Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Car horn on AC outlet...

1,384 views
Skip to first unread message

MATTHEW L. JENSEN

unread,
Oct 13, 1995, 3:00:00 AM10/13/95
to
I am trying to wire a car horn to a 110V AC outlet. Of course, this will
require some sort of power adaptor. I believe that the horn (from a Ford
pickup, circa 1972) requires 12V DC at ~3 Amps. I could be wrong about the
Amps--I'd imagine it's just whatever most car horns draw.

I have tried quite a few stores, but none seem to carry the appropriate
adaptor. Radio Shack had a 12V 1 Amp model, but it didn't supply quite enough
power. It seems to me that someone *must* manufacture an AC-to-cigarette
lighter current adaptor, which would suffice, but I cannot find one.

Does anyone know where I can buy such an adaptor? (either AC-to-cigarette
lighter or AC-to-DC 12V, 3 Amps). If not, does anyone know how to, *gulp*,
make one?

Thank you,
--Matt
(mje...@linux.uwsuper.edu)

Sam Goldwasser

unread,
Oct 14, 1995, 3:00:00 AM10/14/95
to

It will probably be tough to find a wall wart type adapter with this current
rating though some older home computers or video game machines may actually
have needed this much current.

Several options:

1. Get a catalog from a place like Jameco - they stock a wide selection
of surplus power supplies. Some of these would no doubt be suitable.

2. Build one from a 12 V 3 A transformer, rectifier, and filter capacitor.
You may need to regulate it to elminate 60/120 Hz hum.

3. Find a surplus PC power supply. There is a high current 12 V output
on all of these. You may need a couple amp load on the +5 to make it
work, however.

--- sam


Harry H Conover

unread,
Oct 14, 1995, 3:00:00 AM10/14/95
to
Sam Goldwasser (sam@colossus) wrote:

: Several options:


: --- sam


Why not take the simple route? Go to Sears and buy an inexpensive
3 or 5 Amp battery charger. It should run the car horn just fine.
If the 60 Hz ripple is a problem, go to Radio Shack and but a
high capacitance capacitor (20 WVDC or so) to smooth the ripple.

Have fun!

Harry C.


P.Bennett

unread,
Oct 14, 1995, 3:00:00 AM10/14/95
to
In article <mjense...@student.uwsuper.edu>, mje...@student.uwsuper.edu (MATTHEW L. JENSEN) writes...

>I am trying to wire a car horn to a 110V AC outlet. Of course, this will
>require some sort of power adaptor. I believe that the horn (from a Ford
>pickup, circa 1972) requires 12V DC at ~3 Amps. I could be wrong about the
>Amps--I'd imagine it's just whatever most car horns draw.
>
>I have tried quite a few stores, but none seem to carry the appropriate
>adaptor. Radio Shack had a 12V 1 Amp model, but it didn't supply quite enough
>power.

For this power, you probably won't find a "wall-wart" type adaptor.

Radio Shack used to make a 3 amp 12 volt power supply, intended to power CB
radios, and the like - don't know if they still have them.

Ham radio stores will have higher power supplies which hams use to operate
"mobile" type radios at home.


Peter Bennett VE7CEI | Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight
Internet: ben...@triumf.ca | of one another only when one can be
Packet: ve7cei@ve7kit.#vanc.bc.ca | observed visually from the other
TRIUMF, Vancouver, B.C., Canada | ColRegs 3(k)
GPS and NMEA info and programs: ftp://sundae.triumf.ca/pub/peter/index.html


CharlieH

unread,
Oct 17, 1995, 3:00:00 AM10/17/95
to
Battery Charger!
Opinions are worth what you paid
... and these are mine, only mine!
Note: A Computer is only one tool, life requires many.

John Stroppel

unread,
Oct 17, 1995, 3:00:00 AM10/17/95
to
Some car horns may draw up to 15 amps. Why not float a small (2-3 amph)
gel-cell on a wall wart. Then draw short bursts of amps from the bat. ?

John

--
John Stroppel | Internet: jstr...@uhl.uiowa.edu
The University of Iowa - Hygienic Lab | Amateur Radio: WA0VYZ
Oakdale Research Campus, OH-M7A | Voice: (319) 335-4500
Iowa City, IA 52242 | Fax: (319) 335-4555

tom...@calweb.com

unread,
Oct 19, 1995, 3:00:00 AM10/19/95
to
Use a battery charger at 10 to 15 Amps output.

0 new messages