those buttons are used to turn on the microphone to talk to the crew chief. check out the people that sell the 2 way radios for circle track cars. try racing electronics.

 

Here are some options on the cord and I think one even has a button installed.

Electrical Stretch Cords - Ignitions & Electrical - SummitRacing.com

 

Biondo Racing MUSH-O - Sam Biondo Trans-Brake Buttons - Overview - SummitRacing.com

LIKE THIS?

Steve

 

horn cord

Which should I get: the 18 gauge or the 16 gauge? I already have a Grant Horn Button, with a homemade adapter to make it fit the steering wheel. I would drill the hub, with a hole in the side for the connection to the stretch cord.

 

Which should I get: the 18 gauge or the 16 gauge? I already have a Grant Horn Button, with a homemade adapter to make it fit the steering wheel. I would drill the hub, with a hole in the side for the connection to the stretch cord.

This is simple. I think you're making this harder than it has to be (not meant to be a put down, I'm just trying to point out that it is not that complicated)

Do you already have a working high-current wire going to the horns from under the dash?

If so, use a standard 30A auto relay (bosch type). Wire the relay feed from a +12v source to terminals 86 and 87 on the relay. Make sure it is fused.

Wire terminal 30 on the relay to the wire running out to the horns positive - assuming the horns are grounded locally.

Wire terminal 85 on the relay to a horn trigger button. This can be either:

Curly cord (racecar type you mentioned) going to a horn button.
Single wire running up the steering column.
Other button somewhere else.

Wire gauge does not matter on this wire - the current will only be about 150-200ma (1.5 to 2 tenths of one amp) Even 20-22 gauge is fine. Smaller than that is too fragile, larger won't hurt anything but isn't necessary.

On the other side of your horn button, ground it. If the button is on the steering wheel - gound it to the metal steering hub.

That's all you need to do. deciding on the switch is the hardest part.

Hope this helps,

John

 

Use a relay to control the horn - then the cord gauge won't matter.

 

horn

Sorry, but I already have a horn relay (used with the stock 91 Mustang GT horns), and have had a working horn for nearly 7K miles, until recently, when the horn began to short out, and pull free under the dash. This would cause the horn to blow when it shouldn't, and not work when I pushed the horn button. I'm looking for a better set up, less susceptible to twists and turns, every time I turn the steering wheel. I'm not sure of the current draw of the horns, and what gauge of stretch cord wire to use (18 gauge or 16 or maybe something else). I had a friend wire the car, and he is at his wits end, as to fixing this problem. He had an idea for using a wireless solenoid (like that used to open doors/trunk) to actuate the horn, doing away with the problem wire altogether. Any ideas out there? I can't drive the car with the horn in this state of operation.

 

NASCAR Phone Cord

Anyone?

 

painless use to sell a wireless control that would work the horn turn signals etc. racing elctronics has the push to talk harness it is under race car wiring harness.

 

Sorry, can not easliy find electrical specs for the relay but, the coil current cannot be more than an amp or two. Not the ~30 amps the contacts may be rated. Just about any wire size should work for you.

16 ga extension cords are usually rated for more than 10 amps...

 

NASCAR Phone Cord

Thank you. If someone could figure a wireless horn setup using a keyfob type horn button and a solenoid to actuate the horn, I think a lot of builders would be grateful for a simple horn, right in the center of the steering wheel -- a safety feature, and simplifying installation.

 

There is a better way, not easier, just better.
http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/198799-horn-button-center-steering-wheel.html