Wiring a new horn

Captn TJ

Active Member
Sep 19, 2017
872
Catawba Island, Oh
Boat Info
2005 280DA
Raymarine E80
Engines
5.0 with Bravo 3
I'm looking to install a trumpet horn on the top of the arch on a 280. I'm fine running the wires except for the switch. On the back of the EIM there's just one connector and the wires are pretty tight so difficult to identify the horn wire in the bundle. Is there another way to get to the existing horn wire so that I can utilize the horn switch on the EIM pad?
 
I did it on the 320... I forget what wire it is... They each have a number on them.. If you re search enough you should find a wiring digram for the boat.... Found it spliced it and put a relay in it...
 
I did it on the 320... I forget what wire it is... They each have a number on them.. If you re search enough you should find a wiring digram for the boat.... Found it spliced it and put a relay in it...
just curious why you put a relay on it. The instructions for this horn only show a momentary switch between it and power.
 
When I installed the air horn on my 330DA, I connected the horn power wire up in the bow where it had connected to the duck horn and I ran it back to the dash. That was easier than trying to separate the horn power wire in the bundled mass of wires at the EIM and dash. On my boat, the horn power wire was easy to identify because it is orange with a black stripe. I think that may be an ABYC standard, but the wiring schematic in your owners manual will tell you what color yours is. I also added a relay, but that was because the air pump draws more amps than the duck horn did. If you’re installing a regular electric trumpet horn I’m not sure you would need a relay.
 
Same on our 340. Located correct wire @ EIM and used relay. May not have needed relay, but now I have no worries of over taxing circuit and causing issue.
 
just curious why you put a relay on it. The instructions for this horn only show a momentary switch between it and power.
Same as what the others said.... And it was a air horn that I installed with a custom made bracket, power coated white...

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I did it on the 320... I forget what wire it is... They each have a number on them.. If you re search enough you should find a wiring digram for the boat.... Found it spliced it and put a relay in it...

^^^This is what I did when I added a trumpet set to my arch. I wired in a relay behind the dash to the activation side of the relay by splicing into the existing horn wire (my boat has switches, not an EIM). Then wired clean power and ground through the relay from other buses and then to the horns. I left the old horn in place and active. It is just inaudible over the trumpets now. (my horns are white powder coated Ongaro dual trumpets. Very loud.)
 
I have a 2003 340 dancer. I am contemplating trying to tie into the existing horn. How difficult is this
 
I do as well. The horn (red) pad on the stbd switch pad is a 12v switch, the only one on the pad. It has been a few years, but I believe there is a breaker for the horn that I hooked to. Make sure whatever horn you get doesnt draw more than the breaker supplies. If so, will need to use a relay.
 
I do as well. The horn (red) pad on the stbd switch pad is a 12v switch, the only one on the pad. It has been a few years, but I believe there is a breaker for the horn that I hooked to. Make sure whatever horn you get doesnt draw more than the breaker supplies. If so, will need to use a relay.
How do I access that/those wires? It’s a 12v electric air horn. I’m not sure what kind of power it will draw. My other option was to direct wire it to the battery and add a rocker switch.
 
Let me look on the boat tomorrow n get you better info. You can certainly use the current switch, just may need to use a relay. I will PM you tomorrow afternoon.
 
Here is a really bad drawing of how I tapped in and wired my dual trumpets and left the OEM horn in place as well. I have OEM rocker switches, but that does not matter. If you find the power feed for your old horn, you tap into that to feed the relay activation (86 on the relay)
Horn.jpg

clip_image001.jpg
 
If anyone could provide photos of how they wired Into a switch like this it would be greatly appreciated

Best bet would be to trace back from the horn to see what color wire feeds it and tap into that wire to feed to the activation side of a relay to actually power the new horn. I think Sea Ray's standard color for the horn power feed is Orange/black. Your supplemental owners manual should have the wiring diagram.
 
Here is a really bad drawing of how I tapped in and wired my dual trumpets and left the OEM horn in place as well. I have OEM rocker switches, but that does not matter. If you find the power feed for your old horn, you tap into that to feed the relay activation (86 on the relay)
View attachment 82988
clip_image001.jpg

Creekwood - thanks for the drawing! I have a few questions:

The horn I bought is just electric and according to the manufacturer, it draws 7 amps. I want to mount it to the arch. When I look at the EIM on my boat the horn is listed at 5 amps, so I need to use a relay, right?

Here is the horn:
https://www.pactrademarine.com/mari...ual-trumpet-horn-complete-set-12v-p-1471.html

1. What size fuse(s) should be used and where? The drawing says "fuse this line" and then "does not need a fuse" for the 86 pin.
2. Is there a place to tie the ground into behind the helm?
3. What size wire would you recommend?
4. What would I do differently if I dont want the Duck horn to work. I dont really care if it does.
5. Any particular relay? I found this one on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074QV54V1/ref=emc_b_5_t

Sorry if these seem like basic questions. I think this job isn't that difficult but wanted to get some advice first. Any other tips would be helpful! (how and where to run the wires, etc).

Thank you!
 
Creekwood - thanks for the drawing!
+1, very helpful. I also bought some trumpets to replace the duck horn but haven't yet thought about installation. This diagram really helps. I'm considering replacing the OEM switch with a 2 position ON-OFF-ON, where one side is for the original horn and the other is to the trumpets. That way I could give a warning shot before engaging the big guns.

For those with the trumpets, do they need to be installed canted down to drain any water that gets in?
 

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