Can I Get There By Bus?

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by jbell, Jan 10, 2019.

  1. jbell

    jbell Well-Known Member

    Dec 22, 2018
    59
    68
    Georgetown, TX, USA
    #1 jbell, Jan 10, 2019
    2016 Thruxton R. I'm going to install a louder horn. Plan to use the existing horn wires and button to activate the relay. Can I just tap into 12V for the horn or should I run a fused lead direct from battery? Don't want to send confusing signals through the bus. I'm assuming it has an "all connected" canbus system. Thank you. Jack.......just a few watts short of a load.
     
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  2. MrOrange

    MrOrange Guest

    #2 MrOrange, Jan 10, 2019
    No experience on bus, but I would definitely use a separate feed from the battery to power the horn.
    Did the same on my non-bus America, even left the old horn on, it peeped up a nano-second before the air horn. Worked well.
     
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  3. Tigcraft

    Tigcraft Unheard of Member

    Mar 29, 2014
    2,641
    800
    Holmfirth West Yorkshire
    #3 Tigcraft, Jan 10, 2019
    It’s just trial and error with sensitive electrics these days
     
  4. StrippleMont

    StrippleMont Senior Member

    Nov 5, 2016
    349
    220
    Round your way!
    #4 StrippleMont, Jan 10, 2019
    Run a fused power lead to the relay. Tap into the original horn pair to trigger relay. I have done this, and when the relay fails (and they do regularly), the original horn will still work!
     
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  5. jbell

    jbell Well-Known Member

    Dec 22, 2018
    59
    68
    Georgetown, TX, USA
    #5 jbell, Jan 11, 2019
    Thank you, this sounds good. However, when I put a voltmeter to the two horn terminals and to ground, they both showed 12v when key turned on. I was expecting one to be 12v and the other to go to ground. What am I missing?
     
  6. Oldyam

    Oldyam Grumpy Old Git

    May 14, 2017
    612
    500
    ireland
    #6 Oldyam, Jan 11, 2019
    Did you test the voltages with the wires disconnected from the horn as the horn button is often in the ground side of the circuit which means both sides of the horn read as 12v to ground because the power is fed through the horn at all times but only activates the horn on pressing the button to complete the circuit .
     
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  7. jbell

    jbell Well-Known Member

    Dec 22, 2018
    59
    68
    Georgetown, TX, USA
    #7 jbell, Jan 11, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2019
    Dooohhhhh, slaps myself in forehead. I measured voltage by pulling back the connectors just a bit. Will try again the correct way. This is slowly coming together. I'm using Hella twin horns, am still working on a suitable mounting. Thank you.
     
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