Train horns?

When I get my RMW I plan to put train horns on it. Like REAL train horns. How would I do that? I want to be able to wire it into the steering wheel, but Im also getting one of these http://www.amazon.com/CompuSTAR-CS700-AS-Starter-Security-CS700AS/dp/B00IER8X9Q and I want to attach the horn to be used as an alarm too.

Basically, I want to be "That guy."

Air ride compressor, tank, electric valve... honk honk

Hook the electric valve and compressor to a relay, and use the horn wire to power the relay. You may need a fairly large tank to have pressure and volume available instantly.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

Hook the electric valve and compressor to a relay, and use the horn wire to power the relay. You may need a fairly large tank to have pressure and volume available instantly.

That's what I'm going for...but couldn't I just put the train horns onto the original horn wires? without a relay? Also, how would I mount the things?! Should I just have a shop do it for me?

train horns use compressed air, hence the relays. As for an alarm hook that up and if you were my neighbor I would torch your ride. Why not just have your alarm text you to your cell phone?

The pump draws way too much current for the horn wire, and you want the pump to come on at the same time as the air is released to the horns, so you do not deplete your reservoir in a couple of seconds.

You'll make someone s#%t themselves,I see no possible problems with this set up...

The only issue I see is fitting them under the hood. You may have to bolt them to the top of the hood. That can look cool too...It makes a statement. A side by side arrangement would be best.

Andebe wrote:

You'll make someone s#%t themselves,I see no possible problems with this set up...

That's what I want to do

Fred Kiehl wrote:

The only issue I see is fitting them under the hood. You may have to bolt them to the top of the hood. That can look cool too...It makes a statement. A side by side arrangement would be best.

I want to keep them hidden so people will be like "Oooh, a station wagoWHAT THE ****?!" when I honk the horns

Unlike those cheap little air horns that are coupled to the output of a small electric compressor, most train horns since the 50's are a set of 5 large airhorns, tuned to a chord (but pairs and triples also exist). They have a LOT of air available to them, and they use it. Like Fred said, you will need a large reservoir and the suspension pump hasn't got a hope in hell of filling it anytime soon after blowing that horn. Even with the large engine-driven compressor on a fire truck, it is possible to bleed the air tank down with excessive use of the two air-horn trumpets.

I think you would need a compressor supplied via a pressure command switch and reservoir plumbed through solenoid valves. The current draw to power the solenoids would likely exceed the capacity of the steering wheel contact themselves, but would likely be within the rating of the horn relay contacts.

Modern train horns are limited to 110db by law. However older, used horns may be more than 140db. That's one thing when mounted at the other end of a locomotive, but potentially damaging inside the car with you.

buickwagon wrote:

Unlike those cheap little air horns that are coupled to the output of a small electric compressor, most train horns since the 50's are a set of 5 large airhorns, tuned to a chord (but pairs and triples also exist). They have a LOT of air available to them, and they use it. Like Fred said, you will need a large reservoir and the suspension pump hasn't got a hope in hell of filling it anytime soon after blowing that horn. Even with the large engine-driven compressor on a fire truck, it is possible to bleed the air tank down with excessive use of the two air-horn trumpets.

I think you would need a compressor supplied via a pressure command switch and reservoir plumbed through solenoid valves. The current draw to power the solenoids would likely exceed the capacity of the steering wheel contact themselves, but would likely be within the rating of the horn relay contacts.

Modern train horns are limited to 110db by law. However older, used horns may be more than 140db. That's one thing when mounted at the other end of a locomotive, but potentially damaging inside the car with you.  

i plan to mount them under the hood or in the wheel wells so that its loud

Will these work?
http://www.amazon.com/Wolo-847-Siberian-Express-Horn/dp/B001J7CO02/ref=pd_sim_sbs_263_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41-l12FrQ9L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1YFKCF9NJRQ5SKPGJV3C

TheRoadmasterKing wrote:

Will these work?

Ahhh. Ok. I thought you had got ahold of an old Airchime, Wabco or similar unit taken from an actual train. They are metal with metal diaphragms and actually tuned to a musical chord*.

Those are cheap Chinese plastic things that might sound somewhat like a real train horn, but are not going to be tuned.




* commonly D#(3rd), F#, A#, C, D#(4th) or D#, F#, G#, B, D#. How do I know this? Oddly enough this past week I've been tinkering around trying to make an electronic one for a vintage model train. It's been challenging to get the bass note out of a speaker small enough to fit inside an O scale engine.

buickwagon wrote:

TheRoadmasterKing wrote:

Will these work?

Ahhh. Ok. I thought you had got ahold of an old Airchime, Wabco or similar unit taken from an actual train. They are metal with metal diaphragms and actually tuned to a musical chord*.

Those are cheap Chinese plastic things that might sound somewhat like a real train horn, but are not going to be tuned.




* commonly D#(3rd), F#, A#, C, D#(4th) or D#, F#, G#, B, D#. How do I know this? Oddly enough this past week I've been tinkering around trying to make an electronic one for a vintage model train. It's been challenging to get the bass note out of a speaker small enough to fit inside an O scale engine.

I know its unrelated but is it possible to pair the aftermarket security+remote start module with a push-button ignition or would I have to bypass the PASSkey?

I like these better:
http://www.amazon.com/HornBlasters-Shocker-XL-Train-Horns/dp/B002DNC1YA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_263_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=41qHtVV08mL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1GP2BXGNW1HV1JJDF1X7

Go big or stay home,..

it;ll fit in the back of a wagon,.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fUtYEZwgXk

TheRoadmasterKing wrote:

buickwagon wrote:

Unlike those cheap little air horns that are coupled to the output of a small electric compressor, most train horns since the 50's are a set of 5 large airhorns, tuned to a chord (but pairs and triples also exist). They have a LOT of air available to them, and they use it. Like Fred said, you will need a large reservoir and the suspension pump hasn't got a hope in hell of filling it anytime soon after blowing that horn. Even with the large engine-driven compressor on a fire truck, it is possible to bleed the air tank down with excessive use of the two air-horn trumpets.

I think you would need a compressor supplied via a pressure command switch and reservoir plumbed through solenoid valves. The current draw to power the solenoids would likely exceed the capacity of the steering wheel contact themselves, but would likely be within the rating of the horn relay contacts.

Modern train horns are limited to 110db by law. However older, used horns may be more than 140db. That's one thing when mounted at the other end of a locomotive, but potentially damaging inside the car with you.  

i plan to mount them under the hood or in the wheel wells so that its loud

You can not mount them in the wheelhouses, so you are limited to under the hood. You could mount them sideways in front of the radiator.

phantom 309 wrote:

Go big or stay home,..

I suppose the wagon is often referred to as a boat...

One thing to consider when contemplating this mod: Will it attract unwanted attention from an LEO? Up here (Ontario) there's a rather ambiguous charge of "Unnecessary noise":

Quote :

(4) A person having the control or charge of a motor vehicle shall not sound any bell, horn or other signalling device so as to make an unreasonable noise, and a driver of any motor vehicle shall not permit any unreasonable amount of smoke to escape from the motor vehicle, nor shall the driver at any time cause the motor vehicle to make any unnecessary noise, but this subsection does not apply to a motor vehicle of a municipal fire department while proceeding to a fire or answering a fire alarm call. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 75 (4).

There's no numbers, it's pretty much up to the judgement and discretion of the police officer as to what is "reasonable" or "necessary" and what is not.

A good PA/Siren speaker can put out a lot of noise and will take up a lot less space, plus you get a PA system too.

phantom 309 wrote:

Go big or stay home,..

it;ll fit in the back of a wagon,.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fUtYEZwgXk

Mount them on the luggage rack, one forward for slow drivers, one rear for tailgaters. Air compressor in the back seat/tailgunner area

phantom 309 wrote:

Go big or stay home,..

it;ll fit in the back of a wagon,.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fUtYEZwgXk

I vote this one! Just always remember your ear protection.