Air horn

[dgorila1]

When adding one of the aftermarket airhorns, can you simply unplug the wires from the stock horn and use them to power the air horn or do you need to install a relay too? I didn't know if the stock horn came with a relay that would work with the aftermarket horns.
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Also, when installing auxillary lights, is it best to tie them into the regular headlight or use a seperate switch to control them? How about a headlight modulator...is there one that is an easy plug in for the Strom? Thanks.

[kamloopsal]

I think STROMETTE was the one who posted info on Stebel electric horns?
IMHO way better than airhorns.

Al

[Heavy]

Serparate relay is a good idea with aux horns. Typically they draw more than the stock horn and you don't want to burn out your horn switch.

Aux lights with any sort of wattage should be switched separately and run through a relay was well. If you're just adding some LED "bling" then you could hook them into the existing.

Do a search on the modulator, there has been a fair amount of discussion and, I think, one of the suppliers is currently doing a closeout, with better pricing.

[SCraig]

Serparate relay is a good idea with aux horns. Typically they draw more than the stock horn and you don't want to burn out your horn switch.

Aux lights with any sort of wattage should be switched separately and run through a relay was well. If you're just adding some LED "bling" then you could hook them into the existing.

Exactly right. Wattage is calculated by multiplying amps by volts. Since automotive (and motorcycle!) electrical systems run on such low voltage the amps add up rather quickly. For example, a pair of 55 watt lamps add up to 110 watts. At 13.8 volts (which is the typical voltage at which 12 volt systems operate) they will draw right at 8 amps. If you add them to the existing headlight circuit they can easily cause the switch to overheat and burn out.

The early (pre 2004) Dodge Durango has the fog light circuit switched in a really goofy manner. People were replacing the factory 25 watt fog lights with aftermarket 55 watt running lights and wondering why the headlight switch got so hot (4 amps vs. 8 amps).

Do a search on the modulator, there has been a fair amount of discussion and, I think, one of the suppliers is currently doing a closeout, with better pricing.
Kisan carries headlight and brake light modulators. I have the brake light modulator but not the headlight. I think I got mine from CA Sport Touring but I'm not certain about that.

[STROMETTE]

Here ya go for pics:
http://stromtrooper.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6723&sid=84ad7b70464e542a801172b406917f5f

http://stromtrooper.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6004&highlight=hear

Yes on relay for horn, no on relay for headlight modulator (least not Diamond Star or Kissan).

Stromette

[rider-geek]

you definitely need the relay.

the Stebel for instance draws 24amps.

The factory horn doesn't have a relay and is switched directly through the horn button, if you attempted to run the Stebel through that, your horn wiring and switch would be fried in short order.