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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Wiring air horns

Hi all,
I have a pair of air horns to wire up.
I'm using a separate switch with a relay.
I'm leaving the original horns on the steering wheel button.
I don't really want the air horns live all the time, only with ignition.
My question is: if I take power from the fuse box to the compressor, will it be too much for the fuse box to take ?
If so,I'll just go from the battery, and have them 'live '.
Thanks.
Griff.
A Griffin

Griffin
Do you know the current rating of the compressor?
Bill Bretherton

It says 17amp draw with an inline fuse of 20amp.
Thanks.
A Griffin

I think I'd use a 20A in-line fuse as specified, with 20A rated cable (battery to fuse to relay to compressor).
Bill Bretherton

If you take your switch wire from the fuse box it will be ignition controlled even though your main feed goes direct from battery to relay.

Trev
T Mason

Thanks Trev,
I was so focused on using the wire from the removed radio for the push button, I didn't even think of going to the fuse box.
Slap on the forehead....
A Griffin

I had a friend who did this and he found that the air compressor had a 1/2 to 1 second delay before issuing forth, but the electric horn was instantaneous. He found it very useful, if he timed it right he could get a toot from the electric horn and not have the air horns sound at all.
Rob
MG Moneypit

This thread was discussed between 11/06/2023 and 25/06/2023

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