Off Topic- wiring a golf cart horn

I am struggling trying to figure this out! Here is what I am working with! I have the horn which has a hot and ground terminal. The horn button also has a hot and ground terminal. I have tried hooking it up all sorts of ways but every time I connect the wires running from horn button to battery it goes off. Why is it that I don’t have to push the button for it to work? I have read I need a voltage reducer since it’s a 12volt horn and my batteries r 8 volts a piece but would that have anything to do with it? I was only connecting to one battery during my testing so I was under 12 volts and it still worked. @NewImprovedRon @TundraTex

 

Not sure if I’m imterpreting the pictures correctly. But if the top pic is the switch and if the green wires are from the battery + and the horn+ then you have effectively hardwired the horn to the battery and it will sound as long as it is connected.

The switch/buttton does not likely have a ground. It simply has two terminals that are meant to open or close the circuit path.

If the blue wire in your picture is tied to ground and one or both of the greens are tied to 12v, I would not push the switch as that would cause a direct short and possibly melt your switch or damage the battery or both.

The most likely circuit that you should have is as follows:

• Wire one terminal of the switch (shouldn’t matter which one) to the horn + terminal.
• Wire the other switch terminal to the battery + terminal. (If there is a fuse in-line it should go on this wire)
• Wire the horn - terminal to ground or the battery - terminal.
• Push the button to test the horn.

That should take care of it if nothing has been burnt up.

 

Ha. Didn’t see your post earlier when I made my response. Looks like we’re on the same page.

 

Thanks guys!

 

Worked great. Thanks guys. What’s the worst that can happen if the horn is 12 volt but I’m only connected to an 8 volt battery?

 

Nothing too bad... just a little wimpier toot! Glad it worked out.