Battery (-) does = Ground & Horn Questions

Just a quick question:
Can a new (horn) circuit be wired to the neg terminal for ground? Or are these bikes wired where the ground block SOMEWHERE(S) connects to the actual frame?

 

Re: Does Neg Terminal = Ground??

(-) battery terminal is connected to ground.

In a stock horn set up it's the (-) ground that is switched. The (+) to the horn is always hot. The button completes the circuit by grounding it to the handle bars.

 

Re: Does Neg Terminal = Ground??

Thanks and good to know MiCarl. The neg horn switch is perfect for a quick install with the relay.

I have 2x Fiamm Freeway Blaster horns, a horn relay and a newly installed fuse panel.

The next question would be 10 or 20 amp fuse? One horn directions suggests 10a... So if I use 2 horns I double the fuse right?

 

Re: Does Neg Terminal = Ground??

yep go for 20, wow thats a lot of horn there buddy, you might stall if you toot at a red light

 

Re: Does Neg Terminal = Ground??

Well I do intend to check the alternator brushes shortly. Put in more leds (but not the turn signals just yet). So my idling load will be going down as I upgrade more.

 

Re: Does Neg Terminal = Ground??

I just plugged the connectors that went to my old horn onto the relay. Ran fused hot (straight from the battery) through the relay to the horn. Grounded the other horn terminal to the nearest convenient point.

That way you can use the stock switch and not have to screw around with primary wiring for the relay.

Just remembered I had a diagram.....

 

Re: Does Neg Terminal = Ground??

OH I so am not going to touch that one... 8O

 

Re: Does Neg Terminal = Ground??

Thanks for the info.
That is basically my plan with 2x horns (high and low tone).

 

Re: Does Neg Terminal = Ground?? YES + Horn Diagram

So I'm confused and need to figure it out before I start cutting my new wires.

MiCarl posted this which is how he successfully installed his horns.


Yet I look at the directions for a "neg activated" device on the directions for the Fiamm relay I bought. It does not match up.


So I'm confused by the relay's "B" diagram... It shows both 86 and 30 HOT, 85 going to the horn(s) (+) and 87 going DIRECTLY to the horn button.

If I need to found MiCarl's diagram, how exactly do I hook up the horn button to the relay? Just cut the pink wire and connect both ends to 85 and 86 on the relay?

Should I follow MiCarl's diagram or the manufacture's directions?

I'm double checking, because I don't want to fry my new relay or horns. (I'll have a new 20A fuse so that's not a big deal).

 

your so confused you almost confused me !
1 wire comes from the horn button, so far so good
when you push the button the wire is either + or -, if it's + it's A, if - it's B
before you push the button it has no charge, in Micarl's drawing it don't matter 85 and 86 are either + or - , if the switch is on the + wire it would be a A if it's on the - wire it's a B
now to get real confused, remember that electricity goes from negative to positive

 

Re: Does Neg Terminal = Ground??

So, I SHOULD follow diagram B.

Snip Pink wire coming FROM the horn button and connect it to relay. #85
Run (+) from (new) 20A fuse panel connection to 2 places on relay. #86 #30
Run Wire from #87 towards horns - Split for both horns
Run Ground (-) wires back from both horns to common ground or battery terminal (my intent).
Reconnect battery and insert fuse then LOUD fracking horns?

EDIT:
This is why I opt'ed for new horns.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pu0XMMio78

Sound right and plan english for all?

 

a good thing to do when wiring extras up is to find a good bolt that is handy to get at and is a good clean ( stainless ) ground.
then make a few short jumpers with ring connectors on one end and male spades on the other, put some grease on the bolt and tighten
all the ring connectors down real good, then use the spade connectors for all your grounds
now their all in one place, easy to check or un-hook and no chance of messing up the battery terminals, because their all greased up and tightened down real good and should be considered sacred

 

good tip... not sure where/which bolt I'd use...

but my above plain English connections sound right?

 

i didn't read them :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

just kidding, their right

 

Good now I can work on the wires and look for a common ground bolt while the roofer's finish my roof.

 

The diagram I posted is similar to "B" in your instructions. The difference is that the equivalent of the connection between terminals 86 and 30 in the "B" diagram is provided by the stock horn wiring.

 

Well I wired up the dual horns. I was pleasantly surpised the relay came with 2 connectors to plug into the horns. (Well it was made by Fiamm also).

Here is a test video. Note tank was off and running of fuel left in tube/carbs. 1 horn will honk w/o running. 2 horns will not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz61od-9kgw

More info/pics in my electrical project post when I get a chance.

One bad thing... They don't fit where the stock horns are, and I haven't installed the fairing bracket yet (which has space for the horns).

 

I had that problem with dual Bad Boys on my Venture. Heavier gauge wiring cleared it up.

 

I bumped it up to 14 gauge. I figured that would be enough. Since I just completed a custom wiring harness where 4 wires barely fit in the (solid uncut) tubing I have I hope I don't NEED to go larger. That would be a lot of TIME, connectors, heat shrink and 2 more spools of wire to buy.



EDIT: Red wire wrapped with some white tape at intervals to help me remember it's pink not HOT (+). FYI: I chose blue as my (+) instead of brown. My choice...

 

The 14ga might be a bit light. I think I went from 16 to 14 to straighten mine out but each of my horns has its own supply. On my Venture the radiator and fan is between them so it was less wire to run a separate hot to each.

 

I picked up the Stebel Nautilus horn its a two tone 132 dB horn comes with really simple wiring diagram and instructions. I found a great deal, was 55 bucks incl shipping.

The Horn once installed and took me 20 minutes, is beautifully loud and I even scared the wife when we were out for a ride when i gve it a little push.

 

Perhaps I'll upgrade to 12 when I get a chance. However store was out of stock on several colors last time I was there.

 

[quote="Metal_Bob]EDIT: Red wire wrapped with some white tape at intervals to help me remember it's pink not HOT (+). FYI: I chose blue as my (+) instead of brown. My choice...[/quote]
I like the work, nicely done.
Blue is typically switched +12vdc in aftermarket wiring, you should be ok with that. I've seen white as an alternate.

 

awg 14 wire will carry 30+ amps all day long, #12, 41 amps so it isn't the wire that's holding you back
i suspect your battery just ain't got the beans to toot them both without the engine running

 

Possible or it just needs a charge - not been on the road lately... More than a handful of starts w/o charging rpms while testing stuff and moving bike around.

 

put your charger on it when they set with a partial charge, sulfation starts

 

Kinda hard w/o a garage during a rainy week. But I hear what you are saying.

 

FYI: With a charged battery, the horns work just fine w/o the engine running.

Properly mounted, they are LOUD!!!! I may still be ignored, but I will be HEARD!

I was coming to a red light slowly and had about 3 car lengths to go before I stopped. Car flew around me to get in front of me just to turn left. (1 Lane no turn lane/light and a right turn lane). So I blew my horns REALLY loud/long as I passed her and 3 other left turners, weaving into the turning lane just slightly. HA take that! (I fumbled and couldn't find the horn as she cut me off, not that it would have stopped her!)