The Ford Barn

dgkipp · 05-09-2020, 09:45 AM

Hi Guys, I am changing my 35 ford over to 12 volts. Can my original horn be used?

corvette8n · 05-09-2020, 10:00 AM

Probably but it will sound funny, are you using a relay?, if so I'd change it to a twelve volt one.

G.M. · 05-09-2020, 11:10 AM

There are adjustment screws on most horns and they can be
adjusted to work on 6 or 12 volts. G.M.

51504bat · 05-09-2020, 02:20 PM

When I converted my '39 p/u to 12 volts I didn't change the horn. Just hooked it up. Plenty loud. The sound is a bit different but it definitely gets people's attention.

1948F-1Pickup · 05-09-2020, 02:52 PM

Put two stock ones on my '48 and wired them in series. Works like a charm on 12 volts.

paul2748 · 05-09-2020, 08:03 PM

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My 54 has been converted to 12V but using the 6 volt horns. They are LOUD but no problems with them. Was done over twelve years ago.

JayChicago · 05-09-2020, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1948F-1Pickup

Put two stock ones on my '48 and wired them in series. Works like a charm on 12 volts.

How did you do that? Don't they each go to ground through the mounting?

rotorwrench · 05-10-2020, 10:14 AM

Horns were originally manufactured and adjusted to a certain amperage draw for the vibrator circuit. The points can be adjusted but a person needs to know what amperage to set it at to insure longevity of the vibrator coils and points. Higher voltage will change the current draw. A large resistor can be installed in the circuit to drop the voltage & current back to normal.

Wiring them is series will change the current draw but I don't know if the drop factor will equal what a dropping resistor will do.

drolston · 05-10-2020, 03:49 PM

Reference the thread I started:

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278797

The '35 horn(s) probably have a different current draw than my '41, but you could experiment like I did to arrive at the right amount of resistance. Maybe start with one 0.5 Ohm resistor (10 watt). The horn will probably not work at all with that value. Just keep adding resistors in parallel until the horn works on battery alone (engine off). Two 0.5 Ohm resistors in parallel would result in 0.25 Ohms; three would be 0.167 Ohms; four would be 0.125 Ohms. Mine worked with the 0.125 Ohm configuration.

1948F-1Pickup · 05-10-2020, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayChicago

How did you do that? Don't they each go to ground through the mounting?

Mine have two terminals at the top..... easy to to wire them in series to ground.

dgkipp · 05-12-2020, 11:59 AM

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

05-09-2020, 09:45 AM	#1
dgkipp Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 64	12volt horn? Hi Guys, I am changing my 35 ford over to 12 volts. Can my original horn be used?

05-09-2020, 10:00 AM	#2
corvette8n Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY Posts: 2,950	Re: 12volt horn? Probably but it will sound funny, are you using a relay?, if so I'd change it to a twelve volt one.

05-09-2020, 11:10 AM	#3
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: 12volt horn? There are adjustment screws on most horns and they can be adjusted to work on 6 or 12 volts. G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com

05-09-2020, 02:20 PM	#4
51504bat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: SoCal-Redlands Posts: 3,018	Re: 12volt horn? When I converted my '39 p/u to 12 volts I didn't change the horn. Just hooked it up. Plenty loud. The sound is a bit different but it definitely gets people's attention. __________________ Making the simple complicated for over 30 years.

05-09-2020, 02:52 PM	#5
1948F-1Pickup Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Socal Posts: 795	Re: 12volt horn? Put two stock ones on my '48 and wired them in series. Works like a charm on 12 volts.

05-09-2020, 08:03 PM	#6
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,982	Re: 12volt horn? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) My 54 has been converted to 12V but using the 6 volt horns. They are LOUD but no problems with them. Was done over twelve years ago. __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

05-10-2020, 10:14 AM	#8
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: 12volt horn? Horns were originally manufactured and adjusted to a certain amperage draw for the vibrator circuit. The points can be adjusted but a person needs to know what amperage to set it at to insure longevity of the vibrator coils and points. Higher voltage will change the current draw. A large resistor can be installed in the circuit to drop the voltage & current back to normal. Wiring them is series will change the current draw but I don't know if the drop factor will equal what a dropping resistor will do.

05-10-2020, 03:49 PM	#9
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: 12volt horn? Reference the thread I started: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278797 The '35 horn(s) probably have a different current draw than my '41, but you could experiment like I did to arrive at the right amount of resistance. Maybe start with one 0.5 Ohm resistor (10 watt). The horn will probably not work at all with that value. Just keep adding resistors in parallel until the horn works on battery alone (engine off). Two 0.5 Ohm resistors in parallel would result in 0.25 Ohms; three would be 0.167 Ohms; four would be 0.125 Ohms. Mine worked with the 0.125 Ohm configuration.

05-12-2020, 11:59 AM	#11
dgkipp Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 64	Re: 12volt horn? Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.