....a normal steering wheel horn button? And if so, is there a horn wire coming all the way up through the steering shaft? DD

Re: Horn wires
 

So why wouldn't work the same on the car? Try setting the horn next to the car and check it with some jumper cables. Start with connecting a ground jumper from the battery to the horn. Then connect the other jumper to the horn, then touch it to the negative to check the horn. If that works, mount the horn on the car and check it again with the jumpers. If that works, hook up the horn button and try that with the ground jumper still connected. It's possible your not getting a good ground when mounted on the car.

Re: Horn wires
 

im confused any chance of a photo

Re: Horn wires
 

Your confused ! Oh Boy I am totally disorientated by this description. Horn mounted on the tail light ! I think Clem has been on the turps. Regards, Kevin.

Re: Horn wires
 

Look up hiway Jug handles in New Jersey and figure them out. Add humor to your thinking.

Re: Horn wires
 

That looks dumb. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jughandle

Re: Horn wires
 

In the old days the jug handles were helpful. Now they take up too much space and visitors don't know what to do. You thionk jug was bad, try a peanut circle!

Re: Horn wires
 

I spent 5 hours cleaning wires and puzzling horns. I got a regular horn tuned and installed. it said Moo sow I need to readjust it. I'm thinking the funny Ford horn probably was mounted on wood someplace so the second wire was not needed. I don't know how to post photos

Re: Horn wires
 

Did you attempt any more testing on your horn?