Wiring a new horn

[Creekwood]

+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?

I did angle them down a bit by using a starbord spacer under the rear mount. Its not much angle but they don't fill with water. My Ongaro's are all stainless and I am in fresh water so no issues at all with mine over the 10 years since install.

Interesting idea with the on/off/on momentary switch idea to allow the duck horn to be used in close quarters. I want to change my cover to red to avoid accidental usage too, so maybe do both tasks at once.

 

[Creekwood]

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

My answers in bold below:

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?
Yes, a relay is needed.

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.
Fuse that goes from switch to 86 on the relay does not draw the power for the horn. It just activates the relay. I would think a 2 amp or less would be plenty. If you didn't fuse that one, it is probably not a major deal since the switch itself is already on a fused/breaker protected line.

The power supply that goes to pin 30 does carry the full power to the horn, so should be just slightly higher than the total amp draw on that wire. So if it only feeds your 7 amp horn, I would use a 10amp fuse. That wire that brings power to the relay is the main power feed and needs to be fused.

2. Is there a place to tie the ground into behind the helm?
Yes. There will be somewhere. Mine is a bus bar with black wires running to it. You have have space on the bus to add a wire or can add another bus bar tagging on the the existing one.

3. What size wire would you recommend?
Depends on the amps and length of run to the horn and from power to the relay. Google DC wire gauge and you should find a chart.

4. What would I do differently if I dont want the Duck horn to work. I dont really care if it does.
Instead of tapping into the duck feed line (my words at the bottom of my really bad drawing above) just disconnect the wire to the duck and connect the relay wire to where the duck wire was.

5. Any particular relay? I found this one on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074QV54V1/ref=emc_b_5_t
I just used an automotive horn relay. They are designed for horns, simple, durable and waterproof (even though it is behind the dash panel so if it ever got wet, I have MUCH bigger issues to deal with)

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![/QUOTE]

 

[mdolesh]

My answers in bold below:

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?
Yes, a relay is needed.

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.
Fuse that goes from switch to 86 on the relay does not draw the power for the horn. It just activates the relay. I would think a 2 amp or less would be plenty. If you didn't fuse that one, it is probably not a major deal since the switch itself is already on a fused/breaker protected line.

The power supply that goes to pin 30 does carry the full power to the horn, so should be just slightly higher than the total amp draw on that wire. So if it only feeds your 7 amp horn, I would use a 10amp fuse. That wire that brings power to the relay is the main power feed and needs to be fused.

2. Is there a place to tie the ground into behind the helm?
Yes. There will be somewhere. Mine is a bus bar with black wires running to it. You have have space on the bus to add a wire or can add another bus bar tagging on the the existing one.

3. What size wire would you recommend?
Depends on the amps and length of run to the horn and from power to the relay. Google DC wire gouge and you should find a chart.

4. What would I do differently if I dont want the Duck horn to work. I dont really care if it does.
Instead of tapping into the duck feed line (my words at the bottom) just disconnect the wire to the duck and connect the relay wire to where the duck wire was

5. Any particular relay? I found this one on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074QV54V1/ref=emc_b_5_t
I just used an automotive horn relay. They are designed for horns, simple, durable and waterproof (even though it is behind the dash panel so if it ever got wet, I have MUCH bigger issues to deal with)
View attachment 100636

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!

[/QUOTE]
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the info!
Matt

 

[caseycody]

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?

can you access horn wires on a 340 sundancer thru the rope locker on bow.

 

[Korkie]

Yes you can. It is a bit awkward. But you can do it. I added trumpets to my arch and wired them to the original switch circuit coming out of the EIM. Just disconnected and isolated the ones to the duck horn in the anchor locker in case ever wanted to reconnect them.