Every second resident of the country owns a car. The car allows you to move quickly, bring shopping, take children to kindergarten. When you get behind the wheel every day, you don’t even think that the car could cause harm.
As the demand for cars increases, the annual rate of accidents on the roads increases. Quite often, pedestrians who are caught by surprise become victims. Car manufacturers care not only about the safety of the driver, but also about those around them. It is for this reason that a mandatory condition for operating vehicles on the road is the presence of a sound signal. Proper working condition of the horn is mandatory even if it is necessary to drive 5-10 meters.
Drivers often abuse sound signals when standing idle in a traffic jam or when overtaking in a populated area, which is absolutely not allowed. A sound signal in the city is necessary only as a last resort to prevent a traffic accident.
What are the types of sound signals?
Sound signals can be divided into two categories:
Electromagnetic
The main working components of an electromagnetic structure include an electromagnet connected to a membrane and a core. When you press the button, the core rod makes oscillatory movements, transmitting them to the membrane, as a result of which we hear a powerful signal.
Electromagnetic beeps come in several types, depending on the mechanism of the sound emitter and are divided into:
- Horns provide average sound quality and are considered the most simplified option of all types of electromagnetic sound signals. The design resembles a forge. They are widespread today due to their simple installation method under the hood and low cost.
- Snails not the easiest to install due to their shape and size. The design has a curved socket, which must be installed with the pipe facing forward. They produce a fairly powerful sound that puts pressure on the eardrums. Most often they are produced as two-tone ones; the design with a relay allows you to set a given melody.
- Disc horns (pancakes). Manufacturers produce collapsible and non-dismountable models, the latter of which take up less space during installation. Depending on the design (open or closed), the method of installation under the hood or in plain view is selected. As a rule, there are no problems with installing disc horns. There are single-tone and two-tone models.
Pneumatic
The principle of operation is absolutely the same as that of the first signals installed on horse-drawn carriages and steam transport. The operating elements of the structure are a pipe with a socket, a membrane, and a chamber. The compressed air flow is directed to the membrane, the sound produced by the membrane is amplified as it passes through the pipe. The sound volume of pneumatic signals reaches 125 dB, and the frequency range covers several sound zones at once. Manufacturers produce models with different numbers of horns, from one to five. However, to ensure the functionality of such a “brass band”, a powerful compressor will be required. More horns provide multi-tonal, rich sound. The optional installation of a programmable relay with electronic valves allows you to configure an individual musical buzzer, unique in its sound.
It should be noted that installation of music signals on cars is prohibited. Therefore, it is advisable to use a musical horn on entertainment or special purpose vehicles.
Installation and Operation Requirements
Before you begin installation, you need to choose the right model and make sure that the dimensions of the horn will allow it to be mounted. Any car horn is sold complete with installation instructions; often the installation principle for all sound signals is similar. If you have ever seen a sound signal being changed, then you should not have any problems replacing it yourself.
Following the instructions, the device must be connected to a current source, the flow of which cannot be done without a “ground”. The device is attached to a “mass” that is ten times greater than it and is at least 30 kg.
Also, before purchasing, check the compatibility of the battery with the mechanism you are purchasing. That is, make sure that the battery can provide power to the sound signal. When combining several beeps, the battery will discharge much faster, since such models consume up to 25 A.
The voltage can also be different depending on the type of car, trucks - 24 V, cars - 12 V.
When replacing an outdated horn with a more powerful one, it is necessary to make sure that the car is sufficiently soundproofed, otherwise the driver will have to endure inconvenience along with the people “overboard”.
Among other things, medical and GOST requirements are imposed on sound signals:
According to medical requirements, a sound device should not exceed a frequency of 440 Hz; a higher frequency is harmful to the health of others.
A car horn should not copy the sound of a law enforcement or emergency medical service signal. Naturally, the appearance of a car with a similar horn sound will cause some confusion on the road.
According to GOST R 41.28-99 (UNECE Rules No. 28), the sound signal must produce a monotonous and continuous sound.
What malfunctions can there be?
The most common cause of car horn failure is considered to be oxidation of contacts or complete oxidation of the entire mechanism.
The second most popular malfunction problem is unreliable contact connections. Over time, the connections come loose or were initially loosely secured.
The circuit for checking the sound signal in a car is always standard. The first step is to remove the battery terminals, disconnect and discharge the airbag capacitor. Then the steering wheel cover is removed; this operation must be performed with a partner.
After all the manipulations, those same oxidized contacts are cleaned; a needle file will help with this most effectively. The contacts are re-fixed in their original position.
Let's sum it up
Thus, we conclude that the best option would be to install a beep with a familiar sound and medium volume.
First of all, a sound signal is necessary to prevent accidents; it is used quite rarely. Experiments with musical and powerful models may not lead to the most pleasant consequences. Choose a model based on requirements such as range, volume, dimensions.
The most expensive sound signals should be considered to be of the pneumatic type; when purchasing them you will have to spend a fair amount of money, usually the price range is between 20-50 thousand rubles. This is the price of uniqueness, but is it really necessary on Russian roads?
More affordable prices for snail/horn models. Their price is tens of times lower, the sound volume is from 110 dB, which is more than enough to warn a pedestrian or traffic participant. Much less problems with installation and maintenance.
The sound signal is intended to warn of potentially dangerous situations. Some are satisfied with the standard device, others want beautiful sound, and others strive to get the most powerful sound signal possible. Let's figure out which horn is better to put on the car.
Klaxon- this is a device for vehicles to produce sound signals, as well as such a signal itself. The term became widespread after the name of the manufacturing company - “Klaxon Signals Ltd” (from the ancient Greek κλάζω - howl, make noise), which has been producing them since 1908.
The sound signal is intended to warn of dangerous situations
What types of horns are there?
Today, every car owner can choose a signal for his vehicle to suit his taste. But before you go to the store, it is important to understand what is their difference from each other, what advantages and disadvantages are inherent in a particular type.
Car horns are divided into three main types:
- Electromagnetic
- Pneumatic
- Electronic.
The types of sound signals differ in both structure and sound. The main characteristic of a car horn is its noise level.
Electromagnetic horns
Due to the simplicity of the design, the electromagnetic type has become widespread and is installed on most modern cars.
Its main components are a solenoid with a contact pair and a diaphragm. Depending on the design, electromagnetic horns can be divided into three types:
Pneumatic horns
The main working elements of pneumatic horns are: horn, diaphragm and membrane. When compressed air acts on the membrane, it causes it to deform and vibrate, and the resulting sound is amplified by the horn. The pneumatic horn is the loudest signal on a car - its volume reaches 145 dB.
Pneumatic horn
Powerful horns of this type are usually equipped with four tubes that generate a signal with a frequency of 400 to 800 Hz. To ensure the full operation of such a device, you will need a fairly powerful compressor capable of creating a pressure of 60 atmospheres.
A pneumatic horn is capable of reproducing not only a monophonic sound, but also some melodies. To do this, the compressor will need significant space under the hood, and the device will also need to be supplemented with a special electronic controller. The compressor for the horn is then controlled by electrical signals supplied by a programmed controller. The driver has several variations of melodies.
Electronic signals
The main part of electronic beeps is a chip that generates a sound of the desired frequency and transmits it to the device’s loudspeaker. The signal volume can reach 110 dB, and the frequency range is very wide and can be completely different in each individual model.
They can be installed on almost any car, regardless of the dimensions and voltage of the electrical circuit. Electronic horns can operate on both 12 and 24 V. The device can reproduce both single-tone sounds and various melodies.
It is worth remembering that a musical horn can cause unwanted attention from traffic police officers if the melody resembles a special signal. In this case, a fine may be imposed on the driver.
Non-standard solutions
In some cases, drivers prefer to install a locomotive whistle on their car. It has very significant power and is able to dramatically attract the attention of others. However, its installation requires quite a lot of space in the engine compartment.
The locomotive whistle is the most powerful
The installation of locomotive or steamship signals is not prohibited, but the need for such a whistle is debatable. Its use in city mode may result in a fine. In addition, to use such signals, the car must have good sound insulation.
A locomotive whistle on a car can scare anyone. The video below shows jokes with a locomotive whistle set to small.
Installing the horn
After purchasing a horn, the device needs to be installed. Each model comes with instructions, however, as far as the electrical part is concerned, everything is usually quite simple.
Installing a sound signal on a car
Installing a sound signal on a car to replace the old one is not difficult. The horn is installed in place of the old one, or if the new one is larger, then a space is selected for its mounting. It is much more difficult to install a pneumatic horn with a compressor, because you need to look not only for a larger space for the horn itself, but also for the compressor.
When installing, ensure that the horn is securely fastened so as not to lose it while driving.
The loudest signal on a car is, of course, cool, but it must be taken into account that for normal operation of its compressor, a fairly large amount of current may be required. Therefore, before such a purchase, you should think about the match between the car’s battery and the generator.
Installing a pneumatic signal on a car
It is better to entrust the installation of such a device to a trusted car service.
Conclusion
To conclude the topic, it is worth noting that the horn, first of all, is a device for communication between a driver and a pedestrian or other drivers in exceptional cases.
The volume and sound of such devices are not yet regulated by any GOST standards, and the use of special signals (“quacks”) is considered a violation.
In city mode, the horn is allowed to be used only to prevent accidents, and outside a populated area before overtaking.
Indiscriminate use of the horn is considered a traffic violation. In this case, penalties may be applied to the driver by road service employees.
Sometimes it seems that for some reason car horns are working quietly. So a friend came to me with the same problem and asked me to make the signals beep so that my ears were covered... It’s good that I knew one proven method, which I offer you today. To do this, we need two sets of car signals and a piece of plastic sewer pipe.
We select the diameter of the pipe so that the signaling device fits freely into it. The length of the pipe is approximately half a meter.
You will also need to buy epoxy resin and several silicone sticks.
Then we cut the pipe into 2 equal halves, try to cut the pipe as evenly as possible.
Here we make the first signal, install it in the pipe and coat it with silicone to seal it. Then, when the silicone dries, we prepare the epoxy and pour it directly on top of the silicone with a syringe. Then we make another pipe with a signal in the same way...
After the pipes have been completely coated with silicone and epoxy, we expose them to fresh air for about 5 hours to harden.
In the finished pipes we make holes for wires and for fastening (for a bolt). We select the bolt so that it will be easy for you to later secure this structure under the hood of your car. Then we attach more to the pipes on the reverse side according to the signal.
This is how to do almost everything, you can see from the photographs, we attach the other signals in the same way as the previous ones, first silicone then epoxy, we take out the wires, and in the end we get four wires from each signal, we parallel these wires and we get 2 wires from each pipe.
The advantage of these signals is that these signaling devices do not care how you connect the polarity, they will still signal. These signals in the pipe produce a sound with a frequency of 300 hertz. We tried only two, but what if we connect all four?
Then we attached all our signals under the hood of the car, ran wires, connected them through a relay, and when the signal was pressed, our ears simply curled up and didn’t hear anything for about five minutes - there was just a ringing sound... In short, these are not signals, these are just crazy signals... So that if you want to strengthen your signals, then follow the method described above and tested by us. I wish everyone good luck on the roads.
Do-it-yourself powerful steamship whistle. You can assemble interesting crafts from various plumbing components. For example, a steamship whistle (typhon in English). Moreover, to make a cool signal you don’t need to weld, solder or glue anything. Read and see below about how to make a beep - a typhon with your own hands. The money spent will be repaid by the results obtained. It is impossible to buy such a beep anywhere - you can only make it yourself. A diagram of how to assemble a steamship whistle with your own hands is shown.
Accessories
The following parts were purchased from a plumbing store:
1. Bend 40 mm - 90° - 4 pieces;
2. Siphon for sink included - 1 piece;
3. Transition 50 mm - 40 mm - 1 piece;
4. Bend 110mm - 87° - 1 piece;
5. Transition 110 mm - 50 mm.
Refinement of the siphon
Before assembling the structure, it is necessary to modify the siphon; this modification must be taken seriously. Strictly adhere to the proposed revision scheme. You need to shorten the central pipe of the siphon with your own hands so that it protrudes above the plane of the outer pipe by 1.5-2 mm. Using a ruler, we mark the place of the cut and use a metal saw to cut off the excess part. We carefully sand the cut area with emery cloths to reduce the grain size. You should get a smooth, even surface - this is a must.
Inner tube Edge smoothedDifficulties in manufacturing were caused by the method of attaching the rubber sound membrane. There are two ways to implement this. The first way is simple, attach the membrane to the surface of the siphon without further modification of the latter. The second way is complicated, modify the siphon and install a protective cap over the membrane.
First way used in the design of the device. If you stretch the rubber and hold it tightly against the outer casing, you can blow into the side hole with your mouth and get a sound. So all available rubber materials were tested; the best effect was obtained from a piece of rubber from a torn swimming cap. There was no denser material at hand. When used permanently, the membrane can be secured with twine and electrical tape. The disadvantage of the first way is that part of the sound will be radiated outward bypassing the output pipe and the membrane may be damaged.
Second way. Various siphons and fastening methods were used, but it was not the original method that won. To avoid premature rupture of the membrane, the external thread on the siphon is completely cut off. The thread on the cap is covered with tape. Holes are cut into the cap itself; the size and number of holes affects the frequency and volume of the sound, and for denser rubber the number of holes may be small. The cap without a membrane should be freely removed from the siphon. See photo.
Thread cutThere are many automotive elements for the safety of pedestrians and drivers, but today sound signals are “a step above” the same type of alarm sirens, seat belts and other things. Previously, horns could not boast of much variety, and on the road all cars sounded almost in unison; you could only choose the volume of the horn and nothing else. Today the situation has changed and you can stand out on the road not only with unusual airbrushing, tuning and sound, but also by installing a musical signal on your car or even a “locomotive whistle”. Fortunately, there are no prohibitions or GOSTs on the volume or sound of such devices yet, with the exception of “quacks” for which traffic police officers can severely punish. Yes, there is no law on the non-use of special signals, but there is an unspoken rule that all experienced motorists adhere to.
If we talk about the types of signals, there are many of them; we will consider only the main and most popular ones.
Types of car horns
Pneumatic (air) signals
The principle of operation of such horns is reminiscent of the ancient “horns” that were installed on horse-drawn carriages and the first steam cars. The air moves from the compressor through a special tube, causing it to vibrate and make quite loud sounds. Such air signals for cars are quite expensive, regardless of the design and shape of the product.
Pneumatic signals differ in the shape of the pipes and in the power of the emitted signal, which can reach up to 125 dB. In this case, the frequency range of the device covers several necessary sound zones at once. For this purpose, the horn has several pipes that produce an upper sound up to 800 Hz, and a lower one within 400 Hz. True, to create such an “orchestra” you will need a fairly powerful compressor capable of providing a pressure of about 6-10 atmospheres. There are one-, two- and three-horn models. The more pipes there are in the horn, the richer the melody you will get, but in order to get a musical horn, you will need to additionally install a programmable relay with solenoid valves on the pneumatic signal on the car, which will open and close according to the appropriate program.
There are also special compressors that have multiple pneumatic outlets. A corresponding beep is connected to each output via a separate tube. Air is supplied to each outlet at a certain frequency and in a certain order, resulting in a melody.
But as mentioned above, installing music signals on a car is prohibited.
If we talk about the most powerful signals from pneumatic models, then foreign-made products are considered the loudest. From such horns the sound travels up to several kilometers. This is especially convenient if you often drive at high speeds on highways or work with a truck in an area where a careless mushroom picker or animal could jump out onto the road.
Today there are several popular models of pneumatic devices on sale:
- Mitsuba SW53 costs about 28,000 rubles;
- Hadley KIT961 for 30,000 rubles.
There are cheaper models, but more often they are just a horn, and car enthusiasts have to buy the rest of the equipment. On average, an air compressor for such a horn will cost from 25,000 to 50,000 rubles.
Electromagnetic signals
The principle of operation of such a horn is an electromagnet, which is connected to the main element of the horn - the membrane. The core winding in this design is connected to the energy source (battery) using a breaker, and to the vehicle ground through a regular signal button. As soon as the driver presses it, the core rod begins to move, thereby causing the membrane to vibrate, resulting in a rather powerful signal being heard in the car.
Electromagnetic horns come in several types, depending on the design of the sound emitter:
- Disc horns (“pancakes”). Typically produced in two configurations: collapsible and non-collapsible. The latter are a little more compact and will take up a couple of centimeters less space in the car. Also, disc horns can be open or closed, depending on the type of product, they are installed under the hood of the car or “in plain sight.” Installing such beeps is very simple, and you can combine high-frequency machine signals (up to 440 Hz) with regular single-tone signals (up to 350 Hz) yourself, or the device will be two-tone at once.
- Snail klaxons. Such models are much more difficult to install. It's all about the curved shape of the socket and the condition that the open end of the pipe must necessarily face forward. In addition, such models are larger in size. The signal power on such devices reaches about 118 dB at a frequency of 510 Hz. “Snail” horns allow you to get a more than loud signal on your car, while you will feel pressure on your eardrums. Gramophone beeps are most often produced as two-tone ones, but you can additionally equip the product with a relay that will transmit voltage to both windings in turn, due to which the specified melody will be played.
- Klaxons "horns". The emitter in this case is a “straightened snail” that looks like a forge or pipe. Such products have worse sound, but installing them under the hood is much more convenient.
If we talk about the cost of such models, then electric horns will cost much less, from 300 to 5,000 rubles. For example:
- Waydong Hella WD1057C-065C for 1,400 rubles;
- Relay W1048 will cost about 2,700 rubles;
- Torino Air Horns for 5,200 rubles.
However, it is worth clarifying that in this case the signal will be drier, regardless of the presence of a relay.
What to pay attention to
Although there are no requirements in GOST (except perhaps a fine for the absence of a signal), it is important to remember that high-frequency beeps are standardized, so make sure that the main frequency remains unchanged. In addition, you should not choose horns that imitate a steam locomotive or other vehicles that a pedestrian or motorist in the oncoming traffic simply does not expect to hear. Think about your health, as doctors do not recommend using signals with a frequency of more than 440 Hz. If you are planning to purchase a powerful multi-voice horn, then do not forget to take care of high-quality sound insulation in the car. In addition, pay attention to the following nuances:
- Before purchasing, you should make sure that the vehicle battery will “pull” the selected horn. If you plan to combine several beeps, the battery will discharge very quickly, since such “toys” are voracious and consume about 20-25 A.
- When choosing a horn, check with the seller whether you will need to connect the horn to power or whether you will need to purchase a compressor (which may be included) for operation.
- If you need more bass in the horn, then choose low-frequency models, and vice versa, for a subtle sound, high frequencies are better suited. For a polyphonic melody, both are used.
- Remember that voltage is different in cars and trucks. For cars it is 12 V, and for trucks it is 24 V.
You can find out how many melodies the horn plays, as well as how many bells it has.
In custody
To summarize, we can say that the most powerful signal will be a pneumatic one, but at the same time, such a purchase can hit your pocket hard, so it’s better to weigh the pros and cons before purchasing such an expensive “toy.” In countries like India, there is a constant stream of car horns on the roads, but in our country it is not customary to “honk” every 3 seconds, so, most likely, an expensive device will be used very rarely. If you want to save money, then the easiest option is to install a horn from another car, so you will get a loud sound for less money. Although it's up to you to decide.
