Does the horn 'really' have to be hooked up through a relay switch?

Tonight my horn quit on my car. I still haven't gotten it wired through the horn button on the steering wheel yet so I am just using a small button mounted under the dash out of sight. So, I checked the switch, 12 volts to it. I checked the other side of the switch with the button pressed, 12 volts there too, no voltage with the button released. I then hook up a test light to the end of the wire at the horn and cannot get the light to come on. Ok, I think I find the problem. So, I start pulling that wire out and find it is not hooked to the relay switch. Instead it goes directly to the little switch under the dash. Well, after the wire is all pulled through the firewall and laying in the floor board, I check it again and it is ok this time :rolleyes: So I put it back, clean the contacts on the horn and also clean the mounting location for the horn and bracket and re-attach everything. Presto!! It works!! Ok, I am ok, or at least I think so. My question is--Do I need a relay???? :confused:

If I understand your question...the horn draws fairly high current. Also there is a substantial inductive surge when the horn is operated. You can wire the horn directly through a switch, but it won't last long. The contacts will eventually burn up. I would use the relay.

The relay also gives you a circuit that simply provides ground through a switch to activate. Without the relay, you'll have to provide 12volts to the horn through the switch. Obviously, this can't be done through the steering colomn since the horn button is a grounding switch - thus the need for a relay.

-dnult

Thanks for the info dnult. I also added an in-line fuse between the fuse box hook up and the switch.

I do not think the horns in my car are the original ones. I have tried looking for pictures to see what the original configuration was but haven't found nothing yet. One of my horns does not work and the one that does is very quiet. I have some old '72 Chevy truck parts out back so I went and got the horn. WOW :eek: is it loud!!. I went ahead and left the two horns mounted up near the hood latch and then took this other truck horn and mounted down out of sight using one of the bolt holes for the center support for the nose assembly. Now when I need to get someones attention I can :D