Fitting AIR HORNS

Fitting AIR HORNS

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Discussion

pat101

Original Poster:

214 posts

247 months

Saturday 25th June 2005
quotequote all
Hello Mini people, I wonder if any of you nice folks can give me some help with fitting of air horns to my girlfriends mini cooper (classic). I can't work out how to wire the switch and the relay and the compressor together. Girlfriend is impatiently foot tapping in the garage.....would really appreciate your advice!! :confused:

Dino42

151 posts

237 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
Connect the existing horn wires to the coil contacts of the relay.
Connect a fused 12v feed (from the fuse box is good) to one of the switched contacts on the relay, the final contact goes to the compressor '+'
Connect the '-' on the compressor to an earth point, or just to the mounting screw would probably do.

Relays usually have a little diagram on them showing you which pin is which, but if not the pins should be numbered as follows:
the coil contacts are 85 '-ve' and 86 '+ve'
30 and 87 are the switched contacts ie power in and out.
Normal relays are not sensitive to polarity so it doesn't matter which way round they go, but some have a diode in them to suppress voltage spikes so it pays to connect the coil contacts up the right way just in case! (the diode will go bang if you get it wrong)


>> Edited by Dino42 on Sunday 26th June 00:15

pat101

Original Poster:

214 posts

247 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
Thanks mate. Ideally she would like to keep the original horn as it is, so if we bought a new switch would the wiring be much different... Also we were wondering about taking the live feed from the starter motor, do you think thats a good idea or not?

Dino42

151 posts

237 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
Sure you can take a live feed from the starter solenoid - just make sure you put a fuse in the wire.
Oh yeh and take it from the always live side of course, otherwise it only works when you're cranking the engine

To use a separate switch I'd recommend taking a switched live feed (maybe from the radio or back of the dash somewhere) thro' the switch and to the relay coil terminal and then to earth.
The power side is the same as before.
Bear in mind that air horns use quite a lot of power so use thicker 28/030 wire for the power feeds.
14/030 is fine for the switch/relay coil side.

pat101

Original Poster:

214 posts

247 months

Sunday 26th June 2005
quotequote all
Many, many thanks for your help. I'll go and give it a try..watch this space!!