Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Late last fall I scored a functional 6v police siren. I'd like to install it in my truck. I've got a hole in my dash that I think a p15 starter button with install right into. What else will I need? Anyone know what gauge wire this thing requires? I suspect they draw a lot of amps. Will it require some sorta relay?

Posted
Dang..I was expecting to see a very exciting woman ...

put a amp guage inline...connect it stright up and get an ideal of the current..a relay is always a good idea..heavy guage wire will probably be a given...

that made me chuckle:)

Posted

I used to buy and sell used police cars and all the mechanical sirens used a relay. Many of them also had a 'siren-horn' switch that allowed you to press the horn button to sound the siren. It let you change from grounding the horn relay to grounding the siren relay. Something like that shouldn't be too difficult to wire.

Posted

Ed, use at least wire 1/4 inch----and you can use a foot starting button similar as a high-low beam button. I had a 60 Buick ambulance with the same set up. Check with John Dorgan in Az he should have what you need. He is on the web and lives on Stella Road. A relay of some sort could be used also---you still need a heavy guage wire as sirens are just a starter.

Posted

So if its just like a starter could I use a starter relay/solenoid? I probably have some of those laying around. For how often I accidentally hit the high beam switch in my pickup I think I'd rather stick to the dash switch.

Posted (edited)

Ed, the starter button should work fine.

I didn't use a relay or anything, just wired it up to power & button.

Works OK.

I use a starter button for my oogah horn.

100_2874.jpg

post-10-13585354399676_thumb.jpg

Edited by BobT-47P15
Posted
Ed, the starter button should work fine.

I didn't use a relay or anything, just wired it up to power & button.

Works OK.

I use a starter button for my oogah horn.

100_2874.jpg

Bob, could you tell me where each of the wires go on your siren? I have the same one, but it has 2 red and 2 white wires. Don't have the wiring instructions. By using this pic, where do the 2 wires on the right go and the 2 wires on the left?

Thanks, Ed

Posted

I'll have to go out and look to see what I did.......have forgotten the

details. Wish I had made myself a diagram when installing it to use

when someone asked later.... (Maybe that's why NASA never hired me

as a rocket scientist.:eek:)

Posted

I had one just like Bob's mounted on the railing of my patio boat. It only had 2 wires so I hooked one to ground and the other to a toggle switch on the pos. side.( no relay ) Worked for years. The grand kids loved it. The wife didn't. She didn't like my big truck air horns either.

Posted

The one I have has quite the motor in it. I just heard from john at the sirenman.com and he said it draws 30amps peak.

Posted

Tim what size wire am I looking at for that draw? 10? 8? bigger yet? And yes Tim your PM was right on the mark for amp draw.

Posted

I had seen a few of these in the past..they beefy motors...matter of fact saw a couple at the last swap meet...if I was ever in the mind to do a squad..they are the ticket...

10 guage should safely carry the circuit but if you could snag #8 your voltage drop would be less...this is based on less than 12 feet of wire run..

Posted

Tim I'll be shopping for this project so I can buys what I wants :) All I have on hand is 12 and 14. Will be from the grill to the firewall of a 46 dodge pickup. Shouldn't be 12ft in that span.

Posted

Wellll......I just went out and looked about the siren. My wire isn't

very heavy, but not sure what gauge. Probably should be a bit

heftier, but it works.

There is a kind of flat push button attached to bottom edge under the

dash with two wires from it. Both, of course, go thru the firewall.....

one attaches to the front stud of the solenoid to receive power.

The other goes on up front to one side of the siren (there are two wires

on it). The second wire from the siren goes to a small nut and bolt

on the framework of the grille, for a ground. No relay is used.

There may be a better system, but this works on mine.

Hope this helps.

Posted

Ed,

I've seen squad cars with Ford-style (actually Mopar-syle ...duh) starter relays to provide current to the siren.

If it hasn't been mentioned before, don't forget a fuse or circuit breaker to protect the system.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Terms of Use