Horn wiring for 12V system

[BobB]

I managed to find an original horn advertised as "working."

of course, I wanted to test it as soon as it arrived. I used the larger runtz that I plan to use for the heater fan to drop the voltage since the horn is 6V.

when I put the runtz between the battery and the horn, it made a short grumble that I doubt would be audible from inside the hood.

When I connected the horn straight to the battery, it sounded off quite nicely. My hearing has returned.

Here are my questions

did I used too much resistance the first try so that It didn't get the 6V it needed?

Will running 12V through one of these horns damage the mechanism? there doesn't seem to be any electronics to damage, just an electromagnet.

the horn is labelled "THE ELECTRIC AUTO-LITE CO". 6-VOLT, MAD IN U.S.A.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Don Coatney]

As the horn is used for short blasts and not continual duty you may be able to use the full 12 volts. However by doing so you run the risk of frying the horn internals. You might try a ceramic ballast resistor such as is used on the ignition coil. It may or may not work.

 

[55 Fargo]

Bob, it will be loud on 12 volts, and the amperage draw is doubled when 12 volts is fed to a 6 volt item. I woul make sure you have the correct 12 volt relay, and applicable voltage dropper, may be be the answer, or possibly this horn will survive the occasional 12 volt blast, but will you.............LOL

[MBF]

I've been using direct 12V on my 36 Plym and 52 Dodge horns for several years now w/o a problem.    They're both slightly louder than the one in my 49 which is still 6 volts.  The original wiring can be used if it is still in good and non frayed condition.  Mike

[Jerry Roberts]

On the horns that I have had apart , there is a removable domed cover . Under the cover you will find an adjustable set of points to clean and adjust . If you can try that , it might work on 6 volts .