Fatty's dummies guide on: How to install a Stebel air horn

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:07 pm

cshaks wrote:Ordered mine, eagerly awaiting arrival so that I can fit it!
Cheers tons for the guide Fatty! It should be a great help, think I will be going with the relay method.........

Chris

I guarantee, you'll be very impressed with the sound.

When I first got them, I almost, that's ALMOST wanted someone to cut me off, so that I can use my horn in anger. :mrgreen:

cshaks · Postby **cshaks** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:09 pm

Can't wait.... even go the air freight option to get it here quicker! ( only an extra dollar!)

cshaks · Postby **cshaks** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:23 am

Okay, the horn is in. Love the sound!
Thanks for the guide fatty, most invaluable!
One question though, I ran out of time last night to finish the wiring off, but as I was checking the blue plug it seemed to be only live when the ignition is on.
Is this true and if so is there somewhere else that has 12V constant in the engine compartment that I can use for the horn relay?
Also, which fuse is the horn/brake one?
Cheers
Chris

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:56 pm

cshaks wrote:Okay, the horn is in. Love the sound!
Thanks for the guide fatty, most invaluable!
One question though, I ran out of time last night to finish the wiring off, but as I was checking the blue plug it seemed to be only live when the ignition is on.
Is this true and if so is there somewhere else that has 12V constant in the engine compartment that I can use for the horn relay?
Also, which fuse is the horn/brake one?
Cheers
Chris

hi chris,

yes that blue plug is only live when ignition is on. i don't know of any other 12v source in the engine bay that s live all the time. you could always run a new wire into the engine bay i guess, straight from the battery (add an inline fuse of course). or what about form the alternator would that be live al the time?

we're not 100% sure which fuse that blue plug is on but tbro thought it would probably be the horn or wiper fuse. i think they are located in the fusebox under the dash / steering wheel? if so, that box has a diagram on it that tells you which fuse is which. it would be good if you (or someone else wiling - i'm still in bed atm, not feeling too good) could have a look and pull the fuses one by one (start wth the horn fuse) and try and figure out exactly which fuse that blue plug is on, and report back. at last that would solve that part of the puzzle for us all.

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:59 pm

ah hang on, i think there is a constant 12v at the main fuse block in the engine bay , the one up near the brake booster. if so you could run a fused wire from that.

cshaks · Postby **cshaks** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:33 pm

Thanks Fatty, just metered it and realized that one was live all the time.
I will run some 2.5mm behind the engine and use the spare clips on the firewall to keep it neat.
Blew the brake/horn fuse on the way home last night..... (only 2 kms away) and took me ages to find the fuse panel.
What Monkey decided that was a good accessible place for a fuse panel... I suppose its ok if your double jointed and can pull one eyeball out......
Anyway relay is in and I will run a new feed later today.
Cheers
Chris

cshaks · Postby **cshaks** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:55 pm

I just pulled all the fuses from the under dash panel, and that point is not fused from there unless it is the heater breaker in the centre.
If I get a chance I will try the fuse panel under the bonnet, unless someone else has tried it??
chris
Edit.... according to the Mazda Miata performance handbook, this plug is controlled from the wiper circuit! I have just double checked and this is NOT the case ( on my car at least...) I also checked all the underbonnet fuses (except the 80A one in the centre that I couldn't get out) and still no joy. I am stumped too!
Cheers
Chris

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 2:04 pm

thanks for doing that chris. that surprises me i thought it would have been fused from there. mmm the plot thickens!

cshaks · Postby **cshaks** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 2:16 pm

just edited the above post.... more info

Locutus · Postby **Locutus** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 6:06 pm

i've looked into this previously. the chaps on the big forums think that the blue plug is fused with the heater circuit.

cshaks · Postby **cshaks** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:31 am

Locutus wrote:i've looked into this previously. the chaps on the big forums think that the blue plug is fused with the heater circuit.

Thanks Locutus
That would make sense, as its the only one on the underdash panel that I could not try. I wonder what the heater draws at maximum, as theoretically I could run into trouble using the horn if the heater is on a high mode.

Cheers
Chris

Locutus · Postby **Locutus** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 6:40 pm

yeah i was wondering the same thing. the only thing i can think of that's connected to the heater circuit is the cabin fan, but i haven't checked the electrical diagrams. still a much wiser choice than those people connecting directly to the stock horn/brake light circuit, since the heater circuit is fused at 30A (from memory). worst case scenario is no fan and horn... at least your brake lights will work!

not that it's a good indication of current headroom on that circuit, but some brave people have run fog/driving lights straight off the blue connector without any problems.

let us know what you find.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:18 pm

Hammer wrote:When I first got them, I almost, that's ALMOST wanted someone to cut me off, so that I can use my horn in anger.

Can I make a confession?
I DID want someone to cut me off :oops:

I hung around the left-side blind spot of some cars/4x4s with my finger on the trigger :mrgreen:

Still haven't used it in anger yet.

cshaks · Postby **cshaks** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:05 pm

Locutus wrote:yeah i was wondering the same thing. the only thing i can think of that's connected to the heater circuit is the cabin fan, but i haven't checked the electrical diagrams. still a much wiser choice than those people connecting directly to the stock horn/brake light circuit, since the heater circuit is fused at 30A (from memory). worst case scenario is no fan and horn... at least your brake lights will work!

not that it's a good indication of current headroom on that circuit, but some brave people have run fog/driving lights straight off the blue connector without any problems.

let us know what you find.

You are right, it is 30A, and it also (I think) the only circuit in the car that is actually a circuit breaker instead of a fuse. So it is a safer place to have it.
I will still be running a separate feed for the horn though.
Incidentally, I was driving the car this evening with the lights on, and they dim noticeably when you use the horn with the lights on.... so that 18A over the horn is a high current draw for the alternator!
Even those who replace the horn fuse with a 20A fuse are probably running on the limit as it will only leave 2A to run the brake lights.... I must do the math and figure out what they draw! ( can anyone tell me the wattage?)

And 1red5, I was soooooo wanting someone to cut me off today as well!

cheers
Chris

Locutus · Postby **Locutus** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:23 pm

those who replace with a 20A fuse are running 5A beyond the limit of their wiring. worst case scenario is that their car will go up in flames due to an electrical fire.