It says to run one wire from the valve, to a toggle switch, then to 12v horn. What is the 12 volt horn wire? Is that the actual wire that runs into the stock horn, or is it a horn fuse? If I run it directly to the wire, will that sound the stock and train horns at the same time?
I also want to put a toggle on 12v line from the compressor to ignition source. This way I can shut the compressor off if I get tired of it running, or in case I get pulled over. Is it possible to run both wires to one toggle switch? I’m trying to find a way to mount this stuff in my car without having to drill in anything. Having only one toggle switch would make it much easier.
It says to run the air source load wire to a source that is connected to the ignition. That way it protects it from running when the car is off. How should I go about doing this? It seems like if I try to tap into the fuse panel, the compressor is going to be too much for it. Should I use a relay and run it to the battery, and then use an empty fuse as a trigger?
I ran my compressor power line to the fuse box. Find an empty fuse slot that’s only ignition on. Easily found by sticking the wire into empty slots and turning the ignition on and off. I then ran my solenoid wire to a 2 prong toggle switch and from the switch to the horn. Find your horn which should be behind your grille infront of your radiator. You should see a wire that connects to your horn. Just tap into that.
The 12v horn wire means the “+” wire from the air valve. You could run it to a toggle switch so you could have your stock horns when you want to. The amount of power that the air valve takes isn’t a huge amount, should be able to splice into the existing horn wire if you just want train horns all the time. Verify this first though, not positive.
You would not run the power for the compressor through your fuse box/ignition thing… run the relay trigger line through, takes hardly any power. It is 1 of the wires coming out of the “weatherized rubber pressure switch + relay” enclosure.
If you don’t have that, then yes you need a relay to close and open the compressor circuit depending on when the pressure switch says that it’s time for the compressor to turn on, and if you want to key it in to your ignition…
My last question about this and want to make sure I have it right. So it is a no no to run the power from the compressor to the fuse box. This means I need to buy a relay and wire it up so it’s drawing power from the battery, and the trigger is going to the fuse box that is only turned on with the ignition correct? This means I would put the toggle on the trigger wire from the relay so I can turn my compressor completely off. I just want to make sure i’m clear on that. Hornblasters said not to use that pressure switch I posted above with the built in relay with the viair 20005 kit, so I will need to make a relay harness.
Then for the solenoid I can just wire that to the positive wire that goes into the horn and put a toggle on it to disable the train horns?
Also one unrelated question. I have room inside the rear bumper to mount all four horns. It’s not inside where it’s closed, but it will be out of view unless you crawl under the car. All four horns would face each other though, but there would be about 6-8" of room between each horn. Horn 1 and 3 would face each other, and 2 and 4 would face each other as well just as an example. I know it wont be as loud, but is it okay to face them like that?
Lastly should I try to mount the solenoid as close to the horns as possible, even if it’s not protected from the elements? I’m just using a basic electric one from HB. I could mount it in the trunk, but that would mean I would have a few feet from the solenoid to the manifold, then another couple of feet to each horn.
Can anyone link to me a site that sells quick connects for my setup? I’m looking to be able to remove the compressor and tank if I need trunk space or to drain the tank.
Viair makes some, but they’re 1/4". I bought some just for some air tools.
If I was using it on an airline to a horn, I would want something higher flowing.
What size NPT port on your tank? And do you have a PTC fitting in there now?
I can help you pick fittings from mcmaster carr catalog page 279.
It’s the Viair 2 gallon kit. I would guess the 1/4 one would work right? Would I need a male or female coupler? I saw both on Amazon. Thanks for the help.
Yeah I got mine from Amazon too.
What kind of horns are thay? Again - those 1/4" couplers might be a restriction. Read: not as loud…
The nice thing about the mcmaster carr couplers is you pick whatever configuration you need.
There’s the coupling size. You’ll need a male and a female. Then there’s the NPT thread size on each half which can be male or female.
If I was doing it, I would get a 1/2" coupling setup. Get the female coupler with male NPT threads to match your tank port (prob 1/2" npt). Get the male stud with female NPT threads to match your PTC fitting.
If you buy the 1/4" coupling set with 1/4" NPT threads, you’ll probably have to buy reducer/conversion fittings anyway.