Horn Electrical Question

[Skywagon]

Lets start with my electrical prowess on a scale of 1-10. If an MSEE is a 10 and amateur is a 5, I am a 1 at best. Good wrencher but if can't be fixed with a hammer, must be an electrical problem. I digress

 

As many have posted the horn(singular) on the 14RT is nearly as effective as on my JC Higgins 1960 bicycle. On the other hand my horns (hi/lo) from my prior oil head were very effective.

 

I bought an additional horn from an oil head on ebay along with the BMW connector. I made a bracket and was able to mount it next to the factory horn without hitting the forks. Not much room on the new RT. I tapped into the original wire with positaps for the new horn.

 

I was very pleased when I honked the horn(s) as they were quite loud for 1 second. Then it wouldn't honk again unless I turned the key off and back on. Same thing each time. I could swap the horns around and either would work fine by itself from either connector, but they would cycle off when both plugged up requiring key off/on to honk.

 

So what to do...I assumed the factory horn was on a relay and shouldn't be an issue carrying a second BMW horn. Not sure though. I put it all back original and it works fine.

 

Well....there is the end of my electrical genius. Suggestions on what to do are greatly appreciated.

[dirtrider]

Evening David

 

It's not like old days when the horn was controlled by a simple stand alone relay. New horn system is basically computer controlled & current monitored.

 

You have a couple of choices--

 

Find 2 horns that draw less current than your existing pair.

 

Or- add a power relay to use battery power to power the new horn (or power both horns) using the present horn wire to trigger the relay.

 

 

 

[Skywagon]

Thanks DR...sounds like option 2 most likely and better cure. Any generic pictures and or recommended relay?

 

Do you think this would work

 

http://www.cycleterminal.com/horn-kits.html