Cars have many features that make both pedestrians and drivers feel safe, but the horn stands out the most among other features. Decades ago, the horn was created for practical purposes. Its variations consisted of different horn volumes and tones. The current car market can provide car enthusiasts with wide choose sounds that will help express their personality.

A special sound signal is a way to express your own individuality

The need to update the tone comes with a long period of use. By default, many modern cars have a quiet signal sound, in response to which some owners install components from Soviet models like the Volga on their cars. This is not always justified - the way out of most situations is to reconfigure the device.

Types of car horns

Pneumatic signals

They work on the same principle as the old horns from the days of horse-drawn carriages: a compressor supplies compressed air through a pipe, causing vibrations. All copies are in the same price category, while differing in design. Most often this concerns the shape of the horn pipe.

Pneumatic signals can have a power of up to 125 dB, and their frequency range is located at several required levels at once. This is achieved by placing four “horns” (in some cases less). Thus, the lowest signal plays at a frequency of 320–415 Hz, and the highest sound can reach up to 810 Hz. To power this orchestra, the compressor needs a pressure of at least six atmospheres. In this case, the sound of the horn will form a real melody, but this requires programming the device and a lot of space under the hood.

Electromagnetic beeps

In such equipment, the main element is an electric magnet, which is connected to the membrane. The breaker connects the current source to the core winding, and it, in turn, to ground using a signal button. Activation of the latter causes the core rod to perform oscillatory movements, which lead to vibration of the membrane. These signals differ according to the criterion of the sound emitter.

Disc horns

They have a collapsible or one-piece design. The latter allow you to save several centimeters of space. The type of execution allows you to install open and closed, respectively, in plain sight or under the hood. Standard signals are designed in a similar way, which allows you to install “pancakes” without much effort. The device can be two-tone, but single-tone ones can also be configured by combination, resulting in a synthesis of a high-frequency signal (420–440 Hz) and a simple one (335–350 Hz).

This type is more difficult to install - this is due to the curved shape of the pipe and its larger size. Signal power - 118 dB, frequency - 510 Hz. These kind of gramophones are known for putting a lot of pressure on the eardrums. A two-tone "snail" may have a relay that supplies electricity alternately to each of the windings, allowing it to produce a melody.

Horns

Such emitters look like a straightened “snail”. For the same price, the sound is noticeably worse.

Installation of a new horn according to GOST

The standards do not describe criteria for the characteristics of a signal - a violation is only its absence as such. Only high-frequency emitters are tested against the norm, and the main frequency must be constant and not change under different influences of electricity. A poorly chosen car horn can cause trouble on the road, irritating both the driver and pedestrians. It should be noted that sounds imitating sirens of official vehicles can lead to bad consequences.

The standard vehicle signal frequency ranges from 320 to 440 Hz. This is due to medical requirements. When purchasing pneumatic radiators with several tones, choose one that will not disturb you, or take care of increasing the sound insulation in the car. Make sure it is compatible with your desired device. Several signals cause a standard battery to rapidly drain, drawing up to 25 amps.

Attention should be paid to the space under the hood. Some signals that have protective grille, it is permissible to install it outside, which cannot be said about “snails”.

The signals have detailed installation instructions, but the basic principles are always the same: you will need to connect the car horn to a power source via a relay or breaker.

Mounting is a separate issue: the basic kit may not have the part you need to mount it specifically to your vehicle, so be prepared to purchase a well-protected cable of the required length if a flat mounting surface is too far from the battery.

Fixing a faulty car horn

The most common malfunction is contact oxidation. In some cases, the latter fall out or move away. In situations where the emitter does not work, start the inspection with .

Before working with electricity, be sure to remove the terminals from the battery! Disconnect and discharge the capacitor that is responsible for. Its contacts are most often located under the steering column.

The three contacts are usually located near the hub, protected by plastic. Clean them with a file and firmly fix them in their original position. Here you may need the help of a friend to remove the casing.

Bottom line

The sound of the horn is the main communication tool between driver and pedestrian. , because experiments in such a matter can end very sadly. The installation instructions for each machine horn describe the characteristics: volume level, frequency and range of the device. Practical characteristics take priority over tuning. When choosing an emitter, first of all pay attention to the level of safety and reliability, avoid experimental models.

Designed to attract the attention of traffic participants. There is a wide range of different horns on the car market. But you can make an air signal with your own hands, which will operate from a 12 Volt car. This article provides guidance on how to make a sound device.

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Design and principle of operation of an air signal

The first sound devices were pneumonic. Basically it was a rubber bulb with a bell at the end. When you press the pear, a sound is made. Then mechanical horns appeared, in which the spring plate was fastened with a rivet. Thanks to the rotating gear, which was in contact with the plate, a specific sound arose. Since 1908, Klaxon Signals Ltd began producing horns - car signals.

With the advent of electricity, the gear began to turn electricity. Currently, there are the following types of horns:

• Pneumatic. The air in such devices is supplied from a compressor, passing through the pipe, causing it to vibrate. Usually up to four beeps of different frequencies are installed.
• Electromagnetic. The main element of the installation is a magnet, which is connected to the membrane. The devices differ in their sound emitters. There are disc signals, horns and snails.
• Electronic. The design of these installations consists of a sound generator and a speaker.

The larger the dimensions vehicle, the more powerful the warning signal should be. Typically, the signal uses a tube that produces high-frequency sounds and another one that produces low-frequency sounds. For melody, horns with a compressor can use several pipes (the author of the video is Compass Travel Store).

A separate topic is VIP signals installed on official vehicles: police vehicles, ambulances, firefighters, etc. They are often called quacks because of their similarity to the sound made by ducks. It is prohibited by law to use such a horn on a regular car, but drivers still install them on their cars (the author of the video is Andrey Ivanov).

DIY Guide

Many drivers install a stronger signal on their car to punish drivers on the road who behave disrespectfully towards other road users. A police “quack” can serve as a standard for this. You can make such a “quack” with your own hands.

Tools and materials

To create a VIP signal on a car, you will need the following tools and materials:

• set of tools;
• metal case to house the device;
• device for reproducing sound (speaker);
• transistors Kt 805, but it is better to take the more powerful Kt 819 in the diagram they are marked as V1 and V2;
• capacitors;
• switch;
• electronic bicycle alarm or single-ended multivibrator;
• any LEDs to create a load;
• resistors.

To power the device, 12 Volts supplied from the car battery are sufficient.

Stages

A do-it-yourself air signal can be made in two ways. One is based on an asymmetrical multivibrator, the other is based on an electronic device for a bicycle. The first option is assembled according to following diagram:

To amplify the signal power, an amplifier must be constructed. It is manufactured on the basis of the TDA 2005 integrated circuit using a bridge circuit.

The low-frequency amplifier that we assembled and the multivibrator must be placed in a metal case and attached to the radiator. In addition, you need to place a switch and horn button somewhere. To play sound homemade horn you need a dynamic head (speaker). A regular 25 gd or similar is suitable for this. The dynamic head should be connected to the amplifier output and placed under the hood of the car.

When you press the horn button in the asymmetrical multivibrator, alternating impulses will begin to be generated, due to which the outgoing sounds will resemble the quack of a duck. Passing through the amplifier, the sound becomes more powerful and abrupt. To make the signal from a homemade “quack” louder, the speaker can be placed in metal pipe 20-30 cm long. These homemade alarm devices, hidden under the hood, will create a very powerful sound that will inevitably attract the attention of others.

It must be remembered that you cannot install a signal that is too loud on a passenger car, as this is not permitted by law. Its use may result in a fine.

Designed to attract the attention of traffic participants. There is a wide range of different horns on the car market. But you can make an air signal with your own hands, which will operate from a 12 Volt car. This article provides guidance on how to make a sound device.

Design and principle of operation of an air signal

The first sound devices were pneumonic. Basically it was a rubber bulb with a bell at the end. When you press the pear, a sound is made. Then mechanical horns appeared, in which the spring plate was fastened with a rivet. Thanks to the rotating gear, which was in contact with the plate, a specific sound arose. Since 1908, Klaxon Signals Ltd began producing horns - car signals.

With the advent of electricity, an electric current began to turn the gear. Currently, there are the following types of horns:

• Pneumatic. The air in such devices is supplied from a compressor, passing through the pipe, causing it to vibrate. Usually up to four beeps of different frequencies are installed.
• Electromagnetic. The main element of the installation is a magnet, which is connected to the membrane. The devices differ in their sound emitters. There are disc signals, horns and snails.
• Electronic. The design of these installations consists of a sound generator and a speaker.

The larger the vehicle, the more powerful the warning signal should be. Typically, a tube is used for the signal, emitting high-frequency sounds and another - low-frequency. For melody, horns with a compressor can use several pipes (the author of the video is Compass Travel Store).

A separate topic is VIP signals installed on official vehicles: police vehicles, ambulances, firefighters, etc. They are often called quacks because of their similarity to the sound made by ducks. It is prohibited by law to use such a horn on a regular car, but drivers still install them on their cars (the author of the video is Andrey Ivanov).

DIY Guide

Many drivers install a stronger signal on their car to punish drivers on the road who behave disrespectfully towards other road users. A police “quack” can serve as a standard for this. You can make such a “quack” with your own hands.

Tools and materials

To create a VIP signal on a car, you will need the following tools and materials:

• set of tools;
• metal case to house the device;
• device for reproducing sound (speaker);
• transistors Kt 805, but it is better to take the more powerful Kt 819 in the diagram they are marked as V1 and V2;
• capacitors;
• switch;
• electronic bicycle alarm or single-ended multivibrator;
• any LEDs to create a load;
• resistors.

To power the device, 12 Volts supplied from the car battery are sufficient.

Stages

A do-it-yourself air signal can be made in two ways. One is based on an asymmetrical multivibrator, the other is based on an electronic device for a bicycle. The first option is assembled according to the following scheme:

To amplify the signal power, an amplifier must be constructed. It is manufactured on the basis of the TDA 2005 integrated circuit using a bridge circuit.

The low-frequency amplifier that we assembled and the multivibrator must be placed in a metal case and attached to the radiator. In addition, you need to place a switch and horn button somewhere. To reproduce the sound of a homemade horn, you need a dynamic head (speaker). A regular 25 gd or similar is suitable for this. The dynamic head should be connected to the amplifier output and placed under the hood of the car.

When you press the horn button in the asymmetrical multivibrator, alternating impulses will begin to be generated, due to which the outgoing sounds will resemble the quack of a duck. Passing through the amplifier, the sound becomes more powerful and abrupt. To make the signal from a homemade “quack” louder, the speaker can be placed in a metal pipe 20-30 cm long. These homemade signaling devices, hidden under the hood, will create a very powerful sound, which will inevitably attract the attention of others.

It must be remembered that you cannot install a signal that is too loud on a passenger car, as this is not permitted by law. Its use may result in a fine.

You can assemble from various plumbing components interesting crafts. 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 typhon beep with your own hands. The money spent will be repaid by the results obtained. Such a beep cannot be bought anywhere - you can only make it yourself.

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 pipe

The edge is smoothed

Difficulties 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 difficult, 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 outwards, 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.

Jokes New films Music Auto Animals Sport

A simple but powerful sound device "Signal...

Subscribe to our group on VKontakte - and Facebook - imitators or electronic sound effects are widely used in various household appliances and devices where warning and control sensors are used. Various kinds of sound devices are especially popular in the huge abundance of children's toys, entertaining games and automatic construction sets. These are, of a kind, melodic calls, melodies recorded in ROM with sequential alternation, simulators of animal sounds and electronic sirens, often installed on children's cars. If desired, you can make one of these devices yourself with a little electronics skills. This model is a powerful siren, which is powered from a built-in 12V battery or from a stabilized power source. The circuit does not contain scarce parts, moreover, their number is minimally limited......This is, first of all, a speaker, with a power of 3 - 6W, and a coil resistance of at least 8 Ohms.....Two, domestic transistors , one of them is quite powerful.....Three constant resistors and two capacitors.....You need a button to start the device, which works like this: when you press the button, the sound frequency increases....Release the button - it decreases... It turns out something like the howling of a siren.... Due to the small number of components in the device, the circuit can be mounted on any piece of printed circuit board or circuit board that comes to hand.... The circuit starts working immediately, without any settings. For electronics lovers, this is additional time spent with a soldering iron; for a child, it is a powerful signal for the car; for parents and neighbors, it is an extra hassle.

There are a lot of pedestrians in the car, but the car’s sound signal stands apart. Initially, this detail had exclusively functional significance, and all the variety came down to the difference in the volume of the horns. Modern market offers motorists not just replacing the standard signal with a higher-volume model, but also a choice of sounds that can make the car stand out on the road.

The need to replace the signal may arise due to its long service life. Quiet signals are initially installed on some modern models, and car enthusiasts install products of the domestic automobile industry on them, for example, horns from the Volga. Such a radical measure is not always required. Sometimes it's enough to just go through the device.

Types of signals for cars

Pneumatic signals

The principle of operation was copied from the first horns installed on horse-drawn carriages. The air supplied from the compressor passes through the pipe and causes it to vibrate. The price for them is equally high, but the design of pneumatic signals may vary. First of all, this concerns the shape of the pipe.

The power of pneumatic “horns” reaches 125 dB, and the frequency range covers several zones necessary for the signal. For this purpose, several “horns” are combined (usually up to 4 pieces). The lower signal sounds at a frequency of 320–415 Hz, and the upper sound reaches 810 Hz. To promote such an orchestra, the compressor will need at least 6 atmospheres of pressure, but sometimes this figure even exceeds 10 atmospheres. In return, you can get not just sound, but entire melodies. To do this, the design will also have to be equipped with a programmable relay, and the compressor will require the allocation of substantial space under the hood.

Electromagnetic signals

The main element of the device is an electromagnet connected to a membrane. The core winding is connected to the current source through a breaker, and to ground through a signal button. When you press the button, the core rod begins to oscillate and causes the membrane to vibrate. Such klaxons are classified according to the design of the sound emitter.

• Disk signals. Available in the form of collapsible and non-demountable structures. The latter take up 2–3 cm less space. Depending on the type of design (open and closed), they can be installed in plain sight or under the hood. Standard signals have just such an emitter, so installing “pancakes” is not difficult. If desired, you can combine a high-frequency signal for a car (420-440 Hz) with a regular single-tone signal (335-350 Hz), but the device can be initially two-tone.
• "Snails" Installation is noticeably more difficult due to the curved shape of the bell (with the open end facing forward) and larger size. The signal power reaches 118 dB, frequency - 510 Hz. Such mini-gramophones put good pressure on the eardrums. In addition, the two-tone “snail” can be equipped with a relay that supplies voltage to both windings alternately, which leads to playing a certain melody.
• Horns. Emitters, which are a straightened “snail”, that is, something similar to a forge. It is easier to place them under the hood, but this does not affect the price, and the sound is noticeably worse.

Installing a new horn

In GOST, the characteristics of the signal are not fixed, and only the absence of a signal on the car at all can be considered a violation. Only high-frequency beeps are standardized: the fundamental frequency must remain unchanged. At the same time, an incorrectly selected sound can become a source of discomfort for pedestrians and the driver himself. It is an unspoken belief that signals that imitate an ambulance or police siren can get you into trouble.

The frequency of a standard car horn is between 320-440 Hz, and this is only due to medical requirements. When purchasing multi-voice pneumatic horns, make sure that your own machine has sufficient sound insulation. Before purchasing, you should make sure that the device you choose will work. Even with a combination of several signals, a standard battery will discharge noticeably faster - musical “horns” consume up to 25 A.

Video showing installation of a new horn:

The second point is the size. Disc signals, protected by their own grille, can be installed outside, but for “snails” this option is unacceptable. You should calculate the space under the hood in advance.

Car horns usually have detailed instructions on installation, but general principle always the same. In theory, you need to connect the device via a relay or breaker to a current source. In order for electrons to have somewhere to move, they need “mass”. The signal activation button is located between the ground and the device itself.

Another thing is the fastening. The standard kit contains everything you need to fix the device on a flat surface, but depending on the device of your car, this surface may be quite far from the battery. You will need a wire of the required length with a good degree of protection.

Repairing a faulty horn

A common malfunction is oxidation of the relay contacts or the entire device. Sometimes contacts simply fall out or are not secured securely. The inspection should start with the fastenings.

Unless you're a superhero who can withstand electric shocks, you'll need to remove the battery terminals first. The capacitor responsible for the airbag must be discharged and disconnected. The latter's terminals are usually located under the steering column.

Removing the steering wheel cover may require assistance. It is logical to carry out such an operation together with an assistant. The three necessary contacts are usually located near the hub, under plastic protection. It is necessary to clean them with a file and securely fix them in their original position.

Conclusion

The car's sound signal is a means of communication between the driver and pedestrian. This should be the starting point for any experiments with the horn and combining different devices. The characteristics of each of them indicate both the noise level and the distance at which sound pressure is created.

The functional significance of the device is noticeably more important than the tuning capabilities. the signal, for example, must correspond to the dimensions of the car. Therefore, when choosing a horn, take safety first and avoid non-standard devices.

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 traffic jams or when overtaking in locality, which is absolutely not possible to do. 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. Distributed today thanks to simple way installation 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, the sound device should not exceed a frequency of 440 Hz, more high frequency harms the health of others.
- A car horn should not copy the sound of a law enforcement or ambulance signal medical care. 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.