Horn relay delay

[gordonv]

With the talk of changing horns, or adding them to our bikes, to get more sound and therefore the cagers attention. I was told that with the addition of a relay to the air horn, using the stock horn as a trigger, that there should be enough of a delay to continue using the OEM horn, and then to hold it, and get the air horn to power up.

Well, I have found that if you try to get someones attention with a little toote, rather than a big blast, that you can only get one small honk before the airs kick in, and you go from a little friendly attention getter, to a big blast in the face.

So a question for all the electritions out there. How can we delay the firing of the air horn? Add a large capacitor (200mf) to the +/- of the relay, some resistors, or?

I don't want another button, figure you want only one horn button to push all the time. I also like having the stock horns, for a mild friendly honk.

[BonS]

I suppose that you could use a solid state delay-on-make relay such as this:




http://www.airotronics.com/site/product-delaymake_TBC.php

There are others that can handle a bigger load and you wouldn't need the mechanical relay at all.

[indybobm]

I would be concerned that the delay of sounding the airhorn could be the difference between having an accident and avoiding one. In a situation where you need to get someone's attention, you need to get it NOW!

[old2soon]

You only get ONE CHANCE to make a first impression!! Fergit the delay-rather be talkin to ya than about ya. How many times just on this forum have you/we heard about-you didn't see me. If the air horn or a very powerful electric horn is offensive-well isn't that why you bought it in the first place??? I mean that's why i put my air horn on my I/S to get the cagers attention. If it's offensive too then i'm gettin more bang fer the buck!! And trust me on this-sometimes they don't see you-the other times they are takin aim. Simple equation-mash the horn button make noise NOW. RIDE SAFE.

[gordonv]

I currently have a GW GL1100 with the OEM horn working, and functioning as the trigger for the air horn. There is almost no delay in triggering the air horn in this manner. IF I can lightly tap the horn button, then I can get just the OEM horn to burp, just as the air is firing up.

We are only talking about an approx fraction of a sec delay here, nothing to big to make it usless as it's intended purpose. Believe me, I've used the air horn, and seen the drivers jump and almost crap themselves, when they aren't paying attention.

As for the accident, having had one just over a year ago, I under stand what your concern is and I agree 100%. Mine was caused because he first didn't see my dual lights on my IS (working on a dual modulator), and then didn't hear my wimpy horn. The horn was my first response even before the brakes. I had done everything right, driving slow in a known problem area, yellow jacket, white helment.

There is another thing I'll be doing to my Valk. I have already gotten the horns from a GW GL1800, they are a regular car style horn set, a low & high. Then I'll be adding the air horn to that, that is why the delay is wanted.

[Grandpot]

Connect the relay and air horn to the OEM horn button so it is ready for an emergency. Mount another horn button somewhere else to activate the OEM horn if you just want to give a friendy honk.

[gordonv]

Iwas thinking I didn't want 2 buttons, but I was thinking the second button would be for the air horn.

I like this idea. Wire the horn button to the relay for the air. Then add another button to the OEM horn, for those friendlier honks.

[Fudd]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a button with two squeeze depth positions, like a paint sprayer?