Stebel air horn installation help (Updated 11/15 w/video!)
11-03-2006, 10:30 PM
#1
Senior Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 336
Stebel air horn installation help (Updated 11/15 w/video!)
My friend had an old Stebel air horn (GP2) set that we tried to install on my car (Scion xB). It's composed of an electric air compressor, two horns, and the connecting tubes. He did not have a relay (but it should have one). So we hooked it up but it didn't work. I've attached a crappy diagram of how we installed it.
I'm guessing the relay is needed, or maybe the compressor died somehow. Given the information and specs of the horn kit, what parts do I need to get this working? Thanks!
I'm guessing the relay is needed, or maybe the compressor died somehow. Given the information and specs of the horn kit, what parts do I need to get this working? Thanks!
11-03-2006, 10:45 PM
#2
Junior Member
N.G.S.O.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Atlanta (Va-Hi)
Posts: 10
Stop using now. A compressor can draw WAY too much amperage for the horn circuit.
you need to hook a relay to the current horn circuit and use that to switch a new power line to the compressor.
Take a look here for decent instruction:
http://home.cfl.rr.com/genecash/air_...rn_wiring.html
you need to hook a relay to the current horn circuit and use that to switch a new power line to the compressor.
Take a look here for decent instruction:
http://home.cfl.rr.com/genecash/air_...rn_wiring.html
11-04-2006, 06:07 AM
#3
Senior Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 336
Originally Posted by jonnyp
Stop using now. A compressor can draw WAY too much amperage for the horn circuit.
you need to hook a relay to the current horn circuit and use that to switch a new power line to the compressor.
Take a look here for decent instruction:
http://home.cfl.rr.com/genecash/air_...rn_wiring.html
you need to hook a relay to the current horn circuit and use that to switch a new power line to the compressor.
Take a look here for decent instruction:
http://home.cfl.rr.com/genecash/air_...rn_wiring.html
ISO (Bosch) Standard Automotive Relay
The horn compressor draws nearly 20 amps, which is a lot of current. A relay is needed to protect the stock horn switch and wiring. If it's not used then the horn will not be nearly as loud due to the resistance of the small wire, and there's a good chance of burning up the wiring or spark-welding the switch contacts together.
These are standard 4 or 5 pin relays packaged in a 1" cube with a small mounting tab. They're available at most auto parts stores. If it has a 5th pin (87a), it may be either a duplicate output pin tied to pin 87 or a reverse of the output pin as in the circuit diagram below. There's usually no way of telling from the retail packaging. Other than that, the pin configuration is standard. A 4-pin model is fine for this application. One of these is supplied with the Wolo horn kit.
Putting a small current across terminals 85 & 86 energizes the coil, which then pulls in the pole that connects the common pin 30 to the output pin 87, and disconnects pin 87a if it exists. Note that these are standard pin IDs. This style relay is usually rated for 30 amps, which gives us a comfortable margin.
The horn compressor draws nearly 20 amps, which is a lot of current. A relay is needed to protect the stock horn switch and wiring. If it's not used then the horn will not be nearly as loud due to the resistance of the small wire, and there's a good chance of burning up the wiring or spark-welding the switch contacts together.
These are standard 4 or 5 pin relays packaged in a 1" cube with a small mounting tab. They're available at most auto parts stores. If it has a 5th pin (87a), it may be either a duplicate output pin tied to pin 87 or a reverse of the output pin as in the circuit diagram below. There's usually no way of telling from the retail packaging. Other than that, the pin configuration is standard. A 4-pin model is fine for this application. One of these is supplied with the Wolo horn kit.
Putting a small current across terminals 85 & 86 energizes the coil, which then pulls in the pole that connects the common pin 30 to the output pin 87, and disconnects pin 87a if it exists. Note that these are standard pin IDs. This style relay is usually rated for 30 amps, which gives us a comfortable margin.
It looks like that's what I'll go off of, the only difference being I won't be splitting the wire from #87 on the relay since I have only one connection to the compressor.
11-05-2006, 12:35 AM
#4
Senior Member
TOCC
SL Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Olivehurst, CA
Posts: 1,769
i used did that concept, used the horn circuit to the relay, and power to the relay for the compressor, however, those style compressors have a tendancy to die, im on my second, honestly, get somthing better!! i want to get rid of mine!!! sounds like my car is dying!!!
11-06-2006, 12:52 PM
#6
Senior Member
SL Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Paducah, KY
Posts: 203
Re: Stebel air horn installation help
Check my profile and you'll see mine installed. Mine are chrome since I used to have them on the radiator guard of my ACE1100.
1st things 1st, try the compressor just off the battery. It should wind up and blow. If it doesn't, then it's time to go shopping. Mine was on my scoot for a couple years, sat around the garage for a year or more, and now is installed and working just fine. It's a Fiamm.
1st things 1st, try the compressor just off the battery. It should wind up and blow. If it doesn't, then it's time to go shopping. Mine was on my scoot for a couple years, sat around the garage for a year or more, and now is installed and working just fine. It's a Fiamm.
11-06-2006, 01:48 PM
#7
Senior Member
SL Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kearny, NJ
Posts: 174
are these horns loud? like illegal loud? cause that's what i'm looking for.
actually i'm looking at www.hornblasters.com
actually i'm looking at www.hornblasters.com
11-10-2006, 08:08 AM
#9
Senior Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 336
I bought the relay today at Pep Boys for $3, got the other various connectors and it works great! I disconnected the stock horns because it doesn't sound right together, plus the stock horns go off slightly sooner.
I drove around with the front fascia removed and that **** was loud!
I drove around with the front fascia removed and that **** was loud!
11-13-2006, 09:00 PM
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Actually, I'm looking to do a horn job on my new '06 xB too. The stock horn is way too wimpy--last night I actually had to *veer*!
Wolo (http://www.wolo-mfg.com) has quite a few horns, and their kinda inexpensive. I'm worried they won't last. Of course, at the price it shouldn't matter. They have a couple of small compressor-type ones that say they're plug'n'play for electrics? Anyone have any experiences with these?
How much current is the xB horn circuit good for, anyway?
Wolo (http://www.wolo-mfg.com) has quite a few horns, and their kinda inexpensive. I'm worried they won't last. Of course, at the price it shouldn't matter. They have a couple of small compressor-type ones that say they're plug'n'play for electrics? Anyone have any experiences with these?
How much current is the xB horn circuit good for, anyway?
11-13-2006, 09:22 PM
#11
Senior Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 336
The Wolo kit comes with everything you need except the wiring. I used 14 gauge wire and various connectors from Home Depot (butt connectors, ground connectors, female connectors). Follow the instructions on the Wolo kit because I actually had to rewire it due to a bad ground (sand the paint where you want to ground it).
11-14-2006, 12:40 AM
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Wolo Air Horn
Well, I was thinking of the Wolo "Bad Boy" (described at http://www.wolo-mfg.com/air.htm), for which the description states: "Installs in minutes by simply transferring the factory horn wires to the compressor."
However, the sound is a bit too high-pitched and tinny--love Wolo's sound samples--so I'm thinking about getting one of the bigger horns with the separate compressor, or one of the "Extreme" horns (http://www.wolo-mfg.com/xtreme.htm), which Wolo says are "designed for the new craze of sport import and performance vehicles."
Question is, can I work it off of the current horn circuit, or do I have to create a new circuit and link it with the horn swith with a relay?
However, the sound is a bit too high-pitched and tinny--love Wolo's sound samples--so I'm thinking about getting one of the bigger horns with the separate compressor, or one of the "Extreme" horns (http://www.wolo-mfg.com/xtreme.htm), which Wolo says are "designed for the new craze of sport import and performance vehicles."
Question is, can I work it off of the current horn circuit, or do I have to create a new circuit and link it with the horn swith with a relay?
11-14-2006, 06:54 AM
#16
Senior Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 336
Re: Wolo Air Horn
Originally Posted by Neitsdelf
Well, I was thinking of the Wolo "Bad Boy" (described at http://www.wolo-mfg.com/air.htm), for which the description states: "Installs in minutes by simply transferring the factory horn wires to the compressor."
However, the sound is a bit too high-pitched and tinny--love Wolo's sound samples--so I'm thinking about getting one of the bigger horns with the separate compressor, or one of the "Extreme" horns (http://www.wolo-mfg.com/xtreme.htm), which Wolo says are "designed for the new craze of sport import and performance vehicles."
Question is, can I work it off of the current horn circuit, or do I have to create a new circuit and link it with the horn swith with a relay?
However, the sound is a bit too high-pitched and tinny--love Wolo's sound samples--so I'm thinking about getting one of the bigger horns with the separate compressor, or one of the "Extreme" horns (http://www.wolo-mfg.com/xtreme.htm), which Wolo says are "designed for the new craze of sport import and performance vehicles."
Question is, can I work it off of the current horn circuit, or do I have to create a new circuit and link it with the horn swith with a relay?
11-14-2006, 02:57 PM
#17
Senior Member
SL Member
Team ScioNRG
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Cattahochie, CT
Posts: 1,118
Originally Posted by cvrefugee
Yeah, I'm buying a different air horn setup just in case the compressor is dead. It's a PITA to remove the front fascia!
11-14-2006, 05:02 PM
#19
Senior Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 336
Originally Posted by sandwich
where are you guys mounting these horns? any drilling required?
11-14-2006, 09:41 PM
#20
Senior Member
SL Member
Team ScioNRG
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Cattahochie, CT
Posts: 1,118
a local shop mounted mine like yours, they used a little flimsy piece of flat angled metal...
zpi took care of me and fabbed up a custom steel piece, and mounted it up... no more rattle and loud as a mother...
zpi took care of me and fabbed up a custom steel piece, and mounted it up... no more rattle and loud as a mother...