Hornwire polarity

[Clem Clement]

The horn wire from the horn button to the horn coil makes a ground connection, right? Since my after market tooter is non-Ford and l had two terminals, does it matter how I wire the horn?

[rotorwrench]

The button in normally the ground for the horn or horn relay depending on the year of the vehicle. A horn with two terminals will have power to one and grounding control to the other. What year model are we dealing with here?

[Clem Clement]

sorry: 1939 Ford peekup

[G.M.]

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

The horn wire from the horn button to the horn coil makes a ground connection, right? Since my after market tooter is non-Ford and l had two terminals, does it matter how I wire the horn?

The horn itself can be hooked up either polarity if it has two terminals.
Some horns work on 6 or 12 volts. The ones I bought have a screw to
adjust the tone as voltage effects how they sound. G.M.

[rotorwrench]

Your 1939 likely predated the horn relay unless it's a Deluxe model. They only list them for Deluxe on the 91A-13842 relay.

[Clem Clement]

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thanks all. It is a non Ford horn which I removed,

[JSeery]

Hook it up and test it. Easy to rig it up and not going to do any damage.

[Clem Clement]

will do. Both test wires failed today...

[JSeery]

Clem, how does a test wire fail? Are they melting?

[Clem Clement]

old homey did wires, Taped connections instead of solder, loose clamp connections. No biggy, just annoying

[JSeery]

Ok, I thought you were just testing it with a couple of new wires direct to the battery.

[Clem Clement]

one set of wires was poorly spliced and the other the gator clasp fell off.
no biggee.

[Clem Clement]

Some where I reported that the horn is working. The fuse in the voltage rheostat had a loose end and a hair line crack.

please remind me of what that thing is for?

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

Some where I reported that the horn is working. The fuse in the voltage rheostat had a loose end and a hair line crack.

please remind me of what that thing is for?

They are designed to make old Ford guys ask questions.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

Some where I reported that the horn is working. The fuse in the voltage rheostat had a loose end and a hair line crack.

please remind me of what that thing is for?

Ok, what are you referring to as a rheostat? That term is normally used for a variable resistor, like on an adjustable dimmer switch. And which fuse? There is only one on the fuse panel. There should not be any rheostats on a 39 pickup unless someone added one somewhere. And then it should only be connected to the dash lights. Unless we are talking about a heater control switch.

Any chance you are referring to the ballast resistor?

[Clem Clement]

It is about 6 inches long make of beaver board. It has a fuse and the covered coil of nichrome wire and 2 terminals. I think the metal cover is a shield from the hot wire.

PM me at Clem.clement@com and I will send a photo

[JSeery]

That is the fuse panel and ballast resistor. The fuse is for the lighting circuits and the ballast resistor is related to the ignition coil. There is no direct connection between them except being locater close to each other.

Just happen to have one laying on my table.

[JSeery]

Clem, see if this diagram is useful, it shows the fuse panel and the wiring.