Commuting - Car Horn Installation

I want to install a car horn on my bike. I recall reading a while back on this forum that such a simple accessory can earn a cyclist a signifcant amount of respect from motorists.

Has anyone else done this? Can anyone offer any tips on mounting a horn on one's bike? Thanks.

I want to install a car horn on my bike. I recall reading a while back on this forum that such a simple accessory can earn a cyclist a signifcant amount of respect from motorists.

Has anyone else done this? Can anyone offer any tips on mounting a horn on one's bike? Thanks.

It's easy. But you need the basics: a 12V power supply (4 or 5 amp/hr sealed lead acid rechargable battery, a safety fuse, a car horn, and a push-button or other switch to activate the horn.

But be advised that a car horn puts a serious drain on a 5 amp/hr battery, so you can't go honking it a lot, or the battery will die on you. But in a pinch, it will be as loud as a car's.

I tried it, but I quit using it because I felt I didn't need it.

Happy riding! :beer:

For the weight and hassle, an AirZound is just as loud as a run-of-the-mill car horn. It's nothing to write home about. No one will think a freight train or a cab-over peterbilt is about to make their world an unhappy place, but it's loud enough to hear. Or you could get the marine boat compressed gas horns, if you don't mind pissing off the environmentalists by venting greenhouse gases.

A few months ago I almost mounted a small marine horn to my handlebars. Then decided it would be used so seldom it wasn't worth it. You can find them made without CFCs, or refillable that are cheaper than the AirZound. Although the AirZound has the advantage of being made specifically to mount on a bike.

Any of these would be a smaller, lighter package than what would be required for a car horn.

Or you could get the marine boat compressed gas horns, if you don't mind pissing off the environmentalists by venting greenhouse gases.

AirZound makes a handheld unit that runs on compressed air.
The marine air horns don't work when it gets really cold because the gas doesn't expand enough. Not sure about how well the AirZound does.

I bought a car horn to mount on my bike years ago, but never got around to it, and probably never will since I don't think I'd have occasion to use it more than once a year or so.

Can anyone offer any tips on mounting a horn on one's bike?.

A 6V DC scooter horn will work off 4 AA 1.5V alkaline batteries or 5 AA 1.2V rechargeable batteries.

I made one thats powered by a modified foot pump :D cant find pics right now but Ill take some tomorrow :) EDIT: OK, I found this one pic, if you look to the right of the Apollo youll see my Derby bike that has the dual car horns mounted to the front springer fork =)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/firstplace002-1.jpg

I want to install a car horn on my bike. I recall reading a while back on this forum that such a simple accessory can earn a cyclist a signifcant amount of respect from motorists.

Has anyone else done this? Can anyone offer any tips on mounting a horn on one's bike? Thanks.

Dude, are you even reading your replies?

Yes I'm reading dude.

I recently purchased a horn at my LCS and attempted to power it with a type A23 battery. This method did not work. I am working on finding a small 12v power supply right now. Pics to come if I succeed

Try the AirZound. It's lighter than a car horn and cheaper. In the winter, just make sure you pump it up to the required pressure and it should work just fine. There's no need to haul around a lead acid battery just for a horn!

Why stop there?? :D

http://www.hornblasters.com/

http://www.groverproducts.com/train.htm

Just wear ear plugs!

Here are the pics. as loud as any car! ;) I posted a bunch so you can see how it was done. all custom by me! :D sorry treeunit, didnt mean to sound like an arse =)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/airhorn007.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/airhorn006.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/airhorn005.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/airhorn004.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/airhorn003.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/airhorn002.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/airhorn001.jpg

That looks cool Ilikebikes!

I like the "retro" headlight too. It reminds me of the ones that were on my Grandma's bike when I was a kid...

Cool aray of bikes in the background too!

Yes I'm reading dude.

I recently purchased a horn at my LCS and attempted to power it with a type A23 battery. This method did not work. I am working on finding a small 12v power supply right now. Pics to come if I succeed

Wait, you tried to power a car horn with an A23? That battery is rated for 40 ma average draw. That's 0.04 amps. A car horn draws something like 8 to 10 amps. You need 250 A23 batteries in parallel :eek:

The A23 is designed for running things like remote controls, not high current devices.

Seriously, a car horn draws a whole bunch of power. You need a battery that's going to weigh more than the horn itself does, and you're going to need a pretty hefty switch to drive it without melting.

^^Yeah that's what I've found. Still looking for a small 12v supply, small enough to fit under the nose of the seat.

I have been using a car horn for years. It is wired to the SLA battery (right now a 5 Ahr, part of my Geek light system) located under my seat in a cheap Bell bag. The horn switch is mounted on the stem with a short section of inner tube over it to keep the rain out. I had an AirZound, but didn't like some of the shortcomings: reduced sound in cold weather or high speed, and drivers not recognizing the sound. The car horn makes a recognizable sound--drivers think CAR!--and slow down or stop. I had drivers keep going while looking around for what made the AirZound sound. Here is a link to a picture of my cockpit (http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=60839&d=1197731568). The switch is on the bottom and the horn is between the two lights.

My battery.... oh, thats right, I dont need batteries! :D