3.

Horn and Relay Systems

Horn and Relay Systems

Automotive – Electrical Systems

Topics covered in this presentation:

 Vibrating Mechanisms
 Horn Construction and Operation
 Relay Construction and Operation

ClassAct SRS enabled.

3. Horn and Relay Systems

A Simple Vibrating Mechanism

Used to attract attention of others.
Armature Diaphragm
Operation:
Automotive – Electrical Systems

Push button closed,

current flows from
battery, through coil and
contacts to ground.
Current flow through coil,
creates a magnetic field.
Magnetic field pulls armature
Contacts Coil Push
and diaphragm toward coil,
breaks contacts. button

Zero current flows, magnetic field collapses,

armature and diaphragm return to original position.
Movement repeats (oscillates) to create
sound, while push button is closed. Next >
3. Horn and Relay Systems

Question 1
What is always created when a current passes through a coil?
Automotive – Electrical Systems

A) Sound

B) Vibration

C) Magnetic field

D) Movement
3. Horn and Relay Systems

Typical Horn Construction and Operation

When current flows,
armature moves toward coil. Contacts
Automotive – Electrical Systems

Diaphragm also moves.

Coil
Contacts break and
diaphragm returns to Mounting
home position. Armature
stud

Cycle continues while

power is supplied to coil.

Diaphragm movement
is called oscillation. Diaphragm Next >
3. Horn and Relay Systems

Typical Horn Construction and Operation

Oscillation frequency
determines sound pitch. Adjusting Contacts
nut
Automotive – Electrical Systems

Tone
One oscillation per disc
second equals 1Hz.
Coil

Diaphragm is set to oscillate at

300 times per second (300Hz). Armature

Diaphragm vibration causes

tone disc to oscillate at 2000Hz.

Adjusting nut changes

frequency of oscillation. Diaphragm Next >
3. Horn and Relay Systems

Question 2
In a typical horn system with a diaphragm and one tone disc,
how many different notes are produced?
Automotive – Electrical Systems

Enter your answer and press SEND.

3. Horn and Relay Systems

Wind Tone Horns

Uses trumpet to produce Adjusting Contacts
required sound. nut
Vibration of
Trumpet
Automotive – Electrical Systems

Coil air creates

Diaphragm
tone
Modern vehicles use
spiral trumpets.
Armature

Diaphragm movement
resonates air in trumpet.

Wire Old style horn

Trumpet length terminal
determines sound pitch.
Diaphragm
Spiral
trumpet Next >
3. Horn and Relay Systems

Question 3
In a wind tone horn, what determines the pitch of the sound produced?
Automotive – Electrical Systems

A) Voltage of battery

B) Size of diaphragm

C) Time horn is turned on

D) Length of air trumpet

3. Horn and Relay Systems

Simple Relay Components

2 4
Relay switches high currents.
Automotive – Electrical Systems

Construction
Windings
Windings wrapped
around iron core to
form electromagnet. Return
spring
Contains fixed and
moving contacts.
Spring ‘returns’ moving 1
contact to ‘home’ position. 3

Fixed
Moving contact
Soft iron contact
core (Armature) Next >
3. Horn and Relay Systems

Question 4
What is the basic function of a relay?
Automotive – Electrical Systems

A) Switch

B) Amplifier

C) Electromagnet

D) Solenoid
3. Horn and Relay Systems

Simple Relay Operation

(one normally open contact)
Operation:
12V supply is
available at switch.
Automotive – Electrical Systems

Switch closes, magnetic

field attracts armature,
contacts close.

Current flows
across contacts. 12V

Switch opens,
return spring pulls
contacts apart.

Next >
3. Horn and Relay Systems

5 Pin Relay
COM
Contains 3 high current terminals: N.O.,
N.O.
N.C. and COM, and 2 coil terminals.
N.C.
Automotive – Electrical Systems

Operation:
Current flows across N.C. and COM
contacts when relay not energized.
Switch closes, magnetic
field attracts armature, N.O.
and COM contacts close.
Current flows across N.O.
and COM contacts.
Switch opens, contacts
return to home position.
Commonly found in
automotive circuits. Next >
3. Horn and Relay Systems

Typical Relay and Horn Electrical Circuit

Typical circuit:
 Horn button closed, relay coil energized.
Automotive – Electrical Systems

 Battery voltage applied to horns, via relay contact. Thick wire

N.O. contact Relay

High tone Low tone

Battery Coil

Thin wire
Horn on/off
button

 Horn button / relay coil wire is thin. Horns

 Battery / relay contact / horns wire is thick.
 Two horns, producing different tones. Next >
3. Horn and Relay Systems

Question 5
Why is a relay used to switch on a horn?
Automotive – Electrical Systems

A) Because the horns require low current and the relay

isolates them from the battery

B) Because it can reduce the amount of wire required to

connect the horns to the battery

C) A low current switch and connections can be used to

turn on a high current circuit

D) Because a relay can turn the horns on and off more

efficiently than a simple switch
3. Horn and Relay Systems

Summary
You should be aware of:

 Vibrating Mechanisms
Automotive – Electrical Systems

 Horn Construction and Operation

 Relay Construction and Operation

End >